BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management Glasgow Caledonian University - The School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment

Accredited by: RICS CIWEM

Environmental matters are a key consideration for any company. Environmental management graduates understand the impact on the environment of construction and regeneration and the need for the effective management of waste, energy, land resources and social issues.

The programme is unique in providing you with an opportunity to focus on personal interests within a variety of specialisms, ranging from waste management, geographical information systems, contaminated land, social inclusion, enhancing the countryside, energy efficiency and transport policy.

You will have the opportunity to carry out a work placement in the UK or in Europe, as well as opportunities for industrial placements in India and America. The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Your career

With the rise of the ‘green economy', environmental graduates are increasingly sought by local authorities, government, environmental consultancies, energy providers and specialist agencies in the UK and abroad.

International student start dates

For new international students, orientation events start on 14 September 2018. This extra time is specifically designed to assist new international students in settling into the UK and GCU prior to the start of general student induction and teaching.

There will be a whole host of fun and informative activities taking place during this period, including campus and city tours, as well as welcome events where you can meet other international students.

Work placement

Students have the opportunity to complete a work placement in the UK or Europe, as well as opportunities for industrial placements in India and America.

HM Forces

In partnership with HM Forces, GCU has identified this programme is being particularly suited to military and ex-military men and women. Visit the HM Forces Careers Zone for more information on the services we provide.

Accreditation

The Environmental Management degree at GCU is accredited by CIWEM the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and RICS the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Links with industry

The programme has been developed to ensure that teaching modules reflect current best practice and cater to the needs of employers. As a result, graduates are well equipped to gain fulfilling and well-paid employment on its completion. Supervised work experience is an integral part of the programme.

Assessment methods

A variety of assessment methods, including coursework activities and formal examinations. Our Environmental Management course has taken a new approach to one element of assessing the students by developing the innovative Vertical Project. Unusually, our first-year students work with our third years, with the latter group acting as project managers. This approach has garnered plaudits from our external examiners, accreditation bodies and employers who recognise how this assessment method gives our students real-life experience and project management skills. Traditional methods of examinations, reports and essays as well as a time-constrained test where our students are given 72 hours to write a series of short reports, are also used.

Teaching methods

A key aspect is teaching our students Geographical Information Systems throughout the four years of their degree, developing them into expert users of the software system. Through their familiarity with the two most important software packages; ArcGIS, the market leader of Geographical Information Systems and Idrisi, our students have a unique specialism within the field of environmental management. We encourage our students to take up placement opportunities at home and abroad. Local Authorities actively seek our students for employment opportunities and they will be placed with organisations such as Scottish Power, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and SERCO as well as Local Authorities in the west of Scotland for a placement of a minimum of 16 weeks. Abroad, our second-year students spend a week with one of our Erasmus partners at a European university.

What you will study

Year 1

Urban Issues, Natural Resource Management, Principles of Work PlaceLegislation, Sustainability Online, Construction Materials.

Year 2

Introduction to key themes including Environmental Policy and Regulation, Society, Politics and Sustainability, Environmental Science & Measurement, Environmental Assessment, Urban Planning and the Principles of GIS.

Year 3

Practical work experience which can involve working with local authorities, environmental consultancies, energy companies or studying abroad; Trimester B increases the GIS specialism as well as studying Climate Change: impact, mitigation and adaptation, and Corporate Sustainability.

Year 4

Honours Dissertation in preferred specialism; specialist modules include Urban Regeneration Energy Resource Management, Waste Management, Project GIS, Water Policy and Management, and Sustainability and the Built Environment.