Master of Environmental Management

Your subject choices can allow you to specialise in different aspects of conservation, water or natural resource management. Focus on conservation and you'll develop advanced knowledge and skills in landscape rehabilitation and restoration and ecosystem management. Choose natural resources to creatively and innovatively address novel and complex natural resource problems. Or if your passion is addressing trends in water supply, climate change and risks to water resources in Australia, the water resource management stream is for you.

Build the right qualification for your goals

You can choose to exit the course after four subjects with the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management, or after eight subjects with the Graduate Diploma of Environmental Management, depending on your needs and goals. Exit points from the master's program provide considerable flexibility, enabling you to gain the knowledge and qualifications you need to add to your credentials.

Learn from industry leaders

Our lecturers are dedicated professionals with many years of collective experience in the field. You will develop advanced knowledge and skills about managing our environment, particularly landscape rehabilitation and restoration, ecosystem management and conservation.

Study at your own place and pace

This course is offered online – enabling you to balance your study with work, family and lifestyle commitments. You'll learn using a range of online resources and communication tools, as well as through attending intensive schools on campus for some subjects and undertaking workplace learning in industry. Intensive schools provide practical experience using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that emphasise sustainable design.

Be industry-ready

The course focuses strongly on real-world situations. A mix of biophysical and ecological sciences and management subjects are provided as a pool of subjects. This allows you to tailor your degree to suit your career aspirations.

Do you want the power to influence a sustainable future? Take control with the Master of Environmental Management from Charles Sturt University. Tackle environmental problems, whether those associated with landscape rehabilitation and restoration, or ecosystem management and conservation.

Recognised by every environmental management agency in Australia, this online course is developed in close association with industry and government. Your specialist knowledge across conservation, natural resources or water resources will help secure a rewarding career in environmentally focused business or government agencies.

Recommended study pattern

The course consists of 96 points for the Master degree. The first 32 points comprise the Graduate Certificate exit point and the first 64 points comprise the Graduate Diploma exit point. Subjects may be substituted with the approval of the Course Director.

The Master of Environmental Management comprises of 96 points and is offered part-time over six sessions or three years.

Core subjects (32)

ENM422 Environmental Impact Assessment and Auditing

ENM509 Managing Projects and Resources

IKC403 Critical Studies: Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities

PKM562 Environmental Policy

Restricted electives (64)

Students select any 8 subjects (48) from the list below. Students are encouraged, but not compelled, to select subjects from a stream. Subject marked with a (C) are recommended for the Conservation stream; those marked with a (N) for the Natural Resource Management stream, those with a (W) for the Water Resources stream and those with a (R) for the Research stream. Students wishing to pursue the Research stream need to seek approval from the Course Director to ensure a suitable research topic and supervisor are selected.

Students may select no more than two (2) level 300 subjects.

AHT404 Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation (C) (8)

BIO312 Landscape Ecology (C) (8)

BIO329 Wildlife Ecology (C) (8)

BIO330 Wildlife Management (C) (8)

BIO331 Fire Ecology and Management (C) (8)

BIO332 Vegetation Management (C,N) (8)

BIO401 River and Floodplain Ecology (C, W) (8)

BIO402 River Restoration and Protection (W) (8)

BIO403 Fish Ecology and Conservation (W) (8)

BIO405 Fish Movement and Migration (W) (8)

BIO416 Conservation Biology (C, N) (8)

BIO439 Behavioural Ecology (C) (8)

BIO430 Avian Biology (C) (8)

BIO461 Applied Ecological Conservation (C) (8)

BIO521 Restoration Ecology (C) (8)

ENM310 Principles and Practice of Field Ecology (C) (8)

ENM415 Environmental Management of Mine Sites and Contaminated Lands (N) (8)

ENM443 Resilience Thinking and Ecologically Sustainable Development (C, N, W) (8)

GEO305 Groundwater Hydrology and Management (W) (8)

GEO503 Climatology (C, N, W) (8)

GEO513 River Hydrology and Geomorphology (W) (8)

PKM466 Culture and Heritage (C, N, W) (8)

PSC420 Water Policy and Management (W) (8)

SCI302 International Practical Experience 2 (C, N, W) (8)

SCI401 Advanced Topics 1 (R) (8)

SCI402 Advanced Topics 2 (R) (8)

SCI501 Special Topics 1 (R) (8)

SCI506 Special Topics 6 (R) (8)

SPA431 GIS 1: Geographic Information Science Foundations (C, N, W) (8)

SPA441 Remote Sensing 1: Image Data (C, N, W) (8)

STA501 Scientific Data Analysis (R) (8)

Award requirements

As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

Master of Environmental Management

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 96 points.

Exit points

Graduate Diploma of Environmental Management [Exit Point Only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 64 points.

Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management [Exit Point Only]

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 32 points

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $52,608

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Charles Sturt University is Australia’s most experienced online uni, and has the country’s highest graduate employment rate. From agriculture, arts, healthcare and IT, to business, law, social work and teaching—you’ll get the latest skills in your field, and learn from academics who are connected to industry. Add in 24/7 IT support, scholarships and a vibrant student community, and you can take your next, or first, career step with confidence.

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• A completed Bachelor Degree (or Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent) in any field from a recognised University or other tertiary education provider.

OR

• A completed Honours degree in any field from a University or other tertiary education provider (or equivalent).

Relevant industry or professional experience within the same industry as the course profile, of at least five years full time or equivalence, demonstrated by a detailed resume.

Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants. If you’ve studied before, you may be able to fast-track your postgraduate degree with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you’ve completed relevant tertiary study, you could be awarded credit for your postgraduate degree. Get in touch to see if you’re eligible for credit based on your previous qualifications or industry experience.

Some online subjects include a compulsory or optional intensive school. These are an opportunity to come on campus for between one and five days for face-to-face learning.

You'll meet your lecturers and classmates, put theory into practice in our facilities, and could take part in anything from exam prep workshops and guest speaker presentations, to lab work and research tutorials.

You can also take advantage of our on-campus accommodation, and access specific grants and financial assistance to help you attend.

The following subjects may have a intensive school component:

• BIO329 Wildlife Ecology
• BIO331 Fire Ecology and Management
• BIO401 River and Floodplain Ecology
• BIO402 River Restoration and Protection
• BIO403 Fish Ecology and Conservation
• BIO405 Fish Movement and Migration
• PKM466 Culture and Heritage
• PSC420 Water Policy and Management

Please note: Not all levels of this articulated program require attendance at an intensive school.