Modules

Welcome to the postgraduate modules section of the Global Sustainable Development (GSD) department at the University of Warwick. This page outlines the core, optional, and capstone modules available to students enrolled in both our postgraduate taught and research programmes.

We are continually updating our modules to reflect the latest research and expertise within our Department.

MPhil/PhD core module

In the first year of your MPhil/PhD, you will have the opportunity to undertake 20 CATs of postgraduate module(s) and establish a personal development plan in collaboration with your supervisors. Please see below for modules you may want to consider from within the GSD Department.

MASc core modules

Code	Title	Convenor(s)	CATS	Term
GD908-20	Leading Transformation in the Anthropocene View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Romain Chenet	20	1
GD909-20	Global Challenges and Transdisciplinary Responses View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Jess Savage	20	1
IP901-20	Creating Knowledge for Change: Foundations of Transdisciplinary Research View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Wes Lin/Dr Lauren Bird	20	1

MASc students on campus looking at soil samples

MASc students in the labs on campus looking at soil samples

GSD students on campus looking at soil samples

Above: GSD students examining soil samples on campus as part of the Global Challenges and Transdisciplinary Responses module.

MASc optional core modules

Code	Title	Convenor(s)	CATS	Term
GD904-10	Qualitative Approaches to Knowledge Generation View the 2025-26 module page	TBC	10	2
GD905-10	Quantitative Approaches to Knowledge Generation View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Marta Guerriero	10	2
GD906-10	Policy, Governance and Sustainable Development View the 2025-26 module page	TBC	10	2

MASc capstone projects

Code	Title	Convenor	CATS	Term(s)
GD901-60	Research Dissertation View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Martin Lima Velazquez	60	3 and summer
GD902-60	Workplace Project View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Jonathan Clarke	60	3 and summer
GD903-60	Practice-based Project View the 2025-26 module page	Dr Edwin Leung/Bodrun Nahar	60	3 and summer

Discover some of the exciting capstone projects undertaken by our MASc students.

MASc optional modules

The module list below is an indicative rather than an exhaustive list of possible optional modules. If you wish to take other optional modules from across the university, please discuss with your Personal Tutor and the Programme Director.

Please note that if any optional modules run in Term 1, you will need to consider the impact of an unbalanced workload. Please ensure that you discuss this with your personal tutor and the programme director prior to enrolling so we can discuss feasibility and how to support you.

Code	Title	Department	Convenor	CATS	Term(s)
GD912-20/30	Popular Movements and Sustainable Change View the 2025-26 module page	GSD	Dr Ed Loveman	20 or 30	2
GD914-20/30	Critical Perspectives on Business and Global Sustainable Development View the 2025-26 module page	GSD	Dr Maria Gavris	20 or 30	2
GD916-20/30	Dimensions of the Climate Crisis View the 2025-26 module page	GSD, SCFS	Dr Katie Reeves	20 or 30	2
ES99E-15	Urban Resilience, Disasters and Data View the 2025-26 module page	Institute of Advanced Teaching and Learning	Dr Vangelis Pitidis	15	2
EN9B5-30	World Literature in the Anthropocene View the 2025-26 module page	English and Comparative Literary Studies	Dr Nick Lawrence	30	TBC
IL907-10, IL907-15	Habitability in the Universe View the 2025-26 module page	Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning	Dr David Brown	10 or 15	2
EQ930-30	Education for Sustainable Development View the 2025-26 module page	Education Studies	Dr Nicholas Lee	30	TBC
IL905	Thinking Water	Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning	Dr Elena Riva	10, 15, 20 or 30	2
TH993-30	Socially Engaged Performance: Interventions and Provocations View the 2025-26 module page	Theatre and Performance Studies	Professor Nadine Holdsworth	30	2

Certificate

Title	Convenor	Term(s)
Climate Literacy Training		1, 2, or 3

Please note: Module availability and staffing may change year on year depending on availability and other operational factors. The School for Cross-faculty Studies makes no guarantee that any modules will be offered in a particular year, or that they will necessarily be taught by the staff listed on these pages.

Not running in 2025-26

Code	Title	Department	Convenor	CATS	Term(s)
GD911-20/30	Sustainable Urbanisation: from Risk to Resilience	GSD	Dr Jonathan Clarke	20 or 30	2
GD913-20/30	Care-ful Sustainability: Place, Culture and Value	GSD	Dr Xiaodong Lin	20 or 30	2
GS915-20/30	Taboo Topics: Unpicking the Silences within Global Challenges	GSD	Professor Chris Dolan	20 or 30	2