MSc Environmental Management

• We normally require an honours degree of 2.2 or above. This course is suitable for graduates of degrees from any academic background, and particularly social sciences, geography and planning.
• We can consider applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirement, but who do have relevant professional experience or qualifications. In your application, you should describe in detail your professional experience and qualifications. You may also wish to give us a portfolio or sample of your professional output that you think is relevant; we may ask you to attend an interview.
• International students who do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

Compulsory modules:

• Managing the Environment will allow you to step back from the process of doing environmental management to consider more fundamental ideas and questions that must be addressed in order to shape our approach to the environment, such as; Why care for the environment? and How should we respond to the challenges of modern technologies such as GM crops or nuclear power?
• Master's Project

Optional modules (select seven)

In addition to the MSc Environmental Management, you may chose to specialise in one of our three pathways. The pathways require you to focus your studies around the named discipline by studying the modules outlined below and completing an appropriately focused Master's project.

Applied GIS

• Introduction to Applied GIS introduces fundamental concepts related to GIS and its application. It also develops the basic practical skills that are extended across the rest of the programme. The module covers the history of GIS, its issues within society, an introduction to spatial data formats and a technical introduction to ArcGIS.
• Spatial Analytical Methods focuses on developing an understanding of the underlying principles and applications of different methods of GIS analysis. This module covers topics such as vector analytical methods, raster analysis and fuzzy logic, remote sensing, spatial statistics, network analysis and dealing with error and uncertainty in spatial analysis.
• Cartography and Visualisation explores the elements and characteristics of the effective communication of geospatial information. During this module, you will learn about the history of cartography, cartographic transformations, semiotics, map design, temporal data display and 3D mapping and visualisation.

Sustainability

• Sustainable Development: Principles and Practice explores the fundamental nature, causes and consequences of sustainable and unsustainable development. Practical exercises and projects give you first-hand experience of putting key concepts, frameworks and tools for implementing sustainable development into practice.
• Creating Sustainable Behaviour Change uses case studies and examples to explore a range of different theoretical and practical approaches to understanding and influencing pro-sustainable behaviour.
• The Sustainable Organisation: Vision into Practice examines the vision of a sustainable business operating in a complex ecosystem with resource constraints and compares this with the reality of contemporary business. Case studies and project work provide an insight into the knowledge and skills necessary to help organisations achieve sustainable strategies and operations.

Water Management

• Water Management: Challenges for the 21st Century will give you a better understanding of the role of freshwater resources and their management in the contemporary world. The module considers the major political, economic and policy issues facing water managers in two broadly conceived world regions: the Western capitalist world and the so-called 'developing world'.
• Water Policy and Law provides an introduction to the legal framework and context within which water management operates.

Choose one of the following options:

• Catchment Hydrology will provide you with a good understanding of the components of the hydrological cycle, from precipitation through to interception, evaporation, infiltration into the soil and movement within the soil and groundwater zones, leading to runoff observed in rivers. The module will also equip you with the fundamental analytical skills of the hydrologist, including the preparation of flow duration curves and calculation of flood frequencies. 
• Catchment Management provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge to the practical challenges in catchment management. Having selected a catchment near you, and on the basis of fieldwork and available spatial datasets, you will investigate and document catchment issues, problems, threats and assets. You will then formulate a catchment management plan to protect and enhance the assets and address the priority problems and threats in a structured manner.