Master’s Environmental Management

MASTER OF SCIENCE or ARTS (MSc or MA or M Phil) by Minor Dissertation and Coursework – Level 8

​Application form | Coursework Master’s in Science (MSc) or Master’s in Humanities (MA) in  Environmental Management

PURPOSE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROGRAMME

The primary purpose of the MSc/MA Minor-Dissertation with coursework (Theory Modules) is to provide students with specialised advanced education and training while meeting the requirements of a specific research component so that students can master the required experimental and technological skills and necessary fieldwork competencies such as innovation, decision-making, strategic thinking and organizational skills.  The degree demands a high level of intellectual and theoretical knowledge and insight into problems related to the field of study and of critical reasoning, formulation, analysis and evaluation of a specific problem in the field of study.

ADMISSION INTO THE PROGRAMME

Admission to the Master’s programme in Environmental Management is extremely competitive given the high level of demand for the qualification and is subject to approval by the Head of the Department. The duration of the Master’s is a maximum of 18 months (3 semesters) for full-time students, and two years (4 semesters) for part-time students.

Full-time students and part-time students simultaneously follow theory Module 1 (ENM9X03) and 2 (ENM9X04) during the first and second semesters of the first study year. The Research Module 3 (ENM9X81 and ENM9X82) must also be registered, in both cases, and must be completed at the end of the study time frame.  Therefore, both Module 1, 2 and 3  must be registered simultaneously and must be completed within the study time frame. Furthermore, there is equal weighting between modules (50%) and minor dissertation (50%).

STRUCTURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT   LEVEL 9 (MASTER’S)

Outcomes:  On completion of this learning event, the student should be able to:

• Define a problem in Environmental Management and formulate a hypothesis to address the problem.
• Find relevant and appropriate literature, evaluate or interpret it and be able to supply reference lists in the correct format.
• Formulate an appropriate programme to address the research problem and carry it out successfully.
• Generate acceptable results through the use of appropriate methods and technologies and integrate these results into the body of existing literature, or find, interpret and evaluate significant findings, showing insight into the discipline of Environmental Management.
• Present the results in a style and using terminology appropriate to the discipline of Environmental Management, with due regard for correctness of language and the scientific conventions of the discipline.

Outcomes: On completion of this learning event, the student should be able to:

• Define a problem in Environmental Management and formulate a hypothesis to address the problem. Find relevant and appropriate literature, evaluate or interpret it and be able to supply reference lists in the correct format. Formulate an appropriate programme to address the research problem and carry it out successfully.
• Generate acceptable results through the use of appropriate methods and technologies and integrate these results into the body of existing literature, or find, interpret and evaluate significant findings, showing insight into the discipline of Environmental Management.
• Present the results in a style and using terminology appropriate to the discipline of Environmental Management, with due regard for correctness of language and the scientific conventions of the discipline.

Outcomes:  On completion of this learning event, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of key concepts and terms within the discipline of Environmental Management.
• Analyze and examine the structure and function of the biosphere and associated ecosystems and discuss the nature and functioning of the guiding background principles and their relationship to environmental management.
• Critically assess the use of the biophysical resources by people using various theoretical lenses and relating understandings of these theories to various case studies.
• Explain the contentious relationship that exists between businesses and the environment, in particular, how sustainable development needs to be implemented by the private sector.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the application of key South African Environmental Laws in terms of air, water, soil and biodiversity.
• Briefly explore the critical role resource economics plays in assisting the implementation of sustainable development, with a focus on instruments that can be used to regulate environmental practice e.g. command and control instruments, economic instruments & planning and other instruments.
• Appraise the nature and impacts of pollution on air, water, soil and biodiversity.
• Understand how urban settlements and the built environment need to be managed in a manner that promotes sustainable development, such as: integrated land use planning, integrated management of solid waste, the role of municipal bylaws.

Outcomes:  On completion of this learning event, the student should be able to:

• Define the concepts associated with Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) and discuss and outline the nature, philosophy, underlying principles and process used in South Africa to facilitate IEM and in addition to illustrate how in South Africa IEM is being strongly supported by the development of Environmental Management Frameworks (EMF’s) Environmental.
• Define the concepts and terminology relating to terrain evaluation and discuss and explain the nature, associated principles, approaches, methods and the process of terrain evaluation.  In addition the importance of terrain evaluation to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be stressed.
• Clearly and competently indicate, explain and apply the theoretical background and the main functions and elements related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa, to understand the EIA process adopted by and followed in South Africa, to relate EIA application in South Africa to applicable legislation and to write suitable EIA reports and to submit this report for reviewing by the relevant government authority.
  Discuss the nature, aims, principles, application and methods of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) in South Africa and explain the relationships between SIA and EIA.
• Understand the role of public participation and stakeholder engagement in environmental decision-making processes.
• Discuss the key concepts and associated terminology relative to impact mitigation, Environmental Management Plans (EMP’s) and management systems, describe what process can be followed to develop and generate an EMP and relate the associated success factors.
• Understand the role of environmental monitoring and auditing in environmental impact assessment.
• Define the key terminology and concepts related to risk assessment, differentiate between true and perceived risks, discuss and explain the nature, purpose, objectives and methods of risk assessment and to determine the significance probability and severity associated with risks. In addition, ascertain the importance of risk assessment in relation to EIAs.
• Review and apply quality assurance measures in environmental assessments and EIAs in particular.
  Construct two logical, coherent, argumentative research assignments (essays) which follow the rules and standards of environmental management discourse and display evidence of analysis and synthesis.
• Deliver a PowerPoint presentation in seminar form which uses a range of specialized skills to identify, analyze and address complex problems while drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to environmental management and the presentation of a cooperative group research report relative to a subject of own choice but where emphasis is placed on visual display and oral presentation.