Institute for Development Policy & Management, University of Manchester
- Location:
- Manchester
- Website:
- http://idpm.man.ac.uk/programmes/
Master of Science (MSc) in Environment and Development
12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) commencing annually in September.
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Participants
- Programme Content
- Applications and Enquiries
Introduction
The World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 underlined the extent to which, over the past decade, environmental considerations have become central to development policy and management. As a result, there is a growing need for policy makers, planners, and managers to be fully conversant with the environmental dimension of development.
This programme aims to meet this need by linking environmental understanding grounded in the physical sciences with study of the social and economic basis of planning and managing development.
Objectives
The programme seeks to enable participants to:
- develop a conceptual framework and the skills necessary to analyse relationships between environmental issues and development processes
- develop and enhance research and data-handling skills
- acquire expertise in specialist fields selected from a wide range of available options relevant to environment and development management
Participants
The programme is intended primarily for those involved in policy-making, planning, or management in environment or development-related fields. This will include government officials, employees of parastatal organisations, the staff of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, and those working for non-government organisations. While the programme addresses issues relevant to both industrial and non-industrial economies, particular emphasis will be given to examples and case studies from less-industrialised and recently-industrialised countries.
Programme Content
Participants must complete taught course units equivalent to 120 credits, and a 3-month dissertation research project (60 credits). Individual taught units are rated at 15 credits. The taught programme will consist of five compulsory core units, totalling 75 credits, with the remainder made up of optional units. The availability of specific options will vary from year to year, but the list below is indicative of the range expected in 2001-2002.
Core Course Modules
Semester 1
- Perspectives in Development
Introduces the study of economic and social development, focusing on the measurements through which concepts of development are expressed, and on comparison of competing theoretical perspectives on development. - Environmental Economics
Considers the relationship between economic development and environmental quality, and compares different instruments of environmental policy.
And at least one of the following:
- Pollution Damage
A foundation course in ecological principles and processes and their perturbation by human activities. - Environmental Remote Sensing
Provides an introduction to the principles and practice of satellite remote sensing and image processing, including hands-on experience of image processing and interpretation. - Concepts in Environmental Law
Introduces the basic framework and core principles of environmental law, drawing interdisciplinary linkages between political, philosophical, economic and policy issues in both UK and international contexts. Relates general principles of environmental law to specific case studies. - Poverty and Livelihoods Analysis
Introduces competing perspectives on the relationships between livelihoods, poverty, and poverty reduction in both urban and rural contexts, and offers a critical approach to current approaches and associated mechanisms for reducing poverty.
Semester 2
- Development Research Skills
Introduces research methodologies and techniques that enable managers and planners to use data or research reports critically, or to commission studies by others. - Assessing and Managing Environmental Change
Introduces students to environmental themes and debates and relate these to development policy and project design. It also aims to provide an introduction to the principles and best practice of Environmental Impact Assessment.
And at least one of the following:
- Basic Quantitative Methods in Environmental Investigation
Provides practice in a variety of quantitative research methods, using MS Excel in analysis and presentation of data (including optional use of simple Visual Basic for applications programming), and allows an appreciation of the structure of investigation and its written reporting. Introduces generic environmental processes relevant to work commonly carried out by professional consultants. - Applications for GIS in Environmental Monitoring and Modelling
Provides a detailed introduction to the principles underpinning Geographical Information Systems and spatial data analysis and their appropriate application to environmental monitoring, modelling and/or management. Develops practical and presentational skills in the use of Arc View GIS with real environmental data through the development of a GIS application project.
Optional Modules
- Agricultural Pollution
- Atmospheric Pollution
- Decentralisation and Participation
- Economy, Ecology and Environment
- Metals and Oil Pollution in Water
- Planning and Managing Development
- Political Economy of Development
- Population, Nutrition and Rural Employment
For further information on programme contents please visit the IDPM programme Web Pages.
Applications and Enquiries
Contact person for further enquiries:
Address:
Mrs Maggie Baldwin,
Marketing and Publicity Administrator
IDPM, University of Manchester,
Harold Hankins Building,
Precinct Centre, Oxford Road,
Manchester M13 9QH
Tel: 0161 275 2800
Fax: 0161 273 8829
E-mail: idpm@man.ac.uk
Web: http://idpm.man.ac.uk/programmes/
(incl. information on how to apply)