Environmental Studies

The general aim of the PhD study programme in Environmental Studies is to form future researchers and managers in the field of environmental issues. The study in the programme enables acquiring knowledge and understanding of the broader contexts of environmentalism, especially with regard to its sociological, economic, psychological, ethical and historical aspects. The programme offers three basic fields of research and study: social ecological economics, pro-environmental behaviour from the perspective of social sciences, and the environmental aspects of the city and landscape. Systematic training in research techniques according to the chosen specialization and the deepening of the theoretical background will prepare the students for independent research activities within the scientific field or for management or expert activities in practice. The ultimate goal is forming a graduate who can apply the tools (empirical research tools, evaluation tools, analytical tools) of environmentally oriented research, evaluate and interpret someone else's research and critically (reflectively) examine their own assumptions and apply them creatively in research practice or in managerial positions in the governmental and non-governmental sector.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Apply tools (empirical research tools, evaluation tools, analytical tools) of environmentally oriented research, evaluate and interpret someone else's research and critically (reflectively) examine their own assumptions.
• Evaluate the success of selected policies towards the selected environmental objectives according to selected parameters.
• Critically reflect and analyze environmental topics in humanities and social disciplines according to the chosen specialization in various sciences – sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, especially ethics and aesthetics, urbanism, politology
• Apply methodologically correct procedures in conducting independent empirical research within the chosen specialization (environmental behaviour, social ecological economics, environmental aspects of town and landscape) or in related fields.
• Critically reflect on their professional activity, evaluate and actively seek options for their own systematic self-education and self-fulfilment.

The applicability of the PhD study programme graduates can be broken down into the following sub-areas:

1. Academia in humanities and social sciences, dealing with issues related to the environment at different levels, whether colleges or research institutions.

2. State administration (Ministry of the Environment, environmental departments of self-governing units, etc.). The graduates of the programme will have the capacity and skills necessary to prepare research and evaluation assignments, the ability to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the chosen approach to research, the ability to interpret the delivered research and evaluate reliability and validity of its results. Also an ability to compare research results with research on a similar topic abroad, skills for management positions (fundamentals in personal management for state administration). Ability of basic orientation in the field of environmental issues and policies, ability to conduct independent research within the chosen specialization (social ecological economics, pro-environmental behaviour, environmental aspects of the city and landscape) or within related areas.

3. The private sector (corporate environmentalist with a focus on PR and communication of environmental issues). Management and expert positions in NGOs at the local and the international level. In addition, graduates of the programme will be able to prepare, assign or independently conduct empirical research in the field of environmental issues, select a suitable strategy for communicating the results of such research, and interpret its results.

4. NGOs related to the environment, especially management positions in these organizations; eventually positions associated with PR and communication of environmental issues.

The PhD programme does not include internships.

The dissertation represents the final work which demonstrates the PhD. student's ability of independent creative research activity. Individual dissertations differ by their basic features and basic methodologies according to chosen field and specialization. The dissertation can present qualitative and/or quantitative empirical research, but it can also be an systematic analytical text discussing ideas and concepts, as, for example, in philosophy. In justified cases it can also be a text focusing on history (e.g. in the field of environmental history). Doctoral study rules allow for a dual form of dissertation: either in the form of a continuous text, the length of which ranges from 120 to 250 standard pages of the basic text (text of the thesis including notes, no bibliography, attachments, and content of work) or, exceptionally, reflecting a given topic or methodology, it can also have the form of individual published articles or chapters with commentary. (Whether the exception will be granted will be decided by the Doctoral Board at its meeting, based on a written petition submitted by the student and recommended by the supervisor.) The whole work must have a unified theme and must be a set of at least four articles/chapters in a monograph and must provide a coherent and integrated whole framed by an introduction and a conclusion (a detailed specification - see the web page of the Department).