Environmental Management

One year full-time (normally two days a week) or two to five years part-time (one day a week).Site visits may take place on other days of the week (information about these will be announced at the start of the appropriate module).

The course has been designed to provide an integrated and coherent postgraduate programme of environmental science study. It is intended to provide a high level of training for those who are involved or wish to be involved in planning and decision making where environmental concerns are a major consideration. The principal focus of the programme will be environmental issues in a European context. The part-time route normally requires attendance on one day per week.

The MSc programme has three core modules:

The first, Environmental Management and Policy, will demonstrate the progress and detail examples of national strategies within Europe and of other international initiatives. Also considered will be the continuing theoretical debate about the greening of policy-making and environmentalism.

The second core module provides a comprehensive training in the range of qualitative and quantitative research methods employed in environmental science, including statistical and other analytical techniques.

The final core module is an applied project based on issues raised in the other two core units.

Core modules are supported by more specialised options. You will be able to choose and specialise in three modules across a range of environmental contexts including: Assessing and Managing Climate Change, Energy Resource Management, Environmental Restoration, Sustainable Urban Environments, Wastes Management, and Water Resource Management. Each of these modules will enable you to explore more extensively the relationships between theory and practice in specific areas by reference to detailed case studies. They will also lay the basis for an independent research thesis, which constitutes the final part of the course (equivalent to three single modules).

The MSc programme will be delivered by a range of teaching methods but particular emphasis will be placed upon hands-on experience, whether through practical sessions introducing a variety of skills for environmental scientists or through work in the field. Most of the theory will be taught through a programme of seminars and keynote lectures, whilst the project and research thesis (dissertation) will be supported by close staff supervision and guidance.

For the award of the MSc you would need to complete the three compulsory modules, three optional modules and the research thesis.

• Theoretical aspects of modules supported by site visits
• Broad range of optional modules supported by research and consultancy

Compulsory modules

• Applied project
• Environmental policy and management
• Research methods

Designated modules

• Assessing and managing climate change
• Energy resource management
• Environmental restoration
• Sustainable urban environments
• Wastes management
• Water resource management
• Research thesis

Blaxter L, Hughes C and Tight M How to Research 1996 Open University Press Buckingham

Greenfield T Research Methods: Guidance for Postgraduates 1996 Arnold London

Lee J The Scientific Endeavor: a Primer on Scientific Principles and Practice 2000 Benjamin Cummings San Francisco and Harlow

Assessment is via coursework, including group and individual presentations, research reports, essays, and for the reseach thesis, a 15,000-20,000 word dissertation.

The School of Science and Technology have a dedicated computer room with 24 hour access. The room, when not used for teaching, can be used by students in the school. In addition to the standard software, there are statistical packages and ARC (GIS software). There is also a lab that can be used for sediment and water analysis.

Students usually take this course full-time or part-time. The full-time course starts in September and concludes with the submission of the dissertation either the following September, or four months later (January). A full-time student would attend lectures on at least two days a week (normally Monday and Tuesday). Part-time students usually complete the course in two to five years, usually attending one day a week.

In addition there are usually site visits to support some of the modules. Where a full working day is required, these would be scheduled later on in the week.

Graduates of this course are in high demand and are able to secure posts in the field of environmental management including consultancy, local government, private sector, water and waste industries, and higher education. Graduates have gone on to work within the UK, Europe and overseas. Students from this course have also gone on to MPhil or PhD studies at The University of Northampton.