Objectives
This course provides students with a broad-based foundation in issues of environmental management and provides training in environmental monitoring and analysis, and in the economic and social evaluation and appraisal of environmental impacts.
This course was created to meet the growing demand for graduates who can help communities and businesses to better manage our environment and its resources. It deals with some of the most vital issues facing Australia and the rest of the world today - water resources, biodiversity, coastal management, pollution, land degradation, energy use, climate change and sustainable resource use.
The course combines the study of physical geography, the earth sciences and biology (which explain how environmental systems work and how human activities impact on these systems), with the study of the social sciences (which explain the causes of this impact and how our environmental behaviour can be better managed to minimise this impact).
Learning outcomes
On completion of their degree, students will have developed extensive knowledge in environmental management and a range of transferable professional skills.
Graduates will be able to:
* understand how human societies impact on the biophysical resource systems;
* understand, develop and implement strategies that societies can adopt for sustainable use of biophysical resources;
* apply natural resource economics in the evaluation of resource management systems;
* collect, process and evaluate environmental information through a variety of desktop and field based approaches;
* demonstrate an ability to communicate environmental information to a wide variety of audiences.
Course description
The Bachelor of Environmental Management combines the study of:
* physical geography, the earth sciences and biology (which explain how environmental systems work and how human activities impact on these systems)
* social sciences (which explain the causes of this impact and how our environmental behaviour can be better managed to minimise this impact).
Fieldwork is taken in a number of disciplines, including vegetation measurement, mapping, geographical information systems, water quality and riparian assessment.
You will:
* be trained in environmental monitoring and analysis
* be trained in the economic and social evaluation and appraisal of environmental impacts
* gain a set of strong transferable skills highly regarded by employers.
Graduates will be prepared to work with business, government and community decision-makers, often in multi-disciplinary teams, to make practical contributions to the resolution of environmental problems.
What is Environmental Management?
Environmental Management is for people who want to help create a better world.
It deals with some of the most vital issues facing Australia and the world today, including water resources, biodiversity, coastal management, pollution, land degradation, energy use, climate change and sustainable resource use.
Why study Environmental Management at Flinders?
* There is a natural synergy with the School of Geography, Population and Environmental Management's broader areas of interest, including housing studies, urban and regional development and demography.
* Our research concentrations of particular relevance include: environmental weeds, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), natural resource management and urban systems.
* Our researchers are involved with such initiatives as a protection and recovery program for the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby in South Australia, the development of a new GIS tool that helps conservation planners find optimal solutions when restoring native habitats, and a $2.2 million CLLAMMEcology project, which is investigating the health of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth.
* Our academics are asked to be a part of government and community groups as diverse as the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Natural Resources Management Board, the Coast, Estuarine and Marine Advisory Committee, and the Mitcham City Rail Task Force.
* Our facilities include dedicated Spatial Information Systems Laboratory that runs ARCMap, ARC-INFO, ARC-View and ERDAS IMAGINE, the primary GIS and remote sensing software packages.
Career opportunities
What can I do with my Bachelor of Science or Environmental Management degree?
Study a language
Flinders also offers all students the opportunity to major in a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide students with competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to their qualifications. You will complete a total of 1 extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language. You can apply for this at time of enrolment.
The Bachelor of Environmental Management requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time) and the honours program an additional year (or the equivalent part-time).
The course is offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences. Enrolment in the honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.
The Bachelor of Environmental Management may also be studied in combined degrees programs:
* Bachelor of Business (four years full-time or equivalent)
* Bachelor of Commerce (four years full-time or equivalent)
Students enrolling in combined degrees programs must seek the advice of the relevant course coordinator on how to structure their enrolment over the four years of the program.
PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Environmental Management a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study* below. No more than 45 units of First Year topics may be included.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
Except with permission of the Faculty Board:
* the course must be completed within 10 consecutive years or, where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Board;
* students may not proceed to Second or Third Year topics until they have completed or are enrolled in 36 units at First Year.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
* The Faculty Board may approve substitute topics if a student is unable to undertake particular core topics while studying overseas on a program supported by the course management committee.
First Year
BUSN1007
Introductory Microeconomics
4.5
ENVS1701
Environmental Studies
4.5
ENVS1702
Environment, Economy and Culture
4.5
ENVS1703
Professional Skills in Environmental Management
4.5
GEOG1001
Water Resources and Society
4.5
GEOG1002
Cities as Human Environments
4.5
plus at least 9 units selected from the following topics, of which at least 4.5 units must be chosen from those in Group A:
Group A
BIOL1101
Evolution of Biological Diversity
4.5
BIOL1102
Molecular Basis of Life
4.5
BIOL1112
Biology and Society
4.5
EASC1101
Earth and Environment 1
4.5
EASC1102
Marine Sciences 1
4.5
Group B
CHEM1101
Chemistry 1A
4.5
CHEM1102
Chemistry 1B
4.5
CHEM1201
Introduction to Chemistry A
4.5
CHEM1202
Introduction to Chemistry B
4.5
CPES1201
Physics for the Life Sciences A
4.5
CPES1202
Physics for the Life Sciences B
4.5
PHYS1101
Physics 1A
4.5
PHYS1102
Physics 1B
4.5
Second Year
BUSN2012
Introductory Environmental Economics
6
ENVS2704
Environmental Systems
6
GEOG2010
Computing Methods in Geography
6
plus 18 units selecting from the following:
DVST2001
Sustainable Development
6
GEOG2005
Asian Regional Development
6
GEOG2006
Australian Environmental Change
6
GLOB2002
Globalisation and Environmental Issues
6
PHIL2140
Environmental Philosophy
6
or other upper level topics selected from any faculty of the University including up to 9 units of First Year topics.
Third Year
ENVS3721
Issues in Environmental Management
6
ENVS3722
Environmental Impact Assessment
6
GEOG3013
Geographical Information Systems
6
plus 18 units of upper level topics selected from any faculty of the University.
HONOURS DEGREE
A student who has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Environmental Management, or another qualification which the Faculty Board agrees is equivalent, may be accepted as a candidate for the honours degree providing a sufficiently high standard has been achieved in fulfilling the requirements for the bachelors degree.
To qualify for the honours degree, a student must complete satisfactorily 36 units of study as specified in the following program.
ENVS7000
Environmental Studies Honours Thesis
24
ENVS7019
Research Project Design, Conduct and Management
6
and a 6-unit honours level topic approved by the Director of Studies for which the student has satisfied prerequisites and entry requirements. With the approval of the Director of Studies a 6-unit Third Year topic in which the student's work will be graded at honours level may be substituted for an honours level topic.
