Academic titleMSc/PGDip/PGCert in Environmental Studies
Course description
The David Livingstone Centre for Sustainability (DLCS) is a specialist postgraduate unit, dedicated to the provision of cross-disciplinary environmental programmes and is a leading centre for interdisciplinary research in the areas of strategic environmental assessment, environmental policy and management, and sustainable development.
DLCS is based within the Faculty of Engineering, merging recently with the Department of Civil Engineering. The Centre was recently rated Excellent for the quality of teaching and learning by SHEFC, DLCS has extensive collaborative teaching and research links across the University and with external academic, governmental and private sector organizations across the UK, Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and India.
Through the unique gateway offered by DLCS, Masters students can take advantage of a wide range of classes offered by the five distinct faculties at the University: Science, Business School, Education, Arts & Social Sciences, and Engineering.
It is widely recognized in private and public sector organizations that there is a need for an "appropriately trained, highly skilled and environmentally aware workforce" to respond to the challenge of sustainable development. Meeting this need requires an interdisciplinary education. The DLCS programmes, with their flexible structures, are set up to allow students from a variety of UG disciplinary backgrounds to widen and deepen their knowledge & understanding of the contribution that many disciplines can make to the solution of environmental problems.
DLCS has successfully seen its graduates capitalize upon a wide range of employment opportunities within the private, public and voluntary sectors. Output figures for the period 1997 - 2004 highlight 80% of our graduates have found permanent employment within six months of completion of the degree programme, with a further 9% choosing to continue their studies within the Higher Education Sector.
Degree / Diploma Programme Structure
The Degree and Diploma programmes structures are made up of individual classes, each 12 weeks in length (equating to approx. 24 hours of direct teaching class contact), which are taught during one of the two annual semesters (September - January & February - May).
PG Diploma
Candidates must undertake a curriculum based on the accumulation of no fewer than 110 credits of which not more that 10 credits can be at the UG Advanced level. The COMPULSORY classes comprise 48 credits, and the remaining 62 credits are to be met by a selection from the optional electives available.
MSc Degree
Candidates require 120 credits as described above, and a further 60 credits by the submission of a project report/dissertation (Level PG2 - max. of 16,000 words) which is completed between June-Sept.
Environmental Studies Programme Structure
Principles of Sustainable Development
Applied Strategic Environmental Assessment
Research Methods & Participatory Approaches
International Environmental Governance
Instructional Programme - Elective Options
Ecology, Biodiversity & Sustainability
Biotechnology & the Environment
Pollution & Rehabilitation of Degraded Ecosystems
UK & EU Environmental Law
Environmental Economics
Environmental Management Systems
Energy Resources and Policy
Water & Environmental Management
Solid Waste Issues
Business Strategy & the Environment
Environmental Impact Assessment
Spatial Query & Analysis using GIS
Atmospheric Pollution Impact Assessment
Air Pollution Control
Environmental Modelling (Weeks 7-12 only
Pollution Control Policy (Weeks 1- 6 only)
Transport, Development & Sustainability
Notes:
Although most modules will be available, please note that this is a provisional listing for the forthcoming academic year.
Admission Criteria & Duration of Study
PG Diploma
* A degree of a UK University, in any discipline, or a qualification from a recognized institution, deemed to be equivalent.
* Supportive academic references
MSc Degree
* A first of second class Honours degree of a UK University, in any discipline, or a qualification from a recognised institution deemed by Senate to be equivalent.
* Supportive academic references
* Informal Interview
In all cases, for candidates whose first language is not English, documentary evidence of an appropriate level of competency of written and spoken English must be provided. The minimum standards are a TOEFL score of 600 or an IELTS score of 6.5.
Awards & Transfers
(i) Awards
PG Diploma
* No fewer than 120 PG credits; and a
* Minimum final mark of 50% across all 10 classes of the taught component of the programme.
MSc Degree
* No fewer than 180 PG credits, of which 60 must have been awarded in respect of the dissertation;
* Minimum final mark of 60% across all 10 classes of the taught component of the programme; and
* A mark of 60% or higher in the dissertation.
MSc Degree with distinction
* Satisfy the requirements of the regulations governing the award of the degree of MSc; and
* Attain a minimum mark of 70% in both the taught & dissertation components of the programme.
(ii) Transfers
Progress to and Transfer between these awards is set out in the General Regulations and also in the course regulations by instruction for this programme