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Environmental Management is of increasing importance to all types of organisations in the UK and throughout the world. There is a growing need for qualified and trained environmental managers.
This MSc Environmental Management course gives you the opportunity to take a broad approach to studying environmental management. Whether you are a graduate looking for a career in environmental management or a professional who already has experience in environmental management the course advances your knowledge and skills so that you can develop your career in implementing environmentally sustainable solutions in business and organisations around the world.
With the Msc Environmental Management course you get a firm grounding in the essentials of environmental management including environmental auditing, the choice, design and use of a range of environmental tools and methods including EIA, ERA, Lifecycle Assessment and knowledge of environmental policy and legislation.Studying on this accredited Environmental Management Masters degree is the first step to becoming a Chartered Environmentalist.
Three modules are accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), and give you the opportunity to apply for Associate Membership when you complete the course successfully.
In addition, when you successfully complete all taught modules you become eligible to apply for Graduate membership of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
The structure of the MSc Environmental Management degrees is based on six core modules and a choice of three taught modules from specialists ones. To obtain a Masters degree you need to carry out a supervised research project comprising of another taught module, research methods and a 10,00015,000 word research project. The project can be based on an environmental management issue that interests you or is relevant to your organisation. If you do not want to carry out a research project you may graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Year 1
Core modules
Environmental Management Tools and Methods
This module examines the origins, application and use of a variety of tools that an organisation can employ to identify and manage the environmental impacts of its current and planned operations, or the products and services it provides. The tools studied may include environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, environmental review, life-cycle assessment, environmental risk assessment and environmental accounting methods. The module encourages students to put the methods they learn into practice and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of each tool in different situations. The module considers approaches need to ensure each tool can be applied rigorously and the factors which can affect reliability, such as data quality. The synergies between the tools are identified, so that the best combination of tools can be employed for any given situation.
Environmental Policy and Governance
The module focuses on how developing the students' knowledge and understanding of environmental policy and governance. In particular, the following topic areas may be considered: policy instruments available to protect the environment; environmental governance at a range of spatial levels; environmental policy making in government; how environmental law operates; and the role Environmental Management Systems can play in helping organisations achieve compliance with environmental protection measures.
Management Skills for Environmental Management
This module explores the management skills required to successfully implement environmental programmes. Successful management requires an understanding of the way organisations function and are managed, and an appreciation of developments in management theory and practice. The module will examine the role of the manager, leadership, motivation, organisational behaviour, financial management and strategy.
Optional modules
Agricultural Pollution and Mitigation
The module will introduce the causes and consequences of the main environmental impacts arising from European agricultural systems and related activities looking in particular at the environmental science processes involved. It will consider the main approaches to mitigation, and remediation and monitoring, and place these in the context of UK and European policy and legislation. The techniques commonly used to evaluate the environmental implications of agricultural pollutants will also be explored along with their advantages, disadvantages and limitations. Subjects tackled include: * European and UK agri-environmental policy and legislation including the Common Agricultural Policy; * activities contributing to climate change and their evaluation, mitigation and management; * the fate, transport, impacts and ecotoxicology of agricultural pesticides; * nutrient cycling and environmental pollution including the use of organic manures and organic amendments; * use of agri-environmental indicators, benchmarking approaches and other approaches to manage environmental quality; * management and monitoring of on-farm biodiversity and habitats commonly found in Europe.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Topics that may be covered include: The need for more responsible and sustainable organisations; how organisations can move towards becoming more responsible and sustainable; how environmental management systems can support CSR initiatives; and critical reflection on the policy and programmes that make up the CSR strategies of organisations.
Crop Pathogens, Pests and Weeds
This module will teach the biology of crop diseases (fungal, virus, bacterial), pests (insects, nematodes) and weeds and explain how they cause losses in crop yields in geographically diverse agricultural environments. It will describe the development of disease epidemics and pest outbreaks. The module will introduce the student to diagnostic methods (macroscopic, microscopic, immunological and molecular), including Kochs postulates to identify and confirm the identity of the causal pest, pathogen or weed. It will discuss the relationships between macro and micro climate in relation to agronomic factors and epidemic development .The use of decision support systems to reduce the impact of pests, weeds and diseases will be included. Threats posed by invasive pests, weeds and pathogens will be considered, in relation to trade in plant products and climate change.
Crop Protection; Principles & Practice
This module will teach the principles and practice of crop protection against diseases (fungal, virus, bacterial), pests (insects, nematodes) and weeds in temperate and tropical agricultural situations. It will describe the use of pesticides, biopesticides, cultivation methods and plant breeding to reduce the impact of pests. Global legislation covering registration and use of pesticides will be explained. The use of the scientific method to develop and evaluate crop management plans will be covered including the use of hypothesis driven experimental design and data analysis. The principles of designing decision support systems will be included. The potential benefits and drawbacks of the use of GM and novel technology in crop protection will be discussed.
Ecology and Conservation
The module will provide an understanding of fundamental ecological principles and theory and how these follow through into actual conservation practice in the field. The current policy and legislation background, for both the UK and Europe, for the protection of habitat and species will be examined including issues relating to biodiversity targets. Current techniques used for assessing and managing biodiversity will be studied. A range of methods and techniques used for collecting field data will be discussed. This is supported by field activities.
Environmental Management Individual Research Project
Students must carry out an independent research project and submit a dissertation and other assignments. The project is expected to address an environmental management topic, in areas including: ecology, biodiversity and conservation; environmental quality and legislation; environment and society; and sustainable planning and regeneration. This may be based on an organisation, site or environmental management issue and may include the assessment of current environmental performance/options for environmental improvement, or the development of new methods for environmental management.
Environmental Management Systems Implementation
This module takes an environmental manager step-by-step through the development and implementation of environmental management systems such as ISO 14001 and EMAS. The module covers various methods available to improve environmental performance- the development of environmental management programmes and manuals, the management of documents and records, operational control, the roles of internal and external audits to monitor the delivery of the environmental objectives and targets, the steps required to achieve EMS such as ISO 14001 and EMAS; the development and application of environmental performance indicators and various methods of environmental reporting.
Environmental Management Tools and Methods
This module examines the origins, application and use of a variety of tools that an organisation can employ to identify and manage the environmental impacts of its current and planned operations, or the products and services it provides. The tools studied may include environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, environmental review, life-cycle assessment, environmental risk assessment and environmental accounting methods. The module encourages students to put the methods they learn into practice and to critically evaluate the effectiveness of each tool in different situations. The module considers approaches need to ensure each tool can be applied rigorously and the factors which can affect reliability, such as data quality. The synergies between the tools are identified, so that the best combination of tools can be employed for any given situation.
Environmental Management for Agriculture Individual Research Project
Students must carry out an independent research project and submit a dissertation and other assignments. The project is expected to address an environmental management topic in the field of agriculture. This may be based on an organisation, site or environmental management issue and may include the assessment of current environmental performance/options for environmental improvement, or the development of new methods for environmental management.
Environmental Management for Business Individual Research Project
Students must carry out an independent research project and submit a dissertation and other assignments. The project is expected to address an environmental management topic in the field of business. This may be based on an organisation, site or environmental management issue and may include the assessment of current environmental performance/options for environmental improvement, or the development of new methods for environmental management.
Foundation in Environmental Auditing
This module provides the basic knowledge/awareness necessary to participate effectively in environmental audits and other related activities. It examines a range of audit types and their application to environmental protection and performance improvement. These include audits related to compliance, due diligence, risk issues (such as waste) and management systems. Audit principles and processes applicable to the audit types are covered. It introduces standards and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000 series, produced to ensure consistency and quality in the application of environmental management and auditing. The module will cover auditing skills and techniques, environmental legislation, identification and evaluation of environmental effects, performance monitoring, control and reporting. Practical sessions provide the opportunity to apply the skills necessary to assess environmental performance against policy, legislation and management commitments. It discusses preparation to be made before being audited.
Integrated Farm Management
Integrated Farming Management (IFM) is a whole farm management approach that can deliver efficient and profitable agricultural production that is also environmentally responsible. This module will provide a sound working knowledge of the philosophy and approaches that underpin European IFM. In contrast to its sister module (Agricultural Pollution and Mitigation), this module is concerned with -on-farm practice-based environmental management. It will also include a visit to a farm to gain insight to how the techniques discussed within lectures are put into practice. Subjects tackled include: * management and planning including UK regulatory compliance and auditing; * soil management, soil mapping and organic-fertiliser management, soil-water interactions, * Integrated Pest Management; * water and energy efficiency and waste management; * biodiversity, habitat management and land stewardship; * growing suststainability for specific markets - non-food cropping; * animal husbandry and welfare.
Integrated Waste and Pollution Management
This module provides a holistic approach to waste and pollution reduction in a broad sense including energy efficiency, clean technology and water conservation as well as waste minimisation and design for the environment. The module examines the environmental and financial benefits of waste and pollution management methodologies and covers the economic and legislative drivers designed to reduce waste and prevent pollution. These include fiscal measures such as permit trading, recycling credits and landfill tax as well as statutory compliance, the waste hierarchy, costs and benefits.
Management Skills for Environmental Management
This module explores the management skills required to successfully implement environmental programmes. Successful management requires an understanding of the way organisations function and are managed, and an appreciation of developments in management theory and practice. The module will examine the role of the manager, leadership, motivation, organisational behaviour, financial management and strategy.
Research Methods
The module will introduce the main principles of research methodology, different approaches to solving a problem and the choice of appropriate research methodology. Natural science and social science research approaches will be explored including the development of the research question. Methods for sampling and data gathering will be described including experimentation, questionnaires, interviews, case studies, action research, content analysis and observation. Quantitative and qualitative data, its analysis, interpretation, presentation and reporting will be explored. A research proposal will be formulated with guidance from a project supervisor, which is relevant to the chosen pathway of environmental management, or environmental management for business, or environmental management for agriculture, or water and environmental management.
Sustainability and Environmental Systems
This module gives a basis for an understanding of a range of global, regional and local environmental issues. The module also explains the impacts of organisations and business processes, products and services on the environment and society. The philosophy and concepts underpinning sustainability, sustainable development and the role of environmental management are examined. The role of external drivers is explored and the module demonstrates how proper understanding of these drivers can lead to improved business management. Methods and tools for improving environmental performance are introduced including environmental management systems. The notion of the environment as a business opportunity is explored.
Sustainable Energy
The module provides an overview of key issues relating to sustainable energy and climate change in the context of spatial planning in the UK. To understand the problems, students first need to understand the main energy sources and broad patterns of energy consumption. Climate change is an increasingly significant consideration for plan making. Planners and energy managers need develop positive adaptation and mitigation strategies. The module draws on examples of good practice from the UK and internationally. To make decisions about responses to climate change practitioners need data, particularly the information available through the UK Climate Impacts Programme. Energy use is an issue that cuts across spatial scales. While it is most commonly considered at the scale of the individual building it is also important at the neighbourhood and wider scale. Energy use and behaviour change issues provide an important balance to technical solutions proposed for individual buildings.
Transport Policy & Travel Planning
This module is divided into two distinct parts: 1. To provide a thorough introduction to sustainable transport planning and in particular to provide the necessary policy and legislative background to students to meet the requirements for these aspects of Transport Planning Professional qualifications. It will describe what transport planning is about, the various measures influencing transport, policies and politics, data collection assessment, legislation and implementation. 2. To provide an understanding of how to design, develop, implement and monitor a travel plan as an optional subject to meet the requirements of the Transport Planning Professional qualifications. This part is also designed for those promoting or regulating travel plans within governmental organisations. The content of this course has been developed with the context of The Transport Planning Professional Qualifications. These have been developed by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, The Royal Town Planning Institute, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Water Pollution Control
This module will cover the nature of wastewater disposal and treatment systems and the estimation of pollution load. It will discuss the types of trade effluent and their treatment and discharge control to sewers and receiving waters, including the roles of water service undertakers and environmental regulators; charging for wastewater discharges; the nature of raw sewage and the design and operation of wastewater treatment plants to meet environmental standards and avoid nuisance. The nature of sewage sludges and the design and operation of treatment and disposal systems to meet environmental standards, methods of sludge utilisation, the associated environmental controls and the operational management of facilities, approaches to wastewater monitoring and management, water recycling and the precautionary principle will be covered. Biomonitoring and chemical monitoring may be conducted at two local but very different rivers (e.g. Lee and Mimram) and an STW may be visited. The causes and management of ground and surface water pollution will be studied. National and international aspects of water pollution control will be discussed.
Water Resources
This module will cover the nature and characteristics of groundwater and surface water resources and the factors affecting their uses. The critical factors in the strategic planning of water resources at international, national, regional and local levels to meet user demand, environmental protection and sustainable management needs. Water resources planning and management within the context of overall catchment planning; its relationship with water pollution control, river engineering, recreation and amenity. European and national water resources policy, the modern legal framework governing water resources management, the responsible organisations and interaction with interested parties. The management of water abstraction, the licensing process, consultation procedures, enforcement and the special procedures under drought and other emergencies. The threats to the quality of water resources, the quantification of risk and the measures taken to protect them.
Water and Environmental Management Individual Research Project
Students must carry out an independent research project and submit a dissertation and other assignments. The project is expected to address an environmental management topic in the field of water. This may be based on an organisation, site or environmental management issue and may include the assessment of current environmental performance/options for environmental improvement, or the development of new methods for environmental management.
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