Master in Landscape Ecology Stockholm University

Landscape patterns and land use change are important components for understanding ecological processes affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.

As most political and economic drivers are expressed through human activities, having a landscape focus has recently been recognized as important to address many of our current environmental goals. Our education program builds on our research strengths in applied historical ecology, landscape analysis, and resource management, linking community ecology with restoration and management of both terrestrial and marine environments.

This two-year Master’s program is for students that want to understand and explore the link between ecological processes, landscape patterns, and human interactions. The program welcomes students with a multidisciplinary interest in ecology at broader spatial and temporal scales. It can provide an extended platform for topics such as habitat monitoring, conservation and restoration of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and management of landscapes, seascapes, and their associated resources.

The number of optional courses taken will be dependent on the period of time devoted to the Degree project, which may extend over one or two terms. The compulsory courses in the program are both theoretical and practical, such as experimental design, data collection through field inventories and remote sensing, analyses, and management of spatial data using geographic information systems (GIS). The optional courses in the program can include several different subjects so that the student acquires sufficient knowledge to complete the program with a thesis on landscape ecology.

Year 1

Autumn term

• Landscape Ecology - Theory and Design, 15 credits
• Applied Remote Sensing, and GIS for Landscape Analysis, 15 credits

Spring term

Optional courses, 15 credits

• Applied Aerial Photographic Techniques for Landscape analysis, 7.5 credits
• Project in Landscape Ecology, 7.5 credits

Year 2

The number of optional courses taken will be dependent on the period of time devoted to the Master thesis 30, 45, or 60 credits, which may extend over one or two terms: Degree Project in Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology 30/45/60 credits.