Environmental Assessment and Management MSc

Program Overview

This MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management develops advanced environmental planning and management skills, preparing graduates for careers in the public and private sectors, including environmental consulting and research. Its IEMA accreditation enhances employability and provides students with free student membership during their studies and eligibility for GradIEMA upon completion. The program combines compulsory modules with optional choices, offering flexibility in tailoring the degree to individual interests and career goals.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

On this taught programme, you’ll gain an understanding of the environmental implications of development action and of the wider social, political and economic issues surrounding decisions about the environment. Across a series of compulsory and optional modules, you’ll develop advanced environmental planning and management skills – along with the relationships and inherent challenges to overcome to plan for a healthy society. You will learn to fully understand and practice various tools and techniques associated with environmental assessment and management, including data collection, infrastructure planning, and environmental management systems, with a view to providing you with opportunities of working within the field, as well as research, critical analysis and independent thinking. You’ll get to hear from active practitioners through client-led modules featuring guest lecturers and you will develop real-world skills that you will use throughout your career. This MSc is suitable for students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds i.e. your first degree can be from social, technical or natural sciences and in a subject not related to environmental sciences. This programme offers you the opportunity to seek career options in environmental assessment and management. You will need a good 2:1 degree from an approved university or equivalent. Any first degree subject can be considered. We also welcome non-traditional qualifications and relevant work experience which are considered on their individual merits.

Outline:

Semester One:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Politics of the Environment (ENVS525):
Increasingly recognition of the environmental threats that we all face means that responding to this crisis affects the decisions we all make at a variety of different scales. This module explores the extent to which environmental concerns are taken into account in various decision-making processes involving the public (government), private and third sectors at a variety of different scales, global, European, national and local.
• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF POLICIES, PLANS, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS (ENVS529): This is an introduction to environmental assessment theory and practice.
• Human Health in Impact Assessment (ENVS611): Human Health plays an increasingly important role in impact assessments in general and in environmental assessment in particular, both nationally and internationally.
Requirements for the consideration of human health in environental assessment changed in recent years and there is now a much stronger emphasis on making sure human health effects are adequately considered. However, there is currently a very poor understanding of how this can be implemented in practice and the consultancy and public sectors are struggling to operationalise human health in environmental assessment. This module will help studnets appreciate what the consideration of human health means and how it can be achieved in practice. In this context, students will benefits from the activities of the University of Liverpool’s World Health Collaborating Centre on Health in Impact Asssessments. The module will be research and practice informed, enhancing employability. By definition, the module will come with authentic assessment, as the module will exclusively deal with authentic situations.
• Optional Modules:
• Marine Planning Theory and Practice (ENVS541):
Marine planning is a recent endeavour, taking shape internationally as a new approach to the management of the seas and oceans, in the interests of marine nature conservation and the sustainable use of the seas for shipping, energy, fishing, minerals extraction, tourism, etc. It is linked on the one hand to the traditional regulation of individual maritime activities and on the other hand to the well-established practice of spatial planning on land. Marine planning is developing as a means of organising the use of national sea space in a growing number of coastal jurisdictions in Europe, North America, East Asia, the Pacific region and elsewhere. Its development involves scientific discussion, stakeholder engagement, policy-making, academic research, pilot projects and official plan-making. This module provides the theoretical and practical foundation in marine planning for students with interests in spatial planning and/or marine management. More advanced perspectives are provided through as series of seminars based on discussion of key foundational texts for the topic. Assessment is by three assignments: student-led seminar, presentation and essay.
• Research in Anthropocene Environments (ENVS485): Research in Anthropocene Environments provides an opportunity for students to be introduced to, and focus on a wide range of potential topics at an early stage in their MSc studies, providing insight into how research spanning this broad theme is undertaken.
It is delivered by staff from across the School of Environmental Sciences whose research is intimately linked to the module title, also allowing students to gain a better insight into the wide range of topics that fall under this theme and what research is done in the school. Staff also talk briefly about their own paths into academia to highlight how research ideas and interests evolve. It is assessed by an abstract and a combined large poster/short oral presentation. The latter occurs during a day of presentations, which is designed to mimic an academic conference.
• Spatial Planning Challenges (ENVS411): This module provides students with an understanding of the conflicts facing planners in trying to deliver sustainable development.
It introduces students to the range of social, economic and environmental issues that face contemporary society. It outlines the role of spatial planning in managing development pressures while protecting the built and natural environment, and it explores different planning responses to address and reconcile these competing interests.

Semester Two:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Business and the Environment (ENVS470):
Environmental issues are of growing importance to businesses both large and small. Companies and organisations have to comply with a burgeoning body of environmental legislation and environmental considerations are becoming more prominent in relations with industrial partners and clients, suppliers, customers, banks, insurers and local communities. Whilst such pressures are forcing businesses to pay more attention to the environmental implications of their actions, some businesses which are forward looking, perceive the environmental agenda as a great business opportunity.
• Environmental Planning and Management Project (ENVS560): This is a client-led module, which is based upon the execution of a mini-project that is carried out in groups by students.
The project allows the students to apply their knowledge of Environmental Assessment and Management (EAM) in practice and gain experience of being engaged with a real life client. This module essentially delivers authentic assessment. The project experience offered within the module helps in developing skills of analysis, interpretation and policy prescription within the context of EAM. They are well grounded in the Department’s own research activities and draw upon established links with a number of local authorities and other public bodies. This module along with ENVS529 is IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) accredited.
• Green Infrastructure Planning (ENVS545): Green Infrastructure planning is essential in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the global context of climate change.
The module introduces the field of Green Infrastructure and green space planning by addressing its principles, values, utility, and its multiscale implementation within environmental planning from theoretical and practical perspectives through a series of lectures and guest talks. Students will understand the interconnection between greening and human beings with support from a series of qualitative and quantitative methods and learn to critically assess what methods are appropriate for the evaluation GI development. Students will undertake tasks that mirror real-world professional practices, which helps them to learn and practically use the skills they may require to evaluate the role and multiple benefits of Green Infrastructure in real-world planning scenarios. Assessment is through an essay and a project poster.
• Optional Modules:
• Conservation Management (ENVS423):
Biodiversity, the Earth’s support system, is in decline. Conservation of remaining ecosystems and restoration of disturbed ones is essential and urgently needed. Here we cover controversial issues and current debates in conservation with topics covering approaches to protected area management (terrestrial and marine), ecosystem restoration and conservation policy. The module is run as a dynamic, interactive advanced tutorial course. The sessions are mostly run as lectures with background reading and discussion lead by a member of staff, but also include seminars, group work and student-led presentations.
• Making Plans (ENVS427): This module provides a knowledge base of spatial planning disciplines by understanding key historical evolution of plan-making approaches, being conversant with methods and techniques used in the preparation and implementation of spatial plans and policies, and last but not least, demonstrating critical thinking capacities of reviewing a contemporary plan-making practice through a close theory-practice axis.
• Monitoring Urban Air Pollution (ENVS666): Liverpool’s air quality, much like many other UK’s cities, is some of the worst in Europe.
This research-based module focuses on students using statistical tools to interpret data from University of Liverpool outdoor pollution sensors, Liverpool City Council outdoor sensors, and Government sensors, as well your own sensor that students construct as part of this module. The module content will be provided in the first three weeks after which students will work on research-based projects, with intensive supervision. The module’s assessment gives students a taste of both the industry driven and academic world trhough a consultancy style group report and mimicking the process of presenting a paper at an acacemic conference.

Final Project:

• Dissertation MCD/MA/MSc Planning (ENVS491): The module supports students in the development, researching and execution of an independent piece of research under the supervision of an academic member of staff.

Assessment:

We use a mix of assessment methods, like coursework like essays, reports, and seminar presentations, as well as exams. These assessments give you a chance to dive deep into specific parts of the course and show off your writing skills for different audiences. You’ll also have the chance to practice your speaking skills with seminar presentations and work as part of a team on group projects. You’ll get to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills during exams and in a final research project in the summer.

Teaching:

To make sure you get a well-rounded education, we use a combination of different teaching styles, like lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical sessions like group projects and field visits. We want you to take an active role in your learning journey, so we encourage you to plan and organize your studies, whether that’s on your own or with a group. Don’t be shy about participating in class discussions, seminars, and library and IT studies. And make sure to get some real-world experience through practice contacts and site visits related to your coursework submissions.

Careers:

There’s high demand for graduates with a degree in environmental assessment and management, and your prospects should only get better with this master’s. Plus, the program is accredited by the IEMA, which will help enhance your profile and boost your employability. It’s a great time to be entering this field. After completing the program, you’ll be well equipped to pursue a variety of career paths in the public and private sector, including environmental consulting. You may even opt to work for environmental charities or continue your education with an advanced degree or research position.

Other:

This course is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). IEMA is the professional body for everyone working in environment and sustainability. Graduate membership is a launchpad for future leaders within environment and sustainability and offers a range of benefits to support you throughout your career. You can then “Fast track” to Practitioner Membership (PIEMA) following successful completion of the work-based assessment of competence.

Tuition fees UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) Full-time place, per year £11,600 Part-time place, per year £5,800 International fees Full-time place, per year £22,400 Part-time place, per year £11,200 Fees stated are for the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. You can pay your tuition fees in instalments. All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship. International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit. Additional costs This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.