Entry requirementsIn order to successfully complete a postgraduate course, applicants are usually expected to have (or be about to attain) at least a second class honours degree in a related scientific subject from a recognised institution of higher education. If you do not have these academic qualifications, you could still be offered a place on this course if you can show evidence of the potential to succeed based on professional and/or related experiences.
If your first language is not English, you must satisfy our English language requirements by providing us with evidence of a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL score of 575 (paper-based) or 232 (computer-based).
Academic titleMSc / PGDip Environmental Management and Technology
Course description MSc / PGDip
On completion of the course graduates will be in a position to sit the exams for entry at associate level to the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
The course examines the principles, procedures and methods of good environmental management against the background of current British, EU and other international policy requirements and market instruments such as ISO14001, the Eco-Audit and Management Scheme and IPPC. It focuses on pollution monitoring and reporting, providing you with a detailed understanding of environmental data collection, interpretation and evaluation. The dissertation module enables you to apply the theory to a real and in-depth environmental management situation related to your interests and employment requirements, which equips you with the practical experience that employers value.
Course content
The MSc course requires you to complete a total of 180 M-level credits from a modular framework. Each module is worth 20 M credits except for the Procedures and Methods of EIA, worth 40 M credits, Research Methods, worth 10 M credits and the Dissertation, worth 50 M credits. PGDip students are required to complete 120 M-level credits (ie all modules excluding the Dissertation and Research Methods). A PGCert is awarded for completion of 60 M-level credits.
The MSc course consists of four core modules (totalling 80 M-level credits), optional modules (totalling 40 M-level credits), Research Methods (10 M-level credits) and the Dissertation (50 M-level credits).
The core modules:
* Environmental Management Systems (20 M credits) provides an introduction to environmental management - to the systems and approaches that are being increasingly used in industry and commerce to meet the challenge of sustainable development and to monitor and improve their environmental performance.
* Pollution Measurement and Analysis (20 M credits) explores pollution survey design and implementation; sampling principles and practice; sample handling and storage; analysis options; data quality control; data interpretation. The approach used will encourage the development of practical skills and an understanding of the problems and uncertainties associated with different types of measurements and analyses. The practical element will also allow students to gain experience in monitoring diverse environmental media and to set the data collected into the context of environmental management and policy monitoring.
* Management of Waste and Contaminated Land (20 M credits) looks at how contaminated land is largely the result of earlier unsustainable practices employed in handling and disposing of waste materials. The two subjects are integrally linked and this module starts by examining current waste management policies and practices, which will minimise the risk of creating further tracts of contaminated land, before going on to consider the strategies and techniques now being employed to investigate and remediate contaminated sites.
Plus one of either:
* Environmental Law and Decision Making (20 M credits) examines the international, European and UK legal context of environmental decision making, including the development of environmental law from international treaties and conventions into European and UK legislation.
Or, as an alternative compulsory:
* GIS and Environmental Modelling (20 M credits) examines the practical application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a variety of other computer-based techniques and models (namely expert systems, and spreadsheets) as tools to assist in environmental management and decision-making.
The optional modules provide an opportunity for students to widen or deepen their field of study. There are three types of optional module as follows:
a) Recommended optional modules:
* Procedures and Methods of EIA (40 M credits) examines the processes and procedures in carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and provides a practical introduction to methods for assessing, predicting and mitigating a wide range of ecological and socio-economic impacts. The module emphasises fieldwork and case-studies.
* Strategic Environmental Assessment (20 M credits) covers SEA principles and SEA’s status worldwide; links between SEA, environmental impact assessment, and strategic decision making; examination of a wide range of SEA tools and techniques, and their advantages and disadvantages in various settings.
* Environmentally Sustainable Business (20 M credits) reviews the role that business has in reducing the burden on the natural environment. It considers the pressures on business to contribute to this challenge and the range of management frameworks and techniques that are evolving in response. The adoption of environmental policies and their implementation through control mechanisms are reviewed. Innovation in both the management of resources and the design of business processes and their relation to profitability and impacts on the environment are studied. Finally, the significant implications for business of aiming to be truly environmentally sustainable are discussed.
* Environmental Law and Decision Making (20 M credits) or GIS and Environmental Modelling (20 M credits) - whichever module you have not selected as core (see above).
b) Alternative optional modules - normally selected from an approved list of courses currently running in the University. However, a student may seek approval from the course leaders to take a suitable module that is not included in the approved list.
c) Independent Study module - involves individual work on an appropriate topic or set of topics, conducted under supervision and with prior approval of the course leaders. No more than one Independent Study module may be included in a course.
Research Methods (10 M credits) develops the skills needed to research environmental issues, including the formulation of research problems and methodology, data collection and analysis.
Dissertation (50 M credits) is an individual research study on a topic relevant to EMT chosen by you.
Teaching, learning and assessment
This is a modular master’s course, in which different subject areas relating to environmental management and technology are taught and assessed separately. It is organised on a module-credit basis, with each 20 M-level credit module representing approximately 200 hours of student input. This includes approximately 36 hours of staff contact, normally time-tabled through one taught session per week over the 12-week semester.
Teaching and learning methods reflect the wide variety of topics and techniques associated with planning and development in environmental management and technology. These include lectures, directed reading, workshops, seminars, practicals and project work. Some modules also include site visits and fieldwork, which provide direct experience of the current issues in environmental management and technology.
In keeping with the course emphasis on practical application, the majority of assessment is based on coursework. Assessment methods include essays, reports, seminar papers, in-class tests, project work, oral presentations, workshops, simulations and practical exercises.
Quality
Teaching staff are drawn from two different Schools, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the course. Visiting speakers from industry and business, local government, environmental consultancies and relevant research bodies are also integral to the overall delivery of the course.
Professional recognition
On completion of the course, graduates will be in a position to sit the exams for entry at associate level to the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
Career prospects
With the increased environmental awareness on a global scale, the range of career choices for Environmental Management and Technology graduates is continually growing. In addition to pursuing academic research, primary destinations for our graduates include environmental consultancies, local authorities and the variety of organisations that require staff to carry out environmental management roles. Past students have worked for the Environment Agency, ERM (world's leading provider of environmental consulting services), Railtrack and the Environmental Information Exchange, demonstrating just some of the exciting opportunities available to you.