MASTER OF ARTS IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TWO-TRACKS -TRACK IN
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (MABHS-ENVS)

Program Overview:

The MA in Behavioral Science prepares students for specific careers as development
program/project analysts, managers, implementers and researchers. For present
development professionals, the program will substantiate and enhance the skills
demanded in the above roles.

The major goal of the MA in Behavioral Science is to enhance knowledge and
develop major competencies in the teaching and practice of Behavioral Sciences in
both academic and corporate work settings.

Program Learning Outcomes (LO):

P01. Explain environment and sustainability using social science perspectives that
include sociology, anthropology, and social psychology

P02. Promote research addressing socially relevant issues affecting the environment
and sustainability taking into consideration diversity of human conditions.

P03. Analyze and synthesize of environment and sustainability research findings and
interpreting results using relevant research methodologies

P04. Develop intervention strategies, programs and policies for partnership and
collective actions that have implications on the environment and sustainability.

P05. Produce a master’s thesis on environment and sustainability that will promote
knowledge appreciation and production.

P06. Develop intervention strategies and programs for action that promotes
environment and sustainability and respect belief system, culture-based and
community perspectives using the appropriate social science perspectives.

 

Admission requirements

To enter the Program, the applicant must (1) have her/his last degree earned in Behavioral Sciences or related disciplines;  (2)  satisfactorily pass the admission test for Graduate School, i.e.; for MA;  (3) have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0/B or its equivalent;  (4) satisfactorily pass a panel interview; (5)  submit a personal resume and a research plan for a prospective thesis; and, 6) specific requirements of the DLSU Graduate Admissions Office.

Total number of units required: 30 academic units and 6 units thesis.

Duration: 5 years course requirement, 3 years thesis

The student must pass the written comprehensive examinations to be able to proceed
to thesis writing.

The student must be able to publish one research article in a non-predatory, peer-
reviewed journal during the course of study using DLSU-DSBS as primary affiliation.
 

Program Checklist/ Flowchart

Core (9 Units/ 3courses)

  • ESS514M (Theories and Applications of Behavioral Sciences)
  • ESS679M (Social and Organizational Change Management)
  • ESS531M (Foundations of Social Development)

Major (12 units/ 4 courses)

  • ESS816M (Program Planning, Management and Evaluation).
  • ESS623M (Quantitative Research Methods).
  • ESS624M (Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis).
  • ESS824M (Directed Readings).

Cognates  (9 units/ choose 3 courses)

  • ESS685M (Environmental Ethics and Policies)
  • ESS693M (Social Impacts of Modern Technologies)
  • ESS687M (Disaster and Risk Management)
  • ESS683M (Sustainable Development and Environment)

Thesis (6 units)

  • ESS851M (Thesis Writing 1 and Proposal Defense)
  • ESS852M (Thesis Writing 2 and Thesis Final Defense)

 

Course Description

ESS514M (Theories and Applications of Behavioral Sciences)  3 units

The course emphasizes the trans disciplinary perspective of the Behavioral Sciences which is comprised of the disciplines of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Psychology. It provides an overview of the theories and practices drawn from these disciplines for understanding human behavior, change and development in different social and work settings, including gender and the environment.

ESS531M (Foundations of Social Development) 3 units

The course deals with the basic concepts and theoretical paradigms about development in general and social development in particular. It also analyzes and examines the various social development programs, initiatives, and experiences of various institutions and groups in the country, i.e., government organizations, non-government organizations, peoples organizations and other civil society groups.

ESS679M (Social and Organizational Change Management) 3 units

The course covers the underlying fundamental philosophy, principles and methodologies of social and organizational change and development. It analyzes the various environmental processes, forces, and conditions that impact on societies and organizations, and how the latter is able to effectively manage adjustments or transformations to remain viable.

Major (12 units/ 4 courses)

ESS523M (Quantitative Research Methods) 3 units

The course familiarizes the student with the concepts and methods of quantitative research and their applications in social research and development. It will focus on survey, content analysis, experiment, and environment needs assessment and the management and analysis of data drawn from these.

ESS524M (Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis) 3 units

The course covers the application of qualitative methods and techniques in social research and development and environmental studies.  The topics will include, among others, focus group discussion, in-depth interviews, case study, participant observation, and ways of integrating quantitative and qualitative methods.

ESS824M (Directed Readings) 3 units

This course is designed as a guided independent research subject that prepares the student for thesis writing. Literature pertinent to the student’s interest will be reviewed, analyzed, written up and presented in a students’ forum.

ESS816M (Program Planning, Management and Evaluation) 3 units

This course deals with the concepts, principles, theoretical frameworks, methods and tools including log frame analysis in the planning, managing and evaluating programs. It discusses the various issues involved in program planning and management, including management of change within the program, quality assurance initiatives, and monitoring and evaluation of program inputs and outcomes.

Cognates (9 units/3 courses) – Track 2

ESS683M (Sustainable Development and Environment) 3 units
This course traces the changes in the environmental state as societies evolved and
advanced technologically from hunting and gathering, to horticultural or pastoral,
agricultural, industrial, and post-industrial. It also analyzes how various contemporary

development paradigms and strategies, including globalization and sustainable
development, have impacted on the environment.

ESS685M (Environmental Ethics and Policies) 3 units
The course combines environmental ethics and policies. It scrutinizes the different
religious philosophies and cultural value systems that influence societal relationship with
the environment in order to draw out ethical environmental principles.  The course also
reviews and analyzes the historical development of Philippine environmental legislations
and policies in the forestry, agriculture, mining, and fishery sectors. The major
constraints to policy development and implementation will be elicited. The course shall
provide knowledge and skills in undertaking a policy study or analyzing environmental
policy impacts.

ESS687M (Disaster and Risk Management) 3 units
This course discusses foreign and local examples that highlight a variety of
environmental risks and disasters, and people’s perceptions of and responses to them.
Lessons in risk reduction and disaster prevention, communication, and management to
ensure safer communities will be extricated.

ESS693M (Social Impacts of Modern Technologies) 3 units
This course covers the rationale, principles, and methods of three tools for studying the
impacts of modern technologies on society and the environment, namely social impact
assessment (SIA), health impact assessment (HIA), and environmental impact
assessment (EIA). Case studies will be utilized to elicit pertinent issues in and
demonstrate the practice of SIA, HIA, and EIA in the Philippines or other Southeast
Asian countries.

Thesis (6 units)

ESS851M (Thesis Writing 1; Proposal Defense)
ESS852M – ESS859M (Thesis Writing 2 – 9; Thesis Final Defense)
The student enrolled in Thesis Writing conducts an independent research under the
supervision of a thesis mentor. Thesis Writing has two phases: Phase 1 which involves
the preparation of, and successful defense of the thesis proposal, and Phase 2 which
ends with oral defense of the final thesis.