Academic CentreThe Master's study program in Environmental Science provides the highest academic Master's education in environmental science. It is an interdisciplinary science that integrates knowledge from natural and social sciences. The program offers modern theoretical and methodological expertise in the sub-branches of environmental science: nature protection, environmental management, environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology, and environmental engineering. At the same time, it provides an overview of the industry's development, promoting the acquisition of practical skills necessary for the labour market. The study program is developed according to the development trends of environmental science and the recommendations of employers, students and graduates.
Study program director
Associate professor Iveta Šteinberga
The program includes compulsory general courses and courses in the main directions of environmental science. It offers optional courses in the main areas of environmental management and management, special optional courses in natural sciences and optional studies that develop the professional skills of an environmental specialist (information acquisition, processing and interpretation). It is focused on the modern labour market requirements.
Year 1 – compulsory courses: Ecology of ecosystems with the basics of socioecology, Environmental planning, Ecotoxicology, Master's project; Regional Rural Course in Environmental Science; optional courses: Environment and civil defence compensatory course for students from other study programs), Environmental geomorphology, Biotechnology and environmentally friendly technologies, Water resources and their influencing factors, Ecodesign, Baltic Sea ecology, Introduction to geographic information technologies, Theory and practice of human-environment interaction, Landscape ecology: theory and practice, Strategic management and projects, Soil ecology and protection, Environmental communication, Water supply and wastewater treatment, Water resources management.
2nd year - compulsory courses: Modeling of natural and environmental processes, Environmental philosophy and ethics, Master's thesis; elective courses: Environmental management systems, Basics of risk analysis, Agricultural ecology and sustainable management, Climate change management, Waste management, European environmental policy and practice, Development and management of sustainable consumption.
The course "Applied studies in environmental science", in which students are allowed to work practically in various institutions related to environmental issues, according to the student's wishes, can be taken either in the 1st or 2nd year of study.
During studies, studies at foreign universities are possible within the framework of the ERASMUS+ program.
Since environmental issues are becoming more and more relevant in all areas of life, the job opportunities for graduates of the master's program in environmental science are vast. The master's degree in environmental science allows continuing doctoral studies in Latvian universities and abroad. Graduates of the program work in Latvian state management institutions: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia, municipalities, State Environmental Service, and Regional Environmental Administrations. Environmental quality control institutions: VSIA Latvian Center for Environment, Geology and Meteorology, ZPI "Bior" and others. Scientific institutes, consulting firms, companies developing environmental technologies, companies providing quality systems, educational institutions and other institutions in which environmental specialists are needed, for example, JSC "Latvijas valsts meži", the international airport "Riga", as well as in various structures of the European Union.
Previous education:
Bachelor's degree or second-level professional higher education (or equivalent higher education) in natural sciences, environmental science, engineering, agricultural sciences or forestry.
Additional condition: curriculum vitae (CV)