Programme Specification
MSc Environmental Monitoring for Management
Academic Year: 2014/15
This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.
This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.
This specification should be read in conjunction with:
- Reg. XXI (Postgraduate Awards) (see University Regulations)
- Module Specifications
- Summary
- Aims
- Learning outcomes
- Structure
- Progression & weighting
Programme summary
Awarding body/institution | Loughborough University |
Teaching institution (if different) | |
Owning school/department | Department of Geography - pre 2018 |
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body | |
Final award | MSc |
Programme title | Environmental Monitoring for Management |
Programme code | GYPT42 |
Length of programme | Twelve calendar months full-time, twenty-four calendar months part-time. |
UCAS code | |
Admissions criteria | |
Date at which the programme specification was published | Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:11:50 BST |
1. Programme Aims
The aims of the programme are to enable students to:
- acquire the necessary skills for measuring, analysing and evaluating environmental data;
- gain a sound theoretical understanding of environmental processes and systems;
- enhance their employment opportunities for the consultancy sector and government organisations, and improve their competitiveness for PhD studentships.
2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:
The Benchmark Statement for Geography
3. Programme Learning Outcomes
3.1 Knowledge and Understanding
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the range of methods, tools and techniques available to collect and analyse environmental data for practical problem solving;
- the dynamics of key environmental systems, including lakes, rivers and soils;
- how environmental data informs management of environmental systems.
3.2 Skills and other attributes
a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- select, execute and evaluate research methodologies in environmental sciences;
- critically assess the theories and concepts pivotal to understanding environmental dynamics and systems;
- critically interpret data to make scientifically rigorous arguments;
- successfully complete an original piece of research on environmental dynamics, dovetailing both theoretical rigor and data analysis (dissertation).
b. Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- understand the merits and limitations of different research methods;
- deploy a variety of instruments to collect environmental data in the field;
- conduct a qualitative assessment of environmental systems through observation;
- use laboratory equipment and techniques to analyse environmental data;
- use analytical software tools (SPSS, Matlab, ERDAS);
- evaluate secondary environmental data sources, including web-based material;
- synthesise research results and, if appropriate, recommend management policy;
- interpret, write-up and present quantitative and qualitative data.
c. Key transferable skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- work effectively in individual study and in teams;
- manage time effectively;
- problem solve and analyse numerical data from a variety of sources;
- identify, retrieve, sort and exchange relevant information from conventional and on-line sources;
- cost and plan the resource allocation for a research proposal;
- evaluate the risks involved in collecting environmental data and develop mitigation strategies to reduce this risk;
- effectively assimilate and communicate material of a technical nature in written, oral and visual form;
- use IT (WWW, word-processing, spread sheets, graphics).
4. Programme structure
4.1 (i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 120)
Semesters 1 & 2
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
GYP037 |
Professional Practice in Environmental Management |
10 |
Semester 1
GYP021 |
Tools for River Management |
20 |
GYP023 |
Lake Monitoring and Management |
20 |
GYP025 |
Research Design |
10 |
GYP035 |
Hydroclimatological Monitoring and Modelling |
20 |
Semester 2
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
GYP029 |
Applied Environmental GIS |
10 |
GYP033 |
Wind Erosion Measurement and Mitigation |
10 |
GYP034 |
Evidence-based Environmental Management |
10 |
GYP036 |
Natural Hazard and Catastrophe Modelling for Environmental Management |
10 |
2.2 (i) FURTHER COMPULSORY MODULE
Semester 2
for the award of MSc only (total modular weight 60)
Code |
Title |
Modular Weight |
GYP500 |
Dissertation |
60 |
5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award
In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.
Candidates are required to obtain the following in order to be eligible for the award of:
(i) PGCert – 60 credits from modules other than GYP500.
(ii) LPD – 100 credits from modules other than GYP500 and not less than 40% in further module(s) with a weight of 20.
(ii) MSc – 160 credits and not less than 40% in further module(s) with a weight of 20.
With the exclusion of module GYP500 (Dissertation), provision will be made for candidates who have the right of re-assessment, and who have achieved at least 60 credits at first attempts, to undergo re-assessment in the University's Special Assessment Period (SAP).