Objectives(a) Knowledge and understanding * Understanding of both the integrated nature of natural-resource use interactions and hence the need for integrated intervention and management * Appreciation of the challenges of developing integrated management practices * Knowledge of policy directives and instruments affecting natural resources There are a large number of elective courses available within the associated MSc programmes, as well as large selection of dissertation topics, enabling students to broaden their knowledge of specific subjects that will be of interest to them and of use in their particular career choice. (b) Intellectual skills Through the use of cases and examples, the programme will provide students with a comprehensive grounding in appropriate management tools together with an insight into the ecosystem, economic and policy environment within which resource management interventionist actions are taken. The dissertation project takes place following successful completion of the taught component of the programme, and allows students the opportunity to develop their understanding of a chosen area of study that is of particular interest and of use to them in their future careers. The dissertation project demonstrates the student’s competence in research, and may take the form of a scientific paper, a literature review, a management plan or technical report, depending on the nature of the work. (c) Professional, subject-specific and practical skills Students will acquire skills in the analysis, planning and management of natural resource utilisation. The programme offers a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, assignments, field trips, consultancy cases and a dissertation project. Specific professional skills are addressed through the wide range of elective courses available that cover topics including management and policy decision making and specific technical skills. (d) Transferable skills Transferable skills are addressed directly in the Introductory Week and indirectly in all the elective courses; these topics include: * Library and information resources including networked WWW information systems * Computational skills – word processing, data handling and analysis, and web browsers * Communication skills – technical writing and presentational skills * Information quality assessment * Independent critical and analytical thinking * Problem formulation and solution * Team working * Time management
Entry requirementsHome and EU students The programme will be of particular interest to recent graduates from the UK and the EU countries that are either considering further academic or doctoral research into the field of resource management (or related areas) or are interested in developing the practical knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing work in conservation, agriculture, forestry, environmental consultancy and management, or other relevant areas, where decisions they make impact on the allocation of natural resources. International students The programme will be of particular interest to applicants from non-EU countries, who are in employment or are in the course of seeking employment with governmental or non-governmental bodies, or private companies that are responsible for the planning, decision making, and management processes that co-ordinate the allocation of natural resources in their own country. It is intended that the practical knowledge and hands-on experience offered by governmental and non-governmental experts in this innovative new programme will equip students worldwide with the necessary tools to make decisions on planning and resource allocation that will be crucial to their countries’ growth, development, and maintenance in the future. Employers Whether you are an employer working within the public, not-for-profit or private sector, you may be interested in learning about the opportunities for continuing professional development and training this programme can offer your staff working in the relevant areas to environmental planning, consultancy, and resource management. Whether you are interested in your staff undertaking one course within our programme, a combination of courses, a diploma qualification or even the full Masters, this programme will be of interest to you.
Academic titleMSc Integrated Resource Management
Course descriptionProgramme
The programme is designed to provide the knowledge, understanding and skills for participants who have career aspirations in organisations with responsibilities for the planning, decision-making and management processes that coordinate natural-resource use towards the optimisation of long-term benefits while minimising conflict among stakeholders. Such organisations (which may include both governmental and non-governmental agencies) are likely to operate at a scale where integrated and strategic approaches to natural-resource use are necessary to achieve balance in the wider economic, social and environmental requirement of society.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will gain:
* understanding of both the integrated nature of natural-resource-use interactions and hence the need for integrated intervention and management;
* appreciation of the challenges of developing integrated management practices;
* skills in the analysis, planning and management of natural-resource utilisation;
* knowledge of policy directives and instruments affecting natural resources.
How You Will Be Taught
You will be taught via a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, assignments, field trips, consultancy cases and a dissertation project.
The MSc programme in Integrated Resource Management is designed to provide the knowledge, understanding and skills for participants, who have career aspirations in organisations with responsibilities for the planning, decision making, and management processes that co-ordinate natural-resource use for the optimisation of long-term benefits, while also minimising conflict among stakeholders.
This innovative new programme will equip students with the practical tools required in both governmental and non-governmental organisations, where integrated and strategic approaches to natural-resource use are necessary for achieving balance among the wider economic, social and environmental requirements of society.
Programme structure
The course starts in September each year (the first year is 2008).
MSc: 12 months full-time (180 credits)
Diploma: 9 months full-time (120 credits)
The programme consists of taught courses (compulsory and elective) and a dissertation. The taught component of the programme is completed over two semesters and is valued at 120 credits at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 11, and is made up as follows:
Taught courses
80 credits from the following elective courses provided by the School of GeoSciences. Additional courses are available from other Schools or Colleges. Selection of elective courses will be guided by the MSc Programme Director and will be subject to timetable constraints and restrictions on class size.
* P00684 - Applications in Ecological Economics
* P00688 - Atmospheric Quality and Global Change
* P00805 - Culture, Ethics & Environment
* P00734 - Ecosystem Management
* P00777 - Environment & Development
* P00690 - Environmental Impact Assessment
* P00744 - Environmental Modelling
* P01523 - Forest Ecosystems
* P00737 - Forests and Environment
* P00685 - Foundations in Ecological Economics
* P01227 - Geoinformatics
* P00779 - International Development
* P01241 - Introduction To Spatial Analysis
* P00691 - Land Use/Environmental Interactions
* P00806 - Management of Sustainable Development
* P00716 - Participation in Policy and Planning
* P00807 - Principles of Environmental Sustainability
* P01090 - Principles of Geographical Information Science (Block1)
* P00686 - Project Appraisal
* P00808 - Research Methodology
* P00719 - Rural Development
* P00780 - Society & Development
* P00692 - Soil Protection and Management
* P00729 - Water Resources Management
Dissertation
The MSc dissertation project is valued at an additional 60 credits. The topic of the MSc dissertation will be agreed with the MSc Programme Director. The exact format of the dissertation will vary from case to case, depending on the nature of the work done. It may take the form of:
* A scientific paper
* A literature review
* A management plan
* A technical report
* Any other exercise approved by the programme director
Assessment
Assessment will be by a combination of continuous assessment, written examination, and the dissertation. Examinations are held at the end of the semester in which the course finishes, although for some of the more applied courses, the assessment is entirely practical (e.g. a project, a plan, a report, etc).
Students must achieve adequate performance (an overall pass) in the taught component of the programme before being allowed to continue to the dissertation project, for which they will be required to submit a dissertation on an approved topic in August.
Students initially have concurrent registration for the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma programmes. Where a student has not attained the requirement for progression on the MSc programme, but has attained the requirements for a Postgraduate Diploma, the student may be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma.
Career Prospects
This programme is highly practical and is geared towards helping students develop a career in governmental and non-governmental bodies with responsibility for environmental planning, allocating resources, and overseeing the impact of resource-management decisions. Relevant career opportunities can be found in the following areas:
* Business development
* Conservation
* Construction
* Farming
* Fishing
* Forestry
* Legal work
* Leisure management
* Oil and gas industry
* Tourism and heritage bodies
* Town and country planning
* Transport
* Voluntary sector
* Public and governmental bodies with responsibility for water, natural resources, agriculture, regional planning, and rural development.
Students looking for advice about planning their career and the options available to them are encouraged to make as much use as possible of the University’s Careers Centre, which can be visited online at: The Careers Service.
Continuing professional development prospects
For students already working in environmental consultancy, planning, or another area that has an impact upon the allocation of resources, we offer:
* the chance to fill in any gaps in knowledge and expertise that you may have had in your previous studies
* an award of formal recognition of your experience and knowledge in this area
Whatever your needs, whether you are interested in studying just one course or the full MSc qualification, this programme offers you the flexibility to choose what is most suited to you.