Major cohort 2023 and 2024
The courses below are 7,5 EC (unless indicated otherwise). You take 15 EC per period from different timeslots. You have to register for courses yourself.
Major
The major consists of compulsory courses (60 EC), two general major elective course (15 EC) and optional courses (45 EC). The optional courses are divided into five tracks. At the end of your first year you choose one track. (You can then register your track in OSIRIS). This allows you to deepen your expertise and to focus on a theme that really interests you and best fits your talents. In the third year you also have to write a Bachelor's thesis (15 EC).
The course schedules for cohort 2024 and 2023 can be found in the GSS community on Brightspace
The compulsory courses of the major provide you with the necessary background knowledge in sustainability science; you will be trained in research methods and techniques to further develop your analytical skills, and you will apply your knowledge and analytical skills to sustainability problems in integration projects.
You take the following courses (60 EC):
Year 1
- GEO1-2410 Sustainability Challenges
- GEO1-2411 Mathematics and Systems Analysis GSS
- GEO1-2412 Natural Processes
- GEO1-2413 Foundations of Social Sciences for Sustainability
- GEO1-2415 Research Skills GSS
- GEO1-2416 Regional Integration Project
Year 2
- GEO2-2428 Statistics GSS
- GEO2-2417 Global Transformation Project
For the course schedules for cohort 2024 and cohort 2023 see the Brightspace community.
Year 2
Choose one out of two:
- GEO2-2142 Philosophy of Science and Ethics
- GEO2-2429 Environmental Communication and Behaviour
Year 3
Choose one out of two:
- GEO3-2423 Consultancy Project GSS
- GEO3-2432 Consultancy Project Aruba Global Sustainability Science (separate selection process)
A sustainable and healthy food system requires an interdisciplinary approach, balancing food security and fairness with environmental impacts. Starting from understanding the current food system, the track Sustainable & Healthy Food explores alternative approaches to transform our food system to a more just, sustainable, and healthier one. This involves exploring the impact of agriculture on natural resource use, environmental quality, biodiversity, and design innovative solutions to sustainability challenges in agriculture and food systems based on ecological, circularity and fairness principles and try to understand how such innovations and supporting policies can trigger a transition towards a sustainable food system.
You take the following courses:
Year 1
- GEO1-2434 The Science of Food Systems
Year 2
- GEO2-2436 Agroecology
- GEO2-2438 Sustainable and Healthy Food Consumption
Year 3
- GEO3-2441 Transforming Food Systems
- GEO3-2422 Bachelor’s Thesis
Close link S&HF track:
GEO3-2119 Environmental Chemistry and Health
GEO3-2419 Land Change Science
GEO3-2140 Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation
GEO3-2123 Environmental Impact Assessment
Other courses:
GEO3-2122 Business, Sustainability and Innovation
GEO3-2121 Sustainable Land Use
GEO3-2440 Ecohydrology
GEO3-2442 Energy Analysis
GEO3-2430 Energy Markets
GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms and Entrepreneurs
GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
GEO3-2133 Integrated Water and Soil Management
GEO3-2420 Sustainable Energy Supply
GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
The track Water, Climate & Ecosystems focusses on the consequences of climate and land use changes for humans, animals and plants. Climate change has a big impact on the availability of water. The same applies to changing land use – for instance, when a plot of land is drained or is used to cultivate biofuels. The behaviour of humans and animals as well as government decisions, all impact natural systems. What does the past and today’s situation teach us? And what can we expect in the future?
You take the following courses:
Year 1
- GEO1-2206 Chemistry and the Environment
Year 2
- GEO2-2143 Global Climate Change
- GEO2-2439 Ecological Field Research
Year 3
- GEO3-2440 Ecohydrology
- GEO3-2422 Bachelor’s Thesis (15 EC)
Choose two courses:
Close link to WCE track:
GEO3-2119 Environmental Chemistry and Health
GEO3-2123 Environmental Impact Assessment
GEO3-2133 Integrated Water and Soil Management
GEO3-2419 Land Change Science
GEO3-2140 Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation
Other courses:
GEO3-2122 Business, Sustainability and Innovation
GEO3-2442 Energy Analysis
GEO3-2430 Energy Markets
GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms and Entrepreneurs
GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
GEO3-2420 Sustainable Energy Supply
GEO3-2121 Sustainable Land Use
GEO3-2441 Transforming Food Systems
For the course schedules for cohort 2024 and cohort 2023 see the Brightspace community.
The track Governance & Societal Transformation addresses the challenges of how to change governance, societal and economic institutions in order to stimulate sustainable development. This track focuses on the societal origins of sustainability issues, the transformations that are needed to make society more sustainable, and the strategies required to achieve this objective. This involves examining the role of government, international organisations, companies, social organisations and citizens.
You take the following courses:
Year 1
- GEO1-2414 Politics of the Earth
Year 2
- GEO2-2113 Policy Evaluation and Design
- GEO2-2424 Environmental Law
Year 3
- GEO3-2121 Sustainable Land Use
- GEO3-2422 Bachelor’s Thesis (15 EC)
Choose two courses:
Close link to G&ST track:
GEO3-2123 Environmental Impact Assessment
GEO3-2133 Integrated Water and Soil Management
GEO3-2140 Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation
GEO3-2420 Sustainable Energy Supply
Other courses:
GEO3-2122 Business,Sustainability and Innovation
GEO3-2440 Ecohydrology
GEO3-2442 Energy Analysis
GEO3-2430 Energy Markets
GEO3-2119 Environmental Chemistry and Health
GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms and Entrepreneurs
GEO3-2419 Land Change Science
GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
GEO3-2441 Transforming Food Systems
For the course schedules for cohort 2024 and cohort 2023 see the Brightspace community.
Our current energy and resources system is not sustainable. A transformation to a sustainable energy and resources system that is affordable, safe, environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable is needed. This transformation is one of the greatest challenges of our society due to the sheer size and complexity of the energy and resources system and due to the profound impact of the energy and resources system on almost all processes in society.
You take the following courses:
Year 1
- GEO1-2203 Science of Energy Technologies
Year 2
- GEO2-2212 Applied Thermodynamics and Energy Conversions
- GEO2-2143 Global Climate Change
Year 3
- GEO3-2442 Energy Analysis
- GEO3-2422 Bachelor’s Thesis
Choose two courses:
Close link to E&R track:
GEO3-2430 Energy Markets
GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
GEO3-2420 Sustainable Energy Supply
GEO3-2419 Land Change Science
Other courses:
GEO3-2122 Business,Sustainability and Innovation
GEO3-2440 Ecohydrology
GEO3-2123 Environmental Impact Assessment
GEO3-2119 Environmental Chemistry and Health
GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms and Entrepreneurs
GEO3-2133 Integrated Water and Soil Management
GEO3-2140 Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation
GEO3-2121 Sustainable Land Use
GEO3-2441 Transforming Food Systems
For the course schedules for cohort 2024 and cohort 2023 see the Brightspace community.
Technological development and innovation are important in solving a number of sustainability issues. Organisations play an key role here. Not only do they contribute to the development of innovative solutions, they themselves have an impact on the environment. Organisations and innovation, in the context of sustainability, are the core of this track.
You take the following courses:
Year 1
- GEO1-2435 Principles of Economics
Year 2
- GEO2-2218 Organisation Theories
- GEO2-2437 Innovation for Sustainability
Year 3
- GEO3-2122 Business,Sustainability and Innovation
- GEO3-2422 Bachelor’s Thesis
Choose two courses:
Close link to B&I track:
GEO3-2430 Energy Markets
GEO3-2221 Innovation Strategies of Firms and Entrepreneurs
GEO3-2124 Life Cycle Assessment
GEO3-2421 Material Flow Analysis for Resilient Societies
Other courses:
GEO3-2440 Ecohydrology
GEO3-2442 Energy Analysis
GEO3-2123 Environmental Impact Assessment
GEO3-2119 Environmental Chemistry and Health
GEO3-2133 Integrated Water and Soil Management
GEO3-2419 Land Change Science
GEO3-2140 Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation
GEO3-2121 Sustainable Land Use
GEO3-2420 Sustainable Energy Supply
GEO3-2441 Transforming Food Systems
For the course schedules for cohort 2024 and cohort 2023 see the Brightspace community.
If you wish to deviate from the rules for choosing courses, you have to ask for approval beforehand from the Board of Examiners via OSIRIS Cases. Please motivate your choice.
The Bachelor's programme Global Sustainability Science prepares you well for the following Master's programmes at the Faculty of Geosciences:
- Energy Science
- Innovation Sciences
- Sustainable Business and Innovation
- Sustainable Development
- Water Science and Management
Other Master's programmes at Utrecht University that could be interesting are:
- Geografie: educatie en communicatie (in Dutch)
- Science Education and Communication
- Environmental Biology
- International Development Studies
- Earth Structure and Dynamics
- Earth Surface and Water
- Earth, Life and Climate
Read more on how to choose a Master's.
If you have any questions about choosing courses or if you have trouble with your study planning, please contact the Study Advisor.