Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD)


Programme Requirements and Regulations

The Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD) works with all schools across the University to offer postgraduate programmes in climate change. This includes:

  • A Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change (PGDip CC) consists of the completion of four 400 level courses and offered in three streams:

i. Science;

ii. Adaptation & Management;

iii. Disaster & Resilience.

  • A Postgraduate Diploma in Islands and Ocean Stewardship (PGDip-IOS) consists of the completion of four 400 level and is offered in three streams:

i. Conservation & Biodiversity Management for Islands & Ocean;

ii. Spatial Analysis & Planning for Ocean & Islands;

iii. Urban and Infrastructure Planning for Islands & Ocean.

  • A MSc in Climate Change based on a research thesis
  • A PhD in Climate Change based on a research thesis

The Science stream focuses on the foundation science of climate change globally and in the Pacific. This stream prepares students to become Pacific climate scientists with a strong quantitative understanding of observations, climate and earth system modelling, regional and global model downscaling of climate projections and impacts, data analysis, GIS and remote sensing in the Pacific context.

The Adaptation & Management stream focuses on impacts, vulnerabilities, solutions; adaptation and management. This stream enables a student to attain skills in documenting social and physical impacts of climate change and disasters, mastering and improving adaptation and management strategies including community and ecosystem-based adaptation. The Disaster & Resilience stream focuses on identifying, understanding and applying risk management to build resilience and reduce the risks arising from climate change and natural hazards. The stream enables students to perform strategic planning in the areas of climate change and disaster project management, climate finance and risk transfer mechanisms. The MSc and PhD research thesis cover a broad range of topics, from climate sciences to the social, financial and economic aspects of climate change, traditional knowledge and the integration of climate change and disaster risk management. Research students under the climate change programme are encouraged to collaborate with external co-supervisors from other USP schools and/or other universities.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN CLIMATE CHANGE (PGDip CC) AND POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ISLANDS AND OCEAN STEWARDSHIP (PGDip-IOS)

Admission Requirements

To be admitted in the Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change or PGDip-IOS either full-time or part-time, a candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised tertiary institution with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Candidates with GPA above 2.5 may be considered in exceptional cases, but will have to complete one or two 400 level courses under an unclassified programme before enrolling in the PGDip CC or PGDip-IOS Depending on the grade obtained by the students these courses will either remain qualifying courses or be credited in the PGDip CC or PGDip-IOS programme. Factors relevant to considering applications may also include professional experience.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN CLIMATE CHANGE (PGDip CC)

Science Stream

Core Courses: PC414, PC415

Electives: At least one of PC428 or PC430 and any remaining 400 level PC Course or any of the following courses: PH407, PH414, PH416, PH420

Adaptation/Management Stream

Core Courses: PC414, PC415

Electives (Adaptation stream): At least one of PC425, PC426 or PC431 and any remaining 400 level PC course or one of the following courses: BI442, EV402, GE407, GE409.

Electives (Management stream): At least one of PC412, PC425, PC431, or PC432 and any remaining 400 level PC course or one of the following courses:DG422, MG405, MG406, MG411, MBA430, PL400, PL402

Disaster and Resilience Stream

Core Courses: PC414, PC415

Electives: At least one of PC431, PC432 and any remaining 400 level PC course or one of the following courses: DG415, GE409.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ISLANDS AND OCEAN STEWARDSHIP (PGDip IOS)

The PGDip IOS requirements includes two core courses and,one mandatory and one elective course from a specialization stream. The programme comprises a selection of four core courses and three streams to select from. The three streams addresses the training needs of Pacific Island Countries and contribute towards specific aspects of national sustainable development priorities:

(i) Conservation & Biodiversity Management for Islands & Ocean:

(ii) Spatial Analysis & Planning for Ocean & Islands:

(iii) Urban and Infrastructure Planning for Islands & Ocean.

Core courses: PC425; PC427

Stream 1: Conservation & Biodiversity Management for IOS Either PC426 or B1442: Plus 1 elective course from the following courses: BI442 or PC426 or PC420: PC431: EV402 GE407: MS441: BI408: PA419

Stream 2: Spatial Analysis & Planning for IOS PC440 plus 1 elective course from the following courses: EV405 or PC420

Stream 3: Urban & Infrastructure Planning for IOS DG415 plus 1 elective course from the following courses: DG422 or PC420 or PC440

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLIMATE CHANGE (MSc CC)

The Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development offers a Master of Science (MSc) in Climate Change, covering the topics taught at Post-Graduate level at the Centre. The Master’s programme consists of a thesis after successful completion of the PGDipCC  or PGDip IOS. The Admission and Programmed Regulations governing the Master of Science appear in page 118 of this publication.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CLIMATE CHANGE (PhD CC)

The Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Climate Change, covering the topics taught at Post-Graduate level at the Centre. Students interested in progressing from a Master’s programme to doctoral studies are advised to contact the Centre Director directly.

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