Environmental Management with Professional Studies

Queen's University Belfast

The growing changes affecting the natural environment, and the increasing role of environmental policies affecting businesses and organisations are creating new and challenging career opportunities for those familiar with issues of sustainable development, planning and environmental protection and management. The BSc in Environmental Management with Professional Studies explores the physical, social, economic and cultural aspects of environmental management. It combines aspects of science, geography and environmental planning with an environmental work placement to understand the environmental systems in which we live and work. Students will be enabled to understand; issues of sustainable development, conservation and environmental protection and management, the integrated and holistic nature of environmental management and how to devise, manage and critically evaluate project work.

Degrees accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The course will include ‘Dragons’ Den’ presentations to external experts in the final year for the module Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Planning and Geography modules will host guest lectures from business practitioners. Site visits will be an important component of many modules, including Environmental Management, Environmental Assessment, Policies for Environmental Sustainability, Dynamic Earth and Environmental Change.

Graduates from this course have continued further education studying MSc programmes in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology; Environmental Engineering; Leadership for Sustainable (Rural) Development, Environmental Law, and PhD programmes in Environmental Economics.

Students must complete a one year placement between Stage 2 and 3. This placement will help students apply their degree to a work place environment, and build a foundation for future career opportunities. Work placements take place in a wide range of organisations including Farrans, Northstone Quarries, SITA Waste Management, Ulster Wildlife Trust, Colin Glen, National Trust, Property developers, Property management companies, Environmental consultancies and Councils. Work placement overseas is encouraged and students have worked in America, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and England.

This programme is jointly delivered by the School of Biological Sciences and by the School of Natural and Built Environment. Students will benefit from the facilities available in these two schools, including a Marine Laboratory in Portaferry. Environmental Management is linked closely to the Institute for Global Food Security, one of the three three major research centres in the University, and it is primarily taught by members of the Institute.