United Nations University
Institute for Sustainability and Peace

Core Courses

Basic to the curriculum are the core courses of the programme. These core courses are designed to provide analyses of global issues from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. The core courses will lay a solid foundation in three of the four thematic areas as well as their interdisciplinary methodologies.

Specialized Elective Courses

In addition to the core courses, students are required to take three specialized courses. This should include electives in environmental sustainability studies. Students also have an option to undertake a practical training scheme with UNU-INRA as an alternative to one of these specialized courses.

Interdisciplinary Research Seminar

Students will take a course on interdisciplinary research seminar 4 to learn about research theories, tools and methods. This course will equip students with tools in understanding and designing an interdisciplinary research, giving the students opportunity to explore possible collaboration within and across the three sections.

Individual Study Seminars

In addition to course work, students have to take individual study seminars with their supervisor. In this independent study seminar, students will improve and develop their research plan, to enable a systematic progress towards the dissertation.

Qualifying Exam

There will be two qualifying exams, one for the course work requirement and the other for the research. For the course works, the students are expected to complete the course work requirements (14 credits) within one and a half year and maintain an average GPA above 3.0.

Service Requirements

In addition to the credit requirements, students will also acquire experience in research development and teaching through fulfilling four semesters of service requirements. Students will work either as a teaching (TA) or a research assistant (RA) upon recommendation and approval of the Faculty.

PhD Dissertation

The PhD dissertation of students will be on one of the research themes of UNU-ISP, directly connected with the research projects of the university, that involve problem-oriented research that would enable students to acquire analytical and research skills to understand the underlying principles among various systems involved in sustainability issues and debates.

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