Master of Arts in Island Studies - Sustainable Island Communities

Islands are special environments that are both resilient and vulnerable to changes in climate, economy and culture. A specialization in Sustainable Island Communities combines concepts of community development with practices of sustainability on islands to create a cutting-edge post-graduate degree. This focus area is ideal for students interested in the interdependence of physical, ecological, economic, political, cultural and social issues and who want to strengthen their abilities to become effective agents of community change. Students learn to take concepts, skills, solutions and strategies learnt in the classroom and test them against real-world situations on islands throughout the world. Almost all public and private organizations are now incorporating some aspects of sustainability planning –including climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies - into their practices.Employment opportunities for graduates of this specialization include community economic development, natural resources management, sustainable agriculture, rural and land-use planning, renewable and alternative energy management, environmental consulting, sustainability director positions, and posts with international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Watch, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund. Local, regional and federal government departments of sustainability and environmental management on islands would be natural employers for graduates from this focus area. Students will benefit from opportunities accorded them from UPEI’s Institute of Island Studies and the UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability based at UPEI.

In the following it must be understood that the standard of reference is the typical Canadian university curriculum and university system.Admission to a graduate degree program as a regular student is granted, on recommendation of the Department concerned, to:the holder of an Honours or majors baccalaureate or its equivalent.a student who has satisfied the requirements for transfer from provisional student category as described below. The minimum requirement for admission to graduate studies in the Faculty of Arts is a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in an honours or majors program or equivalent from a recognized university or college. The applicant will ordinarily be expected to have achieved an average of at least second class (“B”, i.e. 70% to 79.9%) standing in the work of the last four semesters or the last two undergraduate years.