Environmental Monitoring for Management MSc

What you'll study

Our Environmental Monitoring for Management MSc is designed to help you gain a sound theoretical and practical understanding of environmental processes and systems.

Modules

The programme consists of three elements totalling 180 module credits:

Core skills, applicable across the field of environmental management (70 credits)

Environment-specific theory and skills (50 credits)

Individual research project (60 credits)

In each module students will develop their theoretical understanding, learn new skills and practice new techniques. The relative importance of the different elements will vary between modules, but all modules will have a significant practical component. Some laboratory work will rely on prior collection of samples in the field and in turn some analysis will rely on data generated in a laboratory. The dissertation module will begin with a series of workshops that distil what has been learned so far and facilitate the development of dissertation proposals.

Each module is described in brief below. Minor modifications to programme content may occur in any given year.

Modules are assessed by a combination of examinations, coursework and group work including a dissertation of up to 50 pages on an agreed topic.

Core Skills Modules

Professional Practice in Environmental Management (10 credits)

Professional Practice in Environmental Management (10 credits)

This module is designed to introduce students to environmental management as a professional career via interaction with practising scientists from private consultancies and government agencies. It will provide students with an opportunity to network with practising environmental managers (and potential future employers). The module includes sessions on professional development skills (personality differences and psychometric instruments, career networking and career management skills). Throughout the module, students will work to produce a professional development portfolio.

Natural Hazard and Catastrophe Modelling for Environmental Management (10 credits)

Natural Hazard and Catastrophe Modelling for Environmental Management (10 credits)

This module will introduce students to mathematical and numerical modelling in simulating hazards and applying the results in catastrophe models. It will also explore the benefits and limitations of modelling methodologies.

Applied Environmental GIS (10 credits)

Applied Environmental GIS (10 credits)

This module introduces the fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems and how spatial data and analysis tools can be applied to analyse environmental data and support decision making processes. Students will undertake their own simulated GIS consultancy project on a subject of their own choosing.

Hydroclimatological Monitoring and Modelling (20 credits)

Hydroclimatological Monitoring and Modelling (20 credits)

This module deals with fundamental techniques for the collection, manipulation, presentation and quantitative analysis and interpretation of hydrological and meteorological data that are applicable to a wide range of environments. Applications in real-time flood-warning, seasonal drought forecasting, and strategic water planning will be explored.

Evidence-Based Environmental Management (10 credits)

Evidence-Based Environmental Management (10 credits)

This module introduces the principles of ‘evidence-based environmental management’ based on a systematic assessment of available evidence. This module aims to provide students with the knowledge and understanding that will enable them to access and apply existing research to environmental management situations, and to contribute to the evidence-base.

Research Design (10 credits)

Research Design (10 credits)

This module explores issues involved in the conception, design and execution of a research project. It provides the foundation for the dissertation research project and will initiate the process of formulating the research question and designing a research methodology to address it.

Environment-specific theory and skills modules

Tools for River Management (20 credits)

Tools for River Management (20 credits)

This module focuses on hydraulics, fluvial sediment transport, river channel stability, stream ecology and the links between physical and biological processes. In each case there will be a recap of basic, contemporary theory but the focus will be on measurement and estimation techniques.

Lake Monitoring and Management (20 credits)

Lake Monitoring and Management (20 credits)

This module consists of two parts, the first focusing on contemporary limnology and the second on palaeolimnology. Part 1 examines the physical (seasonal changes in oxygen, water chemistry, thermal structure and ice cover) and biological (seasonal changes in biological production, grazing and trophic interactions) characteristics of lakes. Part 2 is concerned with sedimentation in lakes, environmental reconstruction and lake management.

Wind Erosion: Management and Measurement (10 credits)

Wind Erosion: Management and Measurement (10 credits)

The module examines the design and implementation of measuring and monitoring programmes for wind erosion, with particular emphasis on coastal systems and dryland regions. It addresses the methods used to assess wind erosion risk, quantify wind erosion and assess its impacts both at the erosion site and at the locations where eroded materials are deposited.

Research project

Dissertation (60 credits)

Dissertation (60 credits)

The dissertation is an extended independent research project undertaken by the student with support from academic and technical staff. The research will be on a subject selected by the student (with appropriate guidance from staff). The outcome of the project will be a report of up to 50 pages.