Shape the future of climate action, policy, and society

Tel Aviv University’s M.A. in Social and Policy Aspects of Climate Change is a pioneering graduate degree in climate change in Israel, designed for those who want to understand and influence how societies respond to the climate crisis.

This master’s in climate change combines advanced environmental and social science theory with applied, real-world experience, including a supervised Practicum in organizations across government, industry, and civil society.

Through this climate change graduate degree, you will gain the analytical tools, policy insight, and professional experience needed to pursue leadership roles in climate-focused careers in Israel and worldwide.

Program Highlights

• Israel’s first graduate degree in climate change, and among a small number of social science–focused graduate programs addressing the climate crisis worldwide.

• Led by TAU's Professor Dan Rabinowitz from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, former Head of TAU’s Porter School of Environmental Studies, and author of The Power of Deserts: Climate Change, the Middle East and the Promise of a Post-Oil Era (Stanford University Press, 2020).

• Interdisciplinary climate change studies, integrating social science, law, public policy, environmental studies, geophysics, political ecology, development studies, and urban studies.

• Built-in Practicum for hands-on experience, with placements in government, industry, and civil society organizations in Israel and internationally, focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation.

• Flexible master’s structure, with a choice between a coursework-based track or a research-oriented graduate degree in climate change.

• International student cohort, offering diverse perspectives on climate policy, society, and global environmental challenges.

• Career-oriented training, preparing graduates for roles in public policy, regulation, sustainability strategy, research, NGOs, and climate-related consulting.

What Is the Program Objective?

As knowledge of the physical drivers and biological implications of climate change expands, demand is growing for better tools to understand the impact of this global process on human society. MA in Social and Policy Aspects of Climate Change focuses on the social, cultural, political, and policy dimensions of the climate crisis. 

This unique social science program is the first graduate degree in climate change offered in Israel—and a trailblazer in bringing together climate science, policy, social science, innovation, and human behavior. If you're looking to study climate change in Israel from a multidisciplinary and globally informed perspective, this program is the ideal next step.

Who Is the Program For?

The program is designed for

• future researchers in climate change,
• professionals seeking new paths in a global job market that values climate expertise,
• individuals looking to deepen their understanding of a phenomenon already reshaping societies in the 21st century and beyond.

Program Features: 

• Enrolled students can choose between an MA Coursework program (36 credit hours, 3 semesters, October to September) and an MA Research Program (29 credit hours, 6 semesters).
   
• Operated by TAU's School of Social and Policy Studies and accredited by the Faculty of Social Science, the program welcomes holders of undergraduate degrees in any discipline.

• The program includes several a-synchronous online courses accompanied by in-person meetings each semester.

Career Opportunities

Professionals with a master's in climate change are highly sought after in various sectors:

• Public: Municipal, regional, or national-level planning, energy policy, transportation, green construction, education, healthcare, etc.
• Industry: Emission reduction, regulatory standards, corporate social and environmental responsibility
• Civil society