Universities and Online Degrees Guide

University of the Witwatersrand

Master of Urban Studies in Sustainable Energy Efficient Cities

The Master of Urban Studies in Sustainable Energy Efficient Cities in Architecture is offered by University of the Witwatersrand.

Program Length: 1 YEAR.

Master of Urban Studies in Sustainable Energy Efficient Cities offered by the University of the Witwatersrand

The Master of Urban Studies in the field of Sustainable Energy Efficient Cities (coursework and research report) is interdisciplinary, requiring 65% average in an honours degree or equivalent.

The MUS (SEEC) qualification is a one year full-time (or two-year part-time) programme on sustainability and energy studies with a focus on cities, settlements, buildings and architecture.

As the centres of human habitation as well as production and consumption, cities and their respective built environments pose a double-edged sustainability dilemma for humanity with regard to challenges versus intervention, adaptation and mitigation opportunities. 

Based on a multi-disciplinary approach, the programme admits students with honours-level qualification in diverse disciplines including the built environment, engineering, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences. 

The course starts early to mid-February and ends with submission of the research report for examination end February of the following year, or one year later if taken part-time. This degree is offered mostly on a block release. However, the course ‘Understanding Cities of the South’ is offered on a weekly basis throughout the first semester, and the course ‘Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development’ is offered on a weekly basis throughout the second semester.

In the second year of the part time route, part-time candidates have to attend the Research Methods for one full day every two weeks for the first quarter of the year. There are several research progress presentations scheduled across the remainder of the year.

Curriculum

The MUS (SEEC) consists of coursework and research. The coursework, which has the same credit weighting as the research component, is designed to complement the research enquiry. The elective course allows for individual specialisation beyond the essential urban management competencies taught in the compulsory courses. The degree is structured as follows:

• 4 compulsory Category A courses (70 points)
• 1 elective from Category B (20 points)
• Research Report (90 points)