(MSc) Master of Science
Environment and Resource Management
Withdrawn
University of Essex
University of Essex
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time
Earth Science,Environmental Sciences & Environmental Studies
MSC D44012
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A degree with an overall 2.2 or equivalent in a relevant subject such as : Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Genetics, Pharmacology, Medicine, Chemistry.
Your Degree should contain some Biology/Medical components including Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics, Drug Design, Immunology, Microbiology and Virology. We will consider applicants with an unrelated degree but with relevant work experience in Biology or Medicine.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
This course is especially focused on the development of students' skills in the practical and management aspects of Environmental Resources, linking applied skills to the inculcation of theoretical knowledge and other relevant postgraduate-level attributes.
1. To enable students to integrate the social, physical and biological aspects of natural resources into contemporary management practices.
2. To develop students' understanding of the fundamental concepts of environmental science (irrespective of disciplinary background), and enhance their critical ability to integrate cross-disciplinary analyses of environmental problems.
3. To equip students with an understanding of key issues and debates around ecological sustainability, governance and corporate ethics and responsibility
4. To provide students with the opportunity to broaden and deepen their knowledge of advanced concepts in the study of management and organizations across a range of functions.
5. To enable students to conduct research in the development or application of environment and resource management.
6. To develop a range of transferable professional skills including information retrieval, evaluation and synthesis, numeracy, ITC skills, presentation skills, effective working with others, complex problem solving, self-evaluation and reflection, and independent learning ability.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: A broad overview of the cross-disciplinary nature of environmental problems
A2: An advanced understanding of how to integrate different disciplinary perspectives in environmental analyses
A3: An understanding of the core principles and concepts of both biological sciences and social sciences (in particular economics, politics, sociology, law) that contribute to the environmental agenda
A4: An understanding of a wide range of current conservation practices operating at different spatio-temporal scales
A5: The methods of critical analysis and argument appropriate to complex and contested environmental issues
A6: A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a selected current research area
Learning methods
A1-A6 are developed through module seminars, option lectures and related assessed coursework (with feedback from examiners), and through the development of a dissertation in close consultation with a supervisor.
Students are expected to extend and enhance their knowledge and understanding acquired from seminars and lectures by consulting library and other materials related to the course.
Such independent research is a fundamental part of most assessments.
Assessment methods
A1-A5 are assessed through a variety of coursework, (topic based essays, group work, presentations) and unseen examinations.
A6 is assessed by a dissertation.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Systematically retrieve, select and integrate a variety of environmental information and perspectives
B2: Synthesise evidence, arguments and ideas from different disciplines and often conflicting sources in a self-directed manner, leading to coherent and logical analyses
B3: Reason critically and offer judgements based on argument that can be communicated effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences
B4: Think independently to make connections between familiar and new ideas
B5: Integrate and link information across course components from different disciplines, including ability to select relevant material, appraise arguments and evidence from different disciplines, and develop new integrated positions
B6: Plan and conduct a substantial research project with guidance from a supervisor, and present it in a coherent manner
Learning methods
B1-B5 are taught and developed through seminars, lectures and coursework.
The seminars encourage critical discussion, together with an emphasis on ability to reason and argue coherently, and to learn from others.
B6 is developed through the dissertation plan and execution.
Assessment methods
B1-B5 are assessed through coursework essays, and an oral presentations and unseen examinations.
The associated feedback provided enables students to reflect upon, and enhance their understandings and develop communication skills, analytical skills, logic and argumentation.
B6 is assessed in a dissertation based on the project of not more than 10,000 words.
C: Practical skills
C1: General research skills: capacity to locate appropriate material and datasets
C2: Skills in conducting scientific/social surveys, interviews and research tasks
C3: Capacity to form a research question for the dissertation
Learning methods
C1-C3 are taught through the research methods module, together with dedicated learning seminars on essay writing skills, and public speaking and science communication.
Considerable autonomy is encouraged in researching all assessed essays (for core and thematic seminars and optional modules).
Assessment methods
C1-C3 are assessed by analyses and essays in the research methods module.
The essays and dissertation will also demonstrate these skills.
D: Key skills
D1: (i) Write structured and integrated reports addressing key environmental issues from a range of disciplinary perspectives, using proper academic conventions, creating logical and well-argued essays and dissertation,
(ii) Give an oral presentation relating to core essay
D2: (i) Use of current networked PC operating systems for normal file management,
(ii) Use current common word-processing, spreadsheet, web browsing and email packages,
(iii) Ability to locate and use on-line catalogues and databases
D3: Apply appropriate methods to gather and analyse quantitative and qualitative data
D4: Explore, analyse and find effective solutions for environmental problems involving a variety of information from different disciplinary contexts
D5: Identify individual and team strengths and to coordinate activity to work effectively and productively as a team
D6: (i) Work to deadlines, including planning and time-management to meet assessment targets,
(ii) Work independently for extended periods
(iii) Evaluate and reflect on own performance
Learning methods
D1 and D4 are developed through coursework, the research project and the research skills module.
D2 is developed by students after some initial guidance.
D3 is taught in the research methods module.
D5 Does not form a large component of the degree but is addressed in the research skills module and in the Business School module (BE467) D6 is developed through course assessments, rigid deadlines and feedback on assignments
Assessment methods
D1-D4 are assessed through coursework, the research skills module, the research project and the oral presentations.
All dissertations are only acceptable in word-processed form, and must be presented according to the programme's rules.
D6 is assessed indirectly by assessing coursework, by imposing strict deadlines for assignments and by awarding marks for evidence of extra reading/going beyond lecture material.