Master's degree Environment Management Track Coastal Engineering and Geosciences
field(s) of training :
Science, Technology, Health
diploma level :
Grade de Master (Bac+5)
duration of the program :
2 years
location(s) :
Caen (Campus 1)
Course overview
Littoral zones are vulnerable and affected by climate change hazards. You wish to put your skills in engineering and geosciences to the use of costal development? You want to design sustainable solutions respectful of biodiversity, landscape, and social responsibilities? The master’s degree in Environment Management allow you to specialise in Coastal Engineering and Geosciences, and gain an expertise in environment sciences and coastal development.
This two-year full-time programme allows you to acquire both technical skills in engineering and an environmental approach to coastal development. As such, you will be trained in
- Skills and knowledge on littoral zone
- Field training
- Digital tools
You will then be able to pursue various career opportunities, including research.
Highlights
The master’s programme is supported by the Coastal and Continental Morphodynamics Laboratory (M2C · UMR 6143) (resource in French), acknowledged by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). This multidisciplinary research unit combines geosciences and fluid mechanics with fundamental, experimental and applied approaches.
Moreover, you will benefit from a professional network – in Year 1, 5% of the courses include interventions of professional partners, and in Year, 25%! These meetings are allowed by long-time partnerships with various public and private organisations specialised in coastal engineering.
Application requirements
Entry requirements
To enter this master’s, you should
- Have solid knowledge and skills in
- Earth Sciences
- Mechanics
- Geophysics
- Graduate from a degree in
- Earth Sciences
- Earth and Life Sciences
- Physics
- Mechanics
- Engineering Sciences
- Measurement
Language proficiency requirements
Minimum French proficiency required: C1
Course structure
Courses
- Take place on site in campus 1, within the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Caen Normandy
- Amount to 1,200 hours over the 2 years
- Are completed by two compulsory internships
Course units
The master’s includes seminars and labs. In Year 1, course units are both scientific and technical:
- Littoral hydrodynamics
- Coastal sedimentary systems
- Geotechnical engineering
- Geomatics and remote sensing
- Coastal drainage basin dynamics
- Littoral hydrogeology and hydrology
- Computer-aided design and materials
- Fieldwork
- Digital modelling and processing (optional)
- Ecological approach and coastal morphosedimentary (optional)
As well as transferable:
- Communication
- Digital tools
In Year 2, you will go on fieldwork to experience first-hand the functioning of local sedimentary systems and littoral construction sites function. Units will focus on:
- Sedimentary processing and transportation
- Instrumentation, measurements and tools
- Soil geotechnics and coastal materials
- Coastal constructions
- Drainage basins and coastal systems
- Engineering programme driving
- Impact of constructions and marine energy
Depending on your professional or research project, you will attend introductory units to research, professional environment, and sustainable development goals. You will also have to select optional units to specialise your studies:
- Geologic risks
- Hydrologic risks
- Consequences of erosion and biodiversity
Internships and placements
The master’s programme includes two compulsory internships, in a company or a laboratory, in France or abroad:
- Year 1, 2nd semester: 2-month long internship
- Year 2, 2nd semester: 4- to 6-month long internship
Both internships will be evaluated through detailed written report and an oral presentation of this report.
Coursework and assessment
The course lasts 2 years and is divided in 4 semesters, each comprising several courses units. Assessment takes place either through coursework and is graded on a scale from 0 to 20, 20 being the best grade. Grade compensation is organised without eliminatory marks and on the basis of the general average obtained in every course unit:
- Over each semester
- Over the 2 semesters of Year 1
The 2 semesters do not compensate each other in Year 2.
To successfully complete a semester, you must have an average mark of at least 10 points out of 20. If you have not completed your semester, you can retake the courses units you failed; you do not have to retake the courses in which you have obtained at least 10 points out of 20.
Language
- French
- English for the supervised project in Year 2
Study abroad
Each year, the master’s welcomes between 25 and 50% of students all over the world! Besides, between 10 and 35% of students go abroad for their internships. You wish to go abroad during your master’s? Main destinations include:
- Germany
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Spain
- Indonesia
- Italy
- New-Zealand
Learning outcome
By the end of this course, you will
- Have acquired knowledge in
- Surface geosciences
- Geotechnics
- Coastal engineering
- Littoral zones
- Understand the phenomena driving the dynamics and evolution of these systems, through an integrated observational and geomatics approach, as well as fieldwork and laboratory work
- Be able to implement fundamental construction techniques in constraining zones and deliver facilities in accordance to the expectations (ports for professional or recreational use, coastal defence and fortification) and the impact on the environment.
Further study
Once you’ve obtained your master’s, you can pursue career opportunities, including doctoral studies. Depending on your research topic, you will be able to specialise in
- Geosciences
- Fluid and soil mechanics
Careers
With a master’s degree in Environment management specialised in Coastal Engineering and Geosciences, you will have many opportunities both in private and public organisations specialised in managing, constructing or preserving littoral zones (port, fluvial or coastal facilities). You will notably be able to lead construction project in coastal zones, and work in
- Engineer consulting
- Applied research laboratories
- Maritime or fluvial construction companies
- Public authorities and services
Main position includes:
- Project and construction engineer
- Technical services in territorial public services officer
- Project manager
- Freelance consultant or consulting office chief
- Researcher professor (after completing a PhD)
Address
Université de Caen Normandie
UFR des Sciences
Esplanade de la Paix · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5
France