Studying at York
Environmental Management in Practice - ENV00105M
- Department: Environment and Geography
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
Environmental Management in Practice is a solutions-focused module that provides students with knowledge and practical understanding of the application of environmental management tools to solve environmental problems.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
Environmental Management in Practice is a solutions-focused module that aims to provide students with knowledge and practical understanding of the application of environmental management tools to solve environmental problems. Teaching of environmental management is set within a broad sustainability framework. Students will gain experience of environmental management approaches through groupwork addressing real-world problems, and seminars delivered by an external environmental consultant and other practitioners and taught on a case study basis. Lectures will underpin these solutions-focused activities by developing understanding of environmental management processes and procedures.
The module aims to develop within students a set of generic and employability skills including skills in some key methodologies of environmental management used in a wide range of sectors such as environmental (social) impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment and life cycle analysis. Seminars by external speakers are case-study based, providing wide perspectives on environmental management and also introducing associated career paths.
The practical component of the course is based on problem-solving within groups, helping to develop a range of generic skills in students including: group participation and management, problem analysis and task prioritisation, time management and people skills.
The summative assessment involves producing a case report which will: discuss the rationale for the work and provide comprehensive background; objectively report the methodology; discuss the results using tables and figures as appropriate; use and accurately cite relevant evidence. Producing the report draws on a range of skills and areas of knowledge gained throughout the module.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
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Outline and discuss the principal factors influencing environmental management decisions and their impact on sustainable change.
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Demonstrate understanding of the legal context for environmental management actions, and appreciate the multidisciplinary and trans-boundary nature of environmental management issues.
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Outline and discuss the application of major environmental management tools, techniques, systems and practices, and be able to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
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Apply knowledge to carry out environmental assessments through groupwork exercises and case studies.
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Judge survey and monitoring plans, their limitations, and the need to strike a balance between what is suitable, feasible, cost effective etc.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback on summative assessment will be provided individually to students according to the standard turnaround time. The seminars and practicals will be highly discursive in nature so students will get continuous real-time feedback as they explore the topic.
Indicative reading
Lame, M and Marcantonio, R. (2022) Environmental Management: Concepts and Practical Skills. Cambridge University Press
Morgan, R. K. (1999) Environmental impact assessment : a methodological perspective. Springer Science & Business Media
Therivel, R. (2010) Strategic environmental assessment in action. Earthscan
Claude, J. (2011) Marine protected areas : a multidisciplinary approach. Cambridge University Press