Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management

Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management

Comprising three elective options: renewable energy auditing, mineral resources management and sustainable food systems, the programme will provide students with both the knowledge and practical skills to develop a broad understanding of environmental management.

Successful completion by students who may have a degree in a different discipline will ensure they are equipped with the knowledge required to fulfil the expectations of the environmental management industry. 

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Graduate Diploma
Level:
7
Credits:
120
Duration:

One year full-time

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2024 Semester 2: 15 July to 08 November

2025 Semester 1: 17 February to 04 July

2025 Semester 2: 21 July to 14 November
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs: $1,922.50 (GST inclusive)

International Fees can be found here.

Comprising three elective options: renewable energy auditing, mineral resources management, and sustainable food systems, the programme will provide students with both the knowledge and practical skills to develop a broad understanding of environmental management.

Successful completion by students who may have a degree in a different discipline will ensure they are equipped with the knowledge required to fulfil the expectations of the environmental management industry.

Note: Currently, only Elective Option B or Elective Option C is available. Elective Option A is not being offered at this time.

Elective Option A* 
*EM210 & EM310: These electives are not currently available.

EM110 Introduction to Renewable Energy
Introduces students to concepts of sustainability and renewable energy in the context of energy production and utilisation. Learn to review existing and emerging renewable energy sources.

EM200 Research and Statistics
Prepares students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory, and scholarship. Both scientific and interpretive knowledge will be drawn on in preparing the student to become a competent practitioner of research. Students will also be assisted in developing skills as a beginning researcher.

OR

EM209 Geographic Information Systems 
This paper provides a foundation for understanding and applying what GIS is, its functionality and applications in a real-world GIS context.

(students will choose between either EM200 OR EM209)

EM210 Renewable Energy Technologies* 
*This Elective is not currently being offered
Expands on EM110 and extends students' knowledge of the concepts and principles associated with renewable energy technology with an emphasis on commercially available and small-scale applications. This paper will include terminology and measurement units employed and basic manipulation of data relating to energy systems.

EM300 Research I
Students will apply their knowledge and gain industry experience within an environmental management related context. The cooperative experience is structured to allow the student to critically reflect on the relationship between academic studies and practice and to develop the capabilities of teamwork and problem-solving. Students will prepare a proposal for an industry related project which will be research orientated and beneficial to the environmental management context.

EM301 Research II
Students will complete a project which will be research orientated. This paper will provide an opportunity for students to extend their knowledge and gain further industry experience.

EM306 Case Studies in Environmental Management and Sustainability
This is an over-arching paper that brings together the elements developed during the degree programme.  The paper emphasises governance at the national and local level coupled with the legal, scientific, management, economic, and societal constraints in relation to various environmental problems confronting the world, the nation, and Southland.  Students will be encouraged to explore issues from various points of view (society at large, local Iwi, various management levels in the public and private sector, and stakeholders) and to propose consultation methods, solution pathways, management indicators, and scientific solutions.

EM310 Energy Auditing**This Elective is not currently being offered
Provides students with knowledge and skills in procedures required to conduct an energy audit. This will involve site inspections, identifying and documenting energy requirements for that site, recording energy utilization details, and measuring, quantifying, and reporting energy consumption needs.

Elective Option B: Mineral Resources Management   

EM202 Earth Science and Environmental Management
Students will learn to relate earth architecture, earth cycles, and earth geomorphology to the current environmental situation. They will investigate the relationship between surface features, surface processes, chemical constraints, and ecology and habitats.  This paper introduces students to the concepts and applications of remotely sensed data and the application of these data to geological and environmental problems.

EM200 Research and Statistics
Prepares students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory, and scholarship. Both scientific and interpretive knowledge will be drawn on in preparing the student to become a competent practitioner of research. Students will also be assisted in developing skills as a beginning researcher.

OR

EM209 Geographic Information Systems 
This paper provides a foundation for understanding and applying what GIS is, its functionality and applications in a real world GIS context.

(students will choose between either EM200 OR EM209)

EM300 Research I
Students will apply their knowledge and gain industry experience within an environmental management related context. The cooperative experience is structured to allow the student to critically reflect on the relationship between academic studies and practice and to develop the capabilities of teamwork and problem solving. Students will prepare a proposal for an industry related project which will be research orientated and beneficial to the environmental management context.

EM301 Research II
This paper will provide an opportunity for students to extend their knowledge and gain further industry experience with the environmental management context selected in Research I. Students will complete a project which will be research orientated.

EM304 Advanced Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring
Students will learn to discuss and expand upon concepts, principles, and skills associated with environmental impact assessments.

EM306 Case Studies in Environmental Management and Sustainability
This is an over-arching paper that brings together the elements developed during the degree programme.  This paper emphasises governance at the national and local level coupled with the legal, scientific, management, economic, and societal constraints in relation to various environmental problems confronting the world, the nation, and Southland.  Students will be encouraged to explore issues from various points of view (society at large, local Iwi, various management levels in the public and private sector, and stakeholders) and to propose consultation methods, solution pathways, management indicators, and scientific solutions.

EM307 Mineral Resources Management
This paper expands on 100 and 200 level related papers and investigates both mineral and energy resources. Learn to differentiate between renewable and non-renewable earth resources, to explore how these resources form and to explore methods used to manage the exploitation of the resources in an environmentally responsible manner.

 

Elective Option C: Sustainable Food Systems

EM200 Research and Statistics
Prepares students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory, and scholarship. Both scientific and interpretive knowledge will be drawn on in preparing the student to become a competent practitioner of research. Students will also be assisted in developing skills as a beginning researcher.

EM211 Sustainable Food Systems 1

This paper examines the issues, theories and concepts that are involved in the development of sustainable food systems. Learning through field trips exploring local food initiatives and sustainable agriculture systems, through research and lectures, this paper equips students with in-depth understanding of different types of food systems from local to global.

EM300 Research I
Students will apply their knowledge and gain industry experience within an environmental management related context. The cooperative experience is structured to allow the student to critically reflect on the relationship between academic studies and practice and to develop the capabilities of teamwork and problem solving. Students will prepare a proposal for an industry related project which will be research orientated and beneficial to the environmental management context.

EM301 Research II
This paper will provide an opportunity for students to extend their knowledge and gain further industry experience with the environmental management context selected in Research I. Students will complete a project which will be research orientated.

EM304 Advanced Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring
Students will learn to discuss and expand upon concepts, principles, and skills associated with environmental impact

EM311 Sustainable Food Systems II

Building on what was learned in EM211, this paper develops the concepts of food sovereignty, food security and food justice into the analysis of definitions and approaches to addressing food poverty and developing local sustainable food systems. Students learn about this cutting edge subject  through field trips, hands-on projects, lectures and guest speakers.

EM306 Case Studies in Environmental Management and Sustainability
This is an over-arching paper that brings together the elements developed during the degree programme.  This paper emphasises governance at the national and local level coupled with the legal, scientific, management, economic, and societal constraints in relation to various environmental problems confronting the world, the nation, and Southland.  Students will be encouraged to explore issues from various points of view (society at large, local Iwi, various management levels in the public and private sector, and stakeholders) and to propose consultation methods, solution pathways, management indicators, and scientific solutions.

Graduates of the Renewable Energy strand will undertake research and analysis in an environmental management related context, conduct energy auditing and analyse energy systems for environmental impact.

Graduates of the Mineral Resources Management strand will provide advice and expertise on mineral resources management as well as being able to conduct feasibility studies into the impact of resources usage in communities and the wider environment.

Graduates of the sustainable food systems strand will analyse global and local food systems together with the legislation underpinning these and make recommendations for how these systems could develop in sustainable directions.

Entry is open to those who have graduated successfully from a bachelor degree programme or who can demonstrate equivalent relevant, practical, professional or educational experience in a related discipline.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

Every candidate for the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management is required to follow to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies, a programme of study for a minimum period of one year. The year of study comprises two 17-week semesters.

The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 120 credits for successful completion of the graduate diploma. Individual papers may have specific prerequisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which must be satisfied by all students.

In order to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the graduate diploma schedule.

The student completing the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management will normally be expected to complete the one-year programme (full-time equivalent) within four years.

Not withstanding the requirements set out above, the Head of Faculty with the approval and recommendation of the Board of Studies, may allow a student a longer period to complete the programme.

Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-3.30pm at SIT's main Invercargill campus.

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