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LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Programme Specification
MSc in ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR MANAGEMENT
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed
information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of
each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online
at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked
by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution:
Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different):
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory
body:
Name of the final award:
MSc
Programme title:
Environmental Monitoring for Management
UCAS code:
Not applicable
Date at which the programme specification was
written or revised:
June 2010
1.
Aims of the programme:
The aims of the programme are to enable students to:
2.

acquire the necessary skills for measuring, analysing and evaluating environmental data;

gain a sound theoretical understanding of environmental processes and systems;

enhance their employment opportunities for the consultancy sector and government
organisations, and improve their competitiveness for PhD studentships.
Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference
points used to inform programme outcomes:





3.
The Benchmark Statement for Geography
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy
Departmental learning and teaching policies
The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff
Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:

the range of methods, tools and techniques available to collect and analyse environmental
data for practical problem solving;

the dynamics of key environmental systems, including lakes, rivers and soils;
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
how environmental data informs management of environmental systems.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated:
The programme is delivered by a wide range of teaching and learning strategies, including
lectures, fieldwork (one-day field visits and residential field trips), laboratory practicals (for
analysis of water, soil, sediment and invertebrate samples), computer practicals (for
manipulation of environmental data using specialised software) and one-to-one tutorials (for
advice on assignments, including dissertation supervision). To emphasise the applied
element of the programme, some sessions will be delivered by practitioners from public and
private agencies. Students are required to work individually (researching, preparing
coursework assignments and conducting the dissertation) and also in groups (fieldwork and
practicals). Students are provided with handbooks on departmental procedure, programme
syllabus, and module handbooks giving details of lectures, field work, practicals, study
guidelines, guided reading, assignments and assessment.
Assessment is by a combination of coursework assignments, which may include
presentations, written assignments, computer-based assignments and class tests, end of
module examinations and a dissertation. All assessment is commented upon critically and
constructively in marking so as to help students develop their understanding and progress
intellectually through the stages of the programme.
Skills and other attributes:
a.
Subject-specific intellectual skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

select, execute and evaluate research methodologies in environmental sciences;

critically assess the theories and concepts pivotal to understanding environmental
dynamics and systems;

critically interpret data to make scientifically rigorous arguments;

successfully complete an original piece of research on environmental dynamics,
dovetailing both theoretical rigor and data analysis (dissertation).
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated:
Modules will be taught by leading researchers in the Department of Geography who will draw
upon their expertise and experience to inject a practical understanding of how research should
be conducted. Most of the teaching and learning will have a dominant practical emphasis,
focussing on research design and methodologies, qualitative and quantitative data analysis,
and application of research results for practical problem solving in environmental
management. Coursework assignments are designed to give students the opportunity to
exhibit their research and data analysis skills, and demonstrate how their knowledge of
research methodologies connects with issues of environmental management research
practice. They have also been designed to maximise students’ opportunity to demonstrate
their appreciation of the issues involved in implementing different research methods.
Assessment of intellectual and cognitive skills such as critical reasoning is combined with
assessment of knowledge and understanding.
b.
Subject-specific practical skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

understand the merits and limitations of different research methods;

deploy a variety of instruments to collect environmental data in the field;

conduct a qualitative assessment of environmental systems through observation;

use laboratory equipment and techniques to analyse environmental data;
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
use analytical software tools (SPSS, Matlab, ERDAS);

evaluate secondary environmental data sources, including web-based material;

synthesise research results and, if appropriate, recommend management policy;

interpret, write-up and present quantitative and qualitative data.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated:
Students will gain experience of collecting, analysing and interpreting environmental data
through assessed coursework projects based on fieldwork and practicals. These projects are
designed to explore the way that different methods can be used to answer specific research
questions aimed at informing environmental management. Students will learn how to
characterise the state of the environment (e.g. soil chemistry, beach morphology, aquatic
habitat), to quantify environmental fluxes (e.g. sediment transport rates, river discharge) and
analyse these data using a range of laboratory, numerical and statistical tools and techniques.
Students are advised on accessing library materials and using the Internet as a source of
secondary data. SPSS, Matlab, ERDAS and other analytical software tools are taught in
practical workshops.
Practical skills such as designing research methodologies, deployment of equipment for
collecting environmental data and the application of tools for data analysis are assessed in
relation to assessment of knowledge and understanding.
c.
Key/transferable skills:
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

work effectively in individual study and in teams;

manage time effectively;

problem solve and analyse numerical data from a variety of sources;

identify, retrieve, sort and exchange relevant information from conventional and
on-line sources;

cost and plan the resource allocation for a research proposal;

evaluate the risks involved in collecting environmental data and develop
mitigation strategies to reduce this risk;

effectively assimilate and communicate material of a technical nature in written,
oral and visual form;

use IT (WWW, word-processing, spread sheets, graphics).
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and
demonstrated:
All of the above are developed throughout the programme via a combination of fieldwork
experience, laboratory and computer practicals, and assessed coursework (including the
dissertation proposal, dissertation, research reports, essays and presentations). Coursework
requirements are designed to encourage recognition of time management, the development of
collaborative skills through group work, independent study and communicating effectively
through written and graphical form.
Transferable skills, which are especially important for employability, are assessed in relation to
intellectual and practical skills, knowledge and understanding.
4.
Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:
Full details can be found in the programme regulations at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/1112/index.htm
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The programme is available as either a 12-month full-time course of study or a 24-month parttime course of study. The programme is divided in to units of study called modules, which
carry credit weightings in multiples of 10 (usually, 10 or 20 but with the Dissertation module
carrying a credit weighting of 60). Students are required to register for modules with a total
modular weight of 180. All Geography modules are compulsory and, although attached to a
semester, operate on an 11-week termly basis so that the summer term can be largely
devoted to work on the Dissertation module.
5.
Criteria for admission to the programme:
A typical offer would be an undergraduate degree at upper second class honours in
geography or cognate subject (e.g. environmental science, management or engineering,
biology, oceanography, archaeology, geology, ecology) though other applicants will be given
due consideration. Further information is available at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/gy/postgraduates/env.html
6.
Information about assessment regulations:
To be eligible for the award of MSc, students must accumulate at least 160 credits from 180
modular weights and not less than 40% in the remaining module(s). Without credit in the
Dissertation module, students may be eligible for award of either PGCert or PGDip.
Full details can be found in the official Programme Regulations (see 4. above) and the
University’s Regulation XXI at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/calendar/regulations/current/21/index.htm
7.
What makes the programme distinctive:
The Department of Geography is fully committed to excellence in teaching and research and
to ensuring that there is close interaction between the two. Much of our research has been
judged to be world leading. A thorough and ongoing programme of peer-based teaching
observation, curriculum review and modular evaluation operates. Further information is
available at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/gy/postgraduates/env.html
8.
Particular support for learning:
Details of University learning support services can be found at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm
9.
Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning:
Details can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templateshop/notes/lps/index.htm
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