Psychology & Sustainability (M.Sc.)

The two-year English-language dual-degree programme M.Sc. Psychology & Sustainability lets you take an in-depth look at current sustainability policy challenges (such as climate change, intergenerational conflicts) from a psychological perspective. You will focus on political, technical and economic system issues while also considering individual stakeholders and actors. 

Career Fields

The M.Sc. programme qualifies you for a variety of professional tasks in the fields of sustainability and psychology, especially for positions that promote behavioural changes and transformation processes in the sense of sustainable development. Depending on your focus and personal preferences, graduates can work in the private sector in the fields of organisational development, management and sustainability consulting. Other fields of work include educational institutions and civil society organisations. Another option is a career in research and teaching with a focus on sustainability science and/or psychology. Because of the programme’s international orientation graduates also qualify for the international labour market and research community.

The following overview shows a selection of possible fields of employment for graduates of the master's programme. Please note that additional qualifications may be required.

  • Organisational development and consulting
  • Sustainability consulting
  • Public Relations / Foundations / NGOs
  • Education / Adult Education
  • Research Facilities / Think Tanks

Organisational development and consulting

  • Change Manager: Plans, accompanies and monitors change processes in companies and supports decision-makers in the creation and implementation of a change plan.
  • Compliance Manager: Develops concepts and measures to ensure the legally and ethically correct behaviour of organisations and their employees. This also includes sustainability requirements.
  • Corporate-Responsibility-Manager: Defines and develops strategies for implementing social, ecological and economic sustainability in companies and their values and production chains.
  • Group / Team Leader: Is responsible for the management of employees, teams and departments. Due to their expert knowledge in organisational development and behavioural change, graduates of the M.Sc. programme are particularly qualified for leadership positions in this field.
  • Intercultural Communication Consultant: Is concerned with the interaction of actors from different cultural backgrounds in companies. The programme’s intercultural focus qualifies graduates for this position.
  • Manager: Assumes leadership tasks at middle to upper organisational level. Graduates of the M.Sc. programme contribute special knowledge in the areas of organisational development and behavioural change, which qualifies them for management positions.
  • Management Consultant: As an external service provider, they analyse the processes and structures in companies, e.g., with regard to transformation processes and sustainable development. 

Sustainability consulting

  • Waste Adviser: Informs companies, private households, authorities and local political bodies, clubs, associations, schools and kindergartens about the implementation of measures for waste prevention, recycling and disposal.
  • Energy consultant: Informs private households and commercial enterprises in terms of economy and technology about economical and environmentally friendly energy use. Knowledge of motivational aspects of behaviour change is helpful.
  • Climate Protection Manager: Coordinates municipal activities and projects to save energy and emissions and informs the public about climate protection measures.
  • Mediator: Supports disputing parties in conflicts of various kinds in order to reach amicable, out-of-court solutions. Above all, positions are conceivable here that address aspects of sustainable development and thus bring the expertise of the graduates to bear. 
  • Tourism Manager: Performs organisational, marketing and management tasks, especially in companies in the tourism industry. Graduates in sustainability sciences can take on an advisory function with regard to a more sustainable design in tourism.
  • Environmental Scientist: Monitors and analyses environmentally relevant processes, assesses ecological risks and carries out environmental impact assessments.
  • Consumer Advisor: Informs, advises and supports consumers in questions of (sustainable) consumption.
  • Traffic Planner: Develops traffic facilities and systems to optimise traffic processes. Here, a special focus can be placed on sustainable mobility and incentives for changes in mobility behaviour.

Public Relations / Foundations / NGOs

  • Campagner: Develops strategies and projects on sustainability issues, e.g. for non-profit organisations. They plan and implement actions and represent the organisation externally. Knowledge of motivational aspects of campaigning is helpful.
  • Development worker: Conveys knowledge in development services/cooperations to improve the living conditions in developing countries/crisis regions. Graduates of the M.Sc. programme are prepared to work in projects that promote sustainable development and corresponding behavioural adjustments. 
  • Expert for environment and sustainability in PR departments: Plans, develops and implements measures to promote the image of companies, authorities, associations and other institutions.
  • Online editor: Prepares texts for Internet / online presences, e.g. for political magazines. Graduates of the M.Sc. programme have a choice to specialise in the fields of sustainability and/or psychology.
  • Project manager for environmental projects of foundations/NGOs: Supervises projects from conception to technical and organisational implementation within the framework of defined specifications.
  • Environmental Journalist: Writes about sustainability-related topics, e.g. for political magazines. Graduates of the M.Sc. programme have a choice to specialise in the fields of sustainability and/or psychology.

Education / Adult Education

  • Expert in the field of education/adult education: There are various professional opportunities for graduates in the field of education, for example in the field of school-based or vocational environmental education. In addition to teaching activities, the field offers tasks like developing concepts and organising and conducting courses and seminars. The production of educational materials also falls into this area of responsibility. The positions may be located in both government and private institutions. These include:
    • State administrations at various levels of authority (including nature conservation and environmental protection agencies)
    • Associations, clubs, foundations and corporations
    • Research institutions
    • Political organisations.
       
  • Lecturer at universities and academies: Independently designs and conducts courses. They also work on scientific research projects. Graduates of the M.Sc. programme can specialise in the fields of sustainability and/or psychology.
  • Speaker for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for multipliers: Exerts indirect influence with the help of multipliers who, through their professional or social position, influence the masses and can act as catalysts for ESD.
  • Behavioural and Communication Trainer: Teaches the basics of successful communication and constructive behaviour, e.g. in seminars or coaching sessions in companies, and trains participants.
     

Research Facilities / Think Tanks

  • Sustainability Scientist: Is specially trained for interdisciplinary research and transdisciplinary cooperation. Not only interdisciplinary research projects in the fields of sustainability and/or psychology may be a later field of activity, but also the moderation of processes between science and practice (transdisciplinarity).
  • Research Assistant: Works in research institutions, which are either supported by scientific academies and universities or funded by non-profit organisations. Activities in research institutions include, for example, the acquisition of research funds, the concrete implementation of research projects and their publication.

Additional qualifications may be necessary.