Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability

This interdisciplinary course is designed to meet the needs of graduates from a wide range of backgrounds who wish to enhance their qualifications for careers in environmental governance, corporate sustainability management, or international development, encompassing policy and analysis, planning, consulting, education, advocacy and targeting areas such as water management, natural resource management and climate change. It is also designed for those who wish to broaden and deepen their understanding and experience to enable societal, organisational and individual change and foster responsible action to support sustainability both domestically and internationally.

The course offers three specialisations, focusing on:

• corporate environmental and sustainability management
• environment and governance
• international development and environmental analysis.

All three offer the potential for a research or internship project component, providing students the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary real-world contexts to combine theory and practice in responding to local and global issues at community, corporate and government levels.

Specialisations

Corporate environmental and sustainability management

This specialisation is designed to meet the growing need for skilled professionals that have competencies in both business and environmental/sustainability management and who understand the nexus between the two. It is vocationally oriented and flexible to accommodate students who have only business or environmental backgrounds, people with significant industry experience and people wishing to move into the field.

Environment and governance

This specialisation is for students who wish to broaden and deepen their understanding and experience to enable societal and governmental change to support sustainability, and to enhance their qualifications for careers in environmental policy and analysis, planning, consulting, education, advocacy and management. Core units provide knowledge and skills to critically analyse problems of environmental governance and sustainability and to propose realistic solutions.

International development and environmental analysis

This specialisation is for students who wish to pursue careers or enhance their professional skills in international development and environmental management. Core units introduce students to comparative perspectives on development and environment, and integrative approaches to management of natural resources and landscapes. The specialisation provides rigorous theoretical and practical training in analysis of international development policies and programs targeting urban and rural environments, climate change, biodiversity conservation, food security, management of rural livelihoods and commons resources, and privatisation of ecosystem services.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the political, economic, cultural and environmental challenges and debates contributing to sustainable environmental policy across in a range of geo-political contexts
2. articulate and apply an understanding of the world view of environmental management and sustainability
3. demonstrate a critical appreciation of the secondary literature in the field of environmental management and sustainability
4. apply a critical familiarity with many of the key texts and cultural products pertaining to the field of environmental management and sustainability
5. apply advanced reading, analytical and communication skills, both written and verbal
6. demonstrate a thorough understanding of research methodology and ethics, and an ability to undertake an independent research project.

The course is structured in three parts. Part A. Foundations for environmental management and sustainability studies, Part B. Core master's study and Part C. Advanced expertise. All students complete Part B. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A or Part C or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for environmental management and sustainability studies (24 points)

These studies will introduce you to environmental management and sustainability studies at advanced undergraduate or graduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of environmental management and sustainability practice and research. You will explore evidence, critiques and debates around the theories and practice of environmental policy, resource management and sustainable development and develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities to work towards social, organisational and individual change and to foster responsible action.

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options.

The first option is elective study from a list that offers a range of perspectives on environmental management and sustainability.

The second choice is a 24 point research thesis. Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research, should take the second option.

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline including humanities or social sciences, will receive credit for this volume, however, should they wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations for environmental management and sustainability studies (24 points), Part B. Core Master's study (48 points) and Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points).

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• Students admitted at Entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at Entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at Entry level 3 complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for environmental management and sustainability studies (24 points)

Students complete:

a. Two units (12 points) from the following, taken during the first full time equivalent year of study:

• ATS2490 Advanced professional writing
• ATS2547 Cities and sustainability
• ATS2548 Environmental policy and management
• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management
• MGF5991 Professional development - Career dynamics

b. Elective units (12 points) from the electives listed in Part C

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

Students complete:

a. Specialisation units as follows

Corporate environmental and sustainability management

• APG5425 Perspectives on environment and sustainability
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
• APG5434 Sustainability measurement
• BTF5910 Sustainability regulation

Environment and governance

• APG5425 Perspectives on environment and sustainability
• APG5426 Environmental analysis
• APG5428 Environmental governance and citizenship
• one unit from the electives listed in Part C

International development and environmental analysis

• APG5627 Research in political ecology
• APG5804 Environmental revolutions
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development (12 points)

b. One capstone* unit (12 points) from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5856 Research project* (12 points)

* Students electing to take the research option in Part C(a) may consider that as their capstone and replace the capstone requirement with one of the electives in Part C. They should not complete both the research thesis and APG5856. Students admitted to the course at Entry level 3 who wish to complete the 24 point research thesis in Part C(a) should consult with the course coordinator.

c. Elective units (12 points) from the electives listed in Part C

Part C. Advanced expertise (24 points)

Students complete either option a) or b) below.

a. The following unit/s:

• APG5848 Research thesis (24 points)** or APG5849 Research thesis A (12 points) and APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points)

** Students admitted to the course at Entry level 3 who wish to complete this 24 point research thesis should consult with the course coordinator.

b. Elective units (24 points) from the following:

• APG4281 Cultural landscape, environment and sustainability in Italy
• APG4552 Remote sensing of the environment
• APG4553 Field studies in regional sustainability
• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management
• APG4887 Designing urban futures: Urban climate, water and adaptation
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• APG5258 Geographical information systems (GIS) for environmental science
• APG5628 Doctrines of development (12 pts)
• BTF5910 Sustainability regulation
• MGF5020 Business ethics in a global environment
• MGF5030 Corporate social responsibility
• any unit/s not completed in Part B above

Students entering at Entry levels 1 and 2 can complete a research thesis (24 points) that will provide a pathway to a higher degree by research. Students entering at entry level 3 will normally already have an honours degree, however students in this group who wish to complete a research thesis in environmental management and sustainability should discuss the options with the course coordinator.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Certificate in Arts after successful completion of 24 credit points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above
• Graduate Diploma in Arts after successful completion 48 credit points of study with a minimum of 36 credit points at level 4 or above.