Human Geography: Landscape and Political Ecology

The course introduces you to key debates in landscape geography and political ecology. You study how different understandings of “landscape” have developed within geography, and how these perspectives influence the way we analyse environmental challenges. Political ecology provides a critical lens to examine power structures, environmental injustice, and the unequal distribution of benefits and burdens in society. 

You engage with both classical and contemporary research, from different perspectives, exploring how landscapes are shaped by cultural values, social processes, and politics. The course highlights how environmental change unfolds unevenly across places, and how conflicts over land, resources, and development emerge at different scales. 

Throughout the course, you are encouraged to reflect on how theory can be used to analyse real cases like land use, resource conflicts, and other environmental challenges. The focus is on helping you understand complex issues in a clear and structured way, and giving you tools to study environmental issues from a critical but practical perspective. 

The course is taught in English, within the first term of the Master's programme in Human Geography. It is also offered as a freestanding course.  

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The course emphasises independent thinking and collaborative learning, giving you tools to understand how environmental issues are shaped by social, cultural, and political dynamics. 

Teaching consists of lectures, seminars, and an excursion that connects course concepts to concrete examples. Lectures introduce theoretical frameworks, while seminars offer space for discussion, critical reading, and comparison of different academic perspectives.  

The course is assessed through written and oral assignments. Active participation is expected, and attendance at seminars and guest lectures is mandatory.  

You will study at the Department of Human Geography at Geocentrum I in central Lund – a place that brings together lecturers, researchers and students from all over the world in a stimulating and international study environment.

After the course, you can analyse environmental questions using clear concepts from landscape geography and political ecology. You strengthen your skills in critical reading, academic writing, and scientific communication. Those are valuable tools in both further studies and professional roles involving planning, environmental analysis, public administration, NGOs, and international development. 

The course also prepares you for advanced studies in human geography, sustainability, environmental policy, development studies, and related fields.  

Entry requirements

At least 150 ECTS credits, including a Bachelor thesis in Human Geography (or the equivalent). English course 6/B.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: ECTS (HPAV): 100 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 16,875
First payment: SEK 16,875

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.