LUCAS focuses on the most pressing societal challenges related to climate change. The programme builds on the knowledge and skills students acquired in first cycle programmes and aims to give them the expertise needed to better understand and act on societal climate challenges and thereby enable them to contribute to long-term technological, political, economic, and social climate solutions.

Programme overview

The first semester provides a foundation for understanding the scientific basis of climate change, its drivers and dynamics, as well as some of the main debates around the topic of climate politics. In addition, the semester serves to introduce basic methodological approaches to climate change. 

The second semester includes the study of climate impacts and various approaches to mitigation, adaptation, and transformation of climate change. In this semester students are asked to apply the basic knowledge provided in the first semester to specific cases and societal contexts, and work towards putting their knowledge into action. This semester also includes a course on specific methods and tools for understanding, and acting upon, climate challenges, with a clear practical orientation. 

The third semester consists of a 30 credits internship course, where the student can choose internship opportunities in research projects or within public or private organizations outside the university. Internships can be in Sweden or abroad. 

In the fourth semester the student carries out a thesis project comprising 30 credits. The project is to be a synthesis of the knowledge and expertise that the student has acquired during the programme. The project develops the student's potential for professional work that places considerable demands on independence, or for research and development work by developing the student's ability to independently synthesise, and use knowledge.

Course details

1st semester

• Drivers and Dynamics of Climate Change, 15 credits
• Methodological Approaches to Climate Change, 7.5 credits
• Climate Change Politics and Economics, 7.5 credits

2nd semester

• Mitigation - Technologies, Controversies and Opportunities, 7.5 credits
• Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, 7.5 credits
• Transformational Approaches to Climate Change, 7.5 credits
• Methods for Climate Action, 7.5 credits

3rd semester

• Climate Action in Practice (internship course), 30 credits

4th semester

• Master's thesis, 30 credits