Master of Environmental Management

What is this course about?

CSU's Master of Environmental Management seeks to develop an integrated approach to theory and practice, with an emphasis on landscape and land system rehabilitation and restoration.

There is significant evidence within Australia of land and stream degradation associated with broadacre and intensive agriculture, mining and a range of less than optimal land management practices. Both agricultural production and off-park ecosystems are being threatened by processes such as salination, rising water tables, etc. caused by overclearing of woodlands.

Significant national, state and regional resources are being directed towards initiatives to restore and repair degraded landscapes and address environmental management issues including degradation problems and the economic losses associated with degradation.

These environmental management courses seek to develop an integrated approach to theory and practice, with an emphasis on landscape/land system rehabilitation and restoration as well as localised site disturbances. Alternative subject choices enable students to specialise in practical aspects of conservation or management skills.

These courses aim to provide students with the following knowledge, attitudes and skills:

• a rationale for sustainable and efficient environmental practice based on an understanding of: important scientific and ecological principles; the social, economic and political framework; environmental policy, planning and assessment requirements; and the theory related to conservation, management and rehabilitation of habitats and threatened landscapes
• an integrated framework for assessing environmental issues and technology and their components
• a capacity to identify and respond to a range of critical environmental management and rehabilitation issues
• an understanding of the complex nature of most environmental issues, involving an interdisciplinary approach to environmental management and restoration issues
• an understanding that most environmental management and restoration issues involve a large number of stakeholders who are likely to have different values and needs
• to become custodians of sustainable use of Australia¿¿¿s resources by becoming community leaders in environmental management and restoration
• problem solving/thinking skills in specific environmental management/rehabilitation contexts
• management, rehabilitation and evaluation strategies for effective environmental practice
• effective use of field study techniques and methods
• appropriate use of data sources, data collection and storage and critical data analysis
• efficient use of computer technology and modelling
• appropriate methods of communication, particularly report writing
• cooperatively working as part of a small team

Exit points from the Master program are provided at the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma levels. This structure provides considerable flexibility allowing students to quickly gain the Environmental Management knowledge and qualification they need today, and to add to their credentials at a later date if necessary.

There may be a practical component associated with this course, depending on subjects selected.

Residential school

Some subjects in this course have a compulsory residential school requirement which requires attendance at Albury-Wodonga or Wagga Wagga campuses for between two and four days duration.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.