डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्वविद्यालय दिल्ली 
Applicants need to have a Bachelors degree in any discipline with minimum 45% marks or equivalent grade from a recognised university (Relaxation of 5% marks for SC/ST/PwBD/D-OBC (NCL)/Defence/KM)
View MoreEligibility
×Applicants need to have a Bachelors degree in any discipline with minimum 45% marks or equivalent grade from a recognised university (Relaxation of 5% marks for SC/ST/PwBD/D-OBC (NCL)/Defence/KM)
The MA in Environment and Development (MAED) at the School of Human Ecology is a rigorous, interdisciplinary postgraduate programme that examines contemporary environmental challenges through the combined lenses of ecology, society, politics, history, economics, and culture.
The programme is guided by the understanding that environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, displacement, resource conflicts, and urban ecological crises emerge through complex interactions between human societies and the biophysical environment. Addressing such challenges therefore requires approaches that move beyond disciplinary boundaries.
MAED integrates perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities through classroom learning, field-based research, methodological training, and independent inquiry. Students engage critically with themes including political ecology, conservation, environmental governance, ecological restoration, development, sustainability, public health, climate change, and environmental justice.
A strong emphasis is placed on empirical and field-based learning. Through internships, field visits, dissertations, and research projects, students are trained to connect theory with grounded socio-ecological realities across diverse landscapes and communities.
The programme prepares students for careers and research in academia, conservation, sustainability, development practice, policy, public engagement, and environmental governance.
The total coursework is divided into three broad categories: Core, elective and field practicum courses. To complete the MA programme, a total of 68 credits must be acquired, divided into the following categories:
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Core courses
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Electives
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Field Practicum
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Total credits = 36
Nine courses of 4 credits each in Semesters 1 and 2
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Total credits=22
Spread over 2 semesters
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Total credits=10
Field based, research oriented
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These courses are spread across four semesters, with a summer break between the 2nd and 3rd semester. The semester-wise spread of core, elective, research skills and field-based courses is depicted in the table below. Course credits are shown in parentheses.
| Course | Semester I | Semester II | Summer Break | Semester III | Semester IV |
| Core | Ecology, Ecosystems and Biodiversity (4) | Social and Political Ecology (4) | |||
| Development and Social Change (4) | Environmental Law, Policy and Governance (4) | ||||
| Environmental History (4) | Environmental and Ecological Economics (4) | ||||
| Traditional Knowledge Systems of India (4) | |||||
| Elective |
Electives |
Electives |
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| Research Skills | Research Methodology – I (4) | Research Methodology – II (4) | |||
| Field -Based Research Practicum | Summer Internship (02) | Dissertation (08) |
Graduates of the MAED programme will:
- Develop interdisciplinary understanding of relationships between environment, society, politics, economy, and culture
- Build strong foundations in ecological and social science approaches to environmental issues
- Gain expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and spatial research methodologies
- Conduct independent field-based and empirical research
- Critically analyse contemporary socio-ecological challenges across local and global scales
- Understand the role of governance, inequality, power, and justice in environmental decision-making
- Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to conservation, sustainability, development, policy, and public engagement contexts
- Demonstrate strong academic, analytical, writing, and communication skills
- Engage ethically and reflexively with communities, landscapes, and environmental questions
A. Programme Overview
1. What is the MA in Environment and Development (MAED)?
MAED is an interdisciplinary postgraduate programme that examines environmental issues through perspectives from ecology, social sciences, humanities, policy, history, economics, and field-based research. The programme focuses on understanding relationships between environment, society, development, justice, and sustainability.
The programme combines natural sciences and social sciences while emphasizing critical thinking, field engagement, and interdisciplinary learning. It approaches environmental issues not only as ecological concerns, but also as social, political, historical, economic, and ethical questions.
3. Is the programme theory-based or field-based?
The programme combines conceptual learning with strong field-based engagement through internships, surveys, ecological methods, GIS training, field visits, and dissertation research.
4. What is the duration of the programme?
The MAED programme is a two-year full-time postgraduate programme spread across four semesters.
B. Eligibility and Admissions
1. Who can apply for MAED?
Students from diverse academic backgrounds including sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, law, commerce, and allied disciplines are eligible to apply, subject to University admission criteria.
2. Is prior background or experience in environmental studies necessary?
No. The programme is designed to accommodate students from multiple disciplinary backgrounds.
3. How can I apply?
Applications are submitted through the official admissions portal of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi during the admissions cycle.
4. Where can I find admission notifications and deadlines?
All admission-related updates, eligibility criteria, important dates, and procedures are available on the University website.
5. Is entrance examination required?
Admission procedures are governed by University regulations and may include entrance-based or merit-based processes as notified during admissions.
C. Curriculum and Coursework
1. What does the curriculum include?
The curriculum includes:
o Core courses
o Elective courses
o Research methodology training
o Field-based learning
o Field-work-based Dissertation
2. What are the core areas covered in the programme?
Core areas include:
o Ecology and biodiversity
o Environmental history
o Political ecology
o Environmental governance
o Environmental economics
o Research methodology
3. Does the programme include quantitative methods?
Yes. Students receive exposure to statistics, data analysis, GIS, and other research tools alongside qualitative methods.
4. What kind of dissertation topics do students work on?
Dissertation topics vary widely and may include themes related to climate change, development, environmental governance, public health and sanitation, livelihoods, sustainability, agriculture, urban ecology, policy, and socio-ecological transitions.
5. Is fieldwork compulsory?
Field-based learning is an integral component of the programme and forms an important part of coursework and research training.
6. What types of field activities are included?
Depending on courses and faculty requirements, students may participate in:
o Ecological surveys
o Community studies
o Urban fieldwork
o GIS-based exercises
o Institutional visits
o Rural and landscape studies
7. Does the programme include an internship?
Yes. Students undertake a field-based internship as part of the programme structure.
D. Attendance and Academic Requirements
1. Is attendance mandatory?
Yes. Students are expected to maintain attendance according to University regulations and participate actively in lectures, tutorials, seminars, field visits, and practical sessions.
2. What happens if attendance is low?
Attendance requirements and consequences of shortage are governed by University academic regulations.
3. Is regular class participation important?
Yes. All courses involve discussions, presentations, group work, and continuous evaluation.
4. Is the programme academically intensive?
Yes. The programme involves substantial reading, writing, field engagement, classroom participation, and independent research.
E. Assessment and Evaluation
1. How are students evaluated?
Assessment methods vary across courses and may include:
o Analytical essays
o Class tests
o Presentations
o Research papers
o Field reports
o Practical exercises
o Take-home assessments
o End-semester examinations
2. Is there continuous assessment?
Yes. Many courses use continuous and internal evaluation components alongside end-semester assessments.
3. Are field reports and presentations graded?
Yes. Field-based assignments, presentations, and research exercises may form a part of course evaluation, and are graded.
4. Are students expected to conduct independent research?
Yes. Independent inquiry and analytical engagement are important aspects of the programme.
F. Fees, Scholarship, and Financial Support
1. What is the fee structure for MAED?
The latest fee structure is available through official University notifications and the admissions portal.
2. Are scholarships available?
Students may apply for scholarships, fellowships, fee waivers, or financial assistance schemes offered by the University or external agencies, subject to eligibility criteria.
3. Does the University provide financial assistance for reserved categories or economically weaker sections?
Financial assistance policies are governed by University and government regulations applicable at the time of admission.
4. Are there opportunities for funded research or internships?
Opportunities may arise through faculty projects, institutional collaborations, internships, or external organizations depending on availability.
G. Career Prospects and Higher Studies
1. What career opportunities are available after MAED?
MAED graduates can pursue careers in:
o Research and academia
o Environmental NGOs
o Conservation organizations
o Sustainability and climate initiatives
o Environmental consulting
o Development sector organizations
o Public policy and governance
o GIS and spatial analysis
o Environmental communication
o Public health and environment programmes
2. Do students pursue higher studies after MAED?
Yes. Graduates have pursued MPhil and PhD programmes in India and internationally across environmental studies, anthropology, geography, sustainability, development studies, conservation, public policy, and related fields.
The School offers a PhD degree in Human Ecology
3. Does the programme support preparation for research careers?
Yes. Strong emphasis is placed on research methodology, analytical writing, field engagement, and dissertation work.
4. Are placements provided?
Students receive exposure to internships, research organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and institutional networks through the programme and faculty collaborations. MAED graduates have secured placements across organisations like Worldwide Fund for Nature, India, Toxics Link, Navdanya, Gene Campaign, Vahani Scholarships, Institute for Human Development, Housing and Land Rights Network, All India Institute of Local Self Government, Ashoka University, IBM, DJIS Design and Construction Pvt Ltd, and many more.
H. Grievances and Student Support
1. Whom should students contact for academic queries?
Students may contact the Programme Coordinator or the School Office for programme-related academic queries.
- MA Programme Coordinator: pcmaed@aud.ac.in
- SHE Office: sheoffice@aud.ac.in
2. Whom should students contact regarding admissions?
Admission-related queries should be directed to the University admissions office through official communication channels.
3. How can students raise grievances or complaints?
Student grievances may be addressed through the School, University administrative offices, or designated grievance redressal mechanisms as per University regulations.