Postgraduate
MSc, Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate in Environmental Management
Syllabus
C200
Environmental science and management
Provides an overview of the Earth
system and its main subsystems and processes. It focuses on the science
underlying the most prominent global environmental issues. Major
approaches to, and principles of, environmental management are also
examined.
Please note: this module
will be supplied as electronic courseware on CD Rom.
C208
Environmental auditing and environmental management system
Provides an understanding of
how to identify and evaluate the environmental impacts of an
organisation or product/service. It explains how the environmental
impacts of an organisation can be managed within the context of an
environmental management system. It also explains the practical
application of environmental auditing and environmental management
systems, and it examines the range of available environmental management
tools and techniques. It also considers ways in which corporate
environmental management may respond to the challenge of sustainable
development requirements.
C107
Environmental assessment
Provides an understanding of
the processes and techniques for assessing the impacts of proposed
actions on the environment, across a range of decision levels. It
demonstrates the types of information required for assessing the impacts
of a proposal on specific environmental parameters. It provides a basis
for the practical application of environmental assessment skills; it
also gives examples and case studies illustrating key aspects of
professional practice for environmental managers.
C170
Introduction to environmental economics and policy
Explains the essential
economic concepts and theory relevant to environmental issues. It
reviews economic theories of pollution and management of natural
resources, and how these can inform environmental policy. The impact of
macroeconomic policies on the environment and the role of international
environmental agreements on transboundary issues are examined.
C163
Environmental ethics
Considers
environmental values in relation to ethical principles and cultural
traditions, and outlines the development of an environmentalist
movement, the interface of science and the environment, and the
political impact of environmental concerns. It should provide insights
to practitioners and policy makers for best practice and social and
political sensitivities.
C114
International environmental law
Covers the principles
and rules of international law which have as their primary objective the
protection of the environment. It addresses how the international
community has recognised and sought to deal with the interdependence of
the global environment through regional and international agreements.
C71
Environmental monitoring
Describes the techniques commonly used in chemical and biological
monitoring of the environment. It indicates why monitoring of the
environment is important, and describes sampling and analytical
methodologies while emphasising good working practice in terms of
quality assurance and safety procedures.
C122
Environmental
valuation: theory, techniques and application
Develops the theory and techniques of the
valuation of non-market goods. The course focuses on the techniques and
methods for putting monetary values on the environment and shows how
these can be incorporated in economic decision making at both the macro
and project level.
C117
Introduction to biodiversity and conservation management
This course provides a
broad introduction to the conservation of biological diversity with an
emphasis on conservation within ecosystems. It provides an outline of
the major elements of global biodiversity: evolution and distribution,
and examines the threats to biodiversity and the imperative to conserve.
It explains some of the fundamental principles of genetic, species and
ecosystem diversity, providing an overview of the techniques available
to conserve biodiversity both in situ and ex situ. A further theme is
the role of protected areas for conservation and management of
biodiversity and the issue of conservation outside protected areas.
Social, ethical and policy issues surrounding biodiversity conservation
are reviewed at appropriate points in the course.
C124
Climate change and development
Provides a
multi-disciplinary understanding of climate change processes and of
their direct and indirect interactions with development. It describes
the main climate change processes, scenarios and vulnerabilities, and
international and national policy responses. Different sectors'
contributions and sensitivities to climate change (and to mitigation and
adaptation responses) are identified, with their implications for
policies and outcomes for different economies and for people's
livelihoods within them.
C167
Managing social and environmental responsibility
Introduces concepts and
theory underlying the management of social and environmental
responsibility. It addresses ethical dilemmas for business, and
discusses strategies and responsibilities within and outside the firm.
It concludes by linking firm-level activities with national and
international performance standards and best practice reporting to
stakeholders.
C168
Sustainable land management
Covers
the physical and biological processes essential to understanding soil
science and processes of land degradation. It explores the causes of
land degradation and measures for mitigation and conservation in a range
of agro-climatic zones. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of
physical, economic, social, political and institutional factors in
determining land management practices.
C132
NGO management
Covers NGO growth trends,
strategic planning, structures, systems, and management challenges. It
explores these in relation to accountability, transparency, performance,
monitoring and evaluation, and organisational learning.
C101
Sustainable development: approaches and indicators
Although sustainability
of human livelihood and enterprise is an old phenomenon, synonymous with
the emergence of Homo sapiens, the modern notion of ‘sustainable
development’ arose in the last quarter of the 20th century in response
to growing international recognition of two related phenomena. First,
the failure of attempts to reproduce the development achieved in the
high income, industrialised nations of the world among less
industrialised, low income countries; and, second, the negative
environmental impacts produced by conventional high-consumption and
through-put approaches to industrial development.
This module reviews the
concept of sustainable development in terms of environmental
sustainability and sustainable growth, and addresses a number of the
socio-political approaches and indicators for sustainable development.
In particular, it addresses the following socio-political dimensions of
sustainable development: the state, civil society, local knowledge and
resource management, knowledge management, property rights, forums for
policy-making, economic globalisation and trade, and indicators. It is
complemented by courses on ecosystem approaches, socio-economics and
design and innovation related to sustainable development.
Please note: this module
will be supplied as electronic courseware on CD Rom
C85
Sustainable Forest Management
Forests are important
sources of products and environmental services, and yet are disappearing
or threatened in most tropical and many temperate regions. Well managed
forests with appropriate conservation measures can deliver society’s
needs in a sustainable way. Understanding how and why is central to this
module. Beginning with an introduction to key concepts, issues and
protocols and an overview of the global forest estate, the module builds
an understanding of sustainable forest management from its foundation in
ecological principles, markets for forest products and environmental
services and local to global forest and environmental policies. A solid
knowledge of the principles and practice of forest management planning,
implementation and monitoring is developed and related to the
requirements of sustainable forest management certification.
C26
Water resource management
Explains the key themes,
concepts, and tools associated with water management. The module covers
determinants of availability and scarcity, assessment and management
from basin to user, economics and governance, the management and
sustainability of irrigated agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and
environmental, social and political dimensions of water use.
Research methods
Begins with a discussion of the nature and
role of research and then seeks to provide a foundation of basic skills
in research. The course covers sampling, data collection methods, basic
statistical tests, an introduction to SPSS®, and procedures for
qualitative data analysis.
Please
note: this module will be supplied as
electronic courseware on CD Rom in 2006.
RR101 -
Research report
MSc students only
The research report involves desk-based
and/or field-based research. The report is assessed by submission of a
research proposal (10%) and a 10,000 word written report (90% of final
module mark). Students are individually assigned a research supervisor
for support and advice. All research topics are subject to approval by
the Senior Teaching Fellow.
