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.

Access to allowances for study

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) now offers student income support to students undertaking study in a number of professionally-oriented Master by coursework degrees.

Eligible students undertaking approved Master degrees will be able to access Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY, ABSTUDY or Pensioner Education Supplement. To be eligible for student income support through Youth Allowance and AUSTUDY, students will still need to be studying full-time and to satisfy all other Youth Allowance and AUSTUDY program requirements, including personal, parental or partner income tests.  Students who have queries about masters courses and their income support entitlements should contact Centrelink on 13 24 90 for further information.

More information from DEEWR

Admission requirements

Applicants of the Master degree would normally hold a three-year Bachelor degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline or have extensive relevant industry experience to the satisfaction of the Course Coordinator. Students wishing to apply for admission based on relevant industry experience should discuss requirements with the Course Coordinator prior to applying.

Please phone info.csu on 1800 334 733 or enquire online for the contact details of the appropriate person.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

fee-paying
international-distance

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This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2