UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON
ADC/ASC/FINAL1
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PART 1: COURSE SUMMARY INFORMATION2
Awarding body
School
Faculty
Partner institution(s)
University of Brighton
Environment and Technology
Science and Engineering
Validation/Franchise/Joint3
Course status
Host Department
Location of Study/campus
Professional, Statutory and
Regulatory Body
Award and titles
Final award
Moulsecoomb
Intermediate award
Postgraduate Diploma
Intermediate award
Postgraduate Certificate
Mode of study
Duration of study
(standard)
12 months
24 months
October 2007
Award
MSc
Title
Sustainability of the Built
Environment
Sustainability of the Built
Environment
Sustainability of the Built
Environment
Maximum registration
period
60 months
72 months
Full-time
Part Time
Start date for programme
(month/session)
Course codes/categories
JACS code
UCAS code
QAA Subject Benchmark
CATS points for course
Admissions Agency
UCAS
GTTR
NMAS
Direct to School
Admissions criteria
Good honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline.
Contacts
1
2
3
Delete/cross through as appropriate
Information from Part 1 is entered onto the courses database
Delete/cross through as appropriate
Course Leader (or Course
Development Leader)
Admissions Tutor
Professor Andrew Miller
Professor Andrew Miller
Examination and Assessment
External Examiner(s)
Ms. Paola Sassi
Examination Board(s)
(AEB/CEB)
MSc Sustainability of the Built Environment
Approval/start dates
Start date (month/session)
Validation
Programme Specification
Approval date
2007
Review date
PART 2: COURSE DETAILS
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Aims:
The aims of the programme are:
To develop a critical understanding of the factors affecting the
sustainability of the built environment.
To develop a critical awareness of the complex issues related to the
environmental impacts of buildings and to develop the skills to use
appropriate evaluation tools.
To develop the appropriate research and communication skills to
undertake research at masters level.
Learning
outcomes
The outcomes of the programme provide information of how the
primary aims are demonstrated in students following this
programme:
Knowledge and theory:
 Critical awareness of factors affecting environmental
sustainability and display mastery of their interdependencies with
social and economic factors.
 Critical awareness of the evaluation of environmental impacts of
buildings based on a whole life-cycle approach.
 A comprehensive understanding of energy consumption of
buildings, demands for fuel and emissions associated with fossil
and renewable sources and their interdependencies.
 An advanced understanding of the resource implications of
building materials and methods of construction.
Skills
 Use of appropriate commercial tools and
software for energy assessment of buildings,
life-cycle assessment and environmental
performance of buildings.
 Transferable research skills to develop,
undertake and report a Masters level project
 Critical analysis together with transferable
written and oral communication skills to
disseminate findings
 Develop to a high standard the skills to
undertake an extensive work programme as an
individual.
 Ability to work constructively as part of a
team at a senior level.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The course has been designed to meet the demands of an increasingly important component
of the construction and property industry. These demands are driven by environmental
imperatives (BEM37 and IAM20) and by the implementation of the EU directive on Energy
Performance of Buildings and our own Building Regulations (BEM38 and BEM39).
Students have access to a broad range of optional modules (GYM01, GYM02, IAM02,
IAM27, IAM28, IAM32, IAM33) which develop individual skills and critical understanding
of different factors impacting on the sustainability of the built environment.
The programme has been developed to include a combination of 20CATS modules presented
over the whole year (long thin) and those presented over one semester in order to be
compatible with MScs currently being offered in Construction Management, Project
Management and Facilities Management. Modules are also offered through a combination
of short courses.
LEVEL
Masters
Status*
Module Title
Credit
Compulsory
IAM20 Impact of Buildings on the Environment
20
GBM01 Masters Project
60
BEM37 Sustainable Construction
20
BEM38 Sustainable Energy for Buildings
20
BEM39 Energy Assessment for Buildings
20
GYM01 Introduction to GIS
GYM02 Applications in GIS
IAM02 Ecological Principles
IAM32 Case Studies in Environmental
Assessment
IAM27 Environmental Impact Assessment
IAM33 Air Quality Management
IAM28 Systems for Environmental
Management
All 20
Optional
(GBM01)
Energy
Assessment for
Buildings
(BEM39)
Sustainable
Energy for
Buildings
(BEM38)
20
Sustainable
Construction
20
Impact of Buildings
on the Environment
(BEM37)
(IAM20)
20
20
Masters Project
60
In addition the student elects to study 40 credits of M level modules from a suite of
modules offered in the School of the Environment.
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Learning
and
teaching
The course has been developed using the University’s modular structure
providing flexibility for student learning and for further evolution of the
course to reflect advances in the subject and the demands of the built
environment professions.
Module material is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials,
workshops and projects. Taught modules are normally based on two
hours contact time per week per 20 CAT module with the remaining time
devoted to private study and project work.
The course has been developed and the modules timetabled to enable both
full and part-time modes of study.
The Masters Project (60 CATS) plays two major roles in student learning,
firstly to develop the student’s ability to identify, formulate, execute and
report upon an individual programme and secondly to develop their
specialist knowledge and understanding of a topic related to the
sustainability of the built environment. Students are provided with a
series of lectures and seminars developing appropriate research skills and
expectations. Although the project is primarily a self motivated
programme, progress is monitored through interim scoping study reports
and progress presentations.
Assessment
Assessment is primarily based on a combination of coursework and
unseen written examination.
Coursework components will be used to evaluate the student’s acquisition
of the required skills, such as energy assessment techniques and use of
software, together with their ability to integrate their assessment in the
broader context of sustainability and the ability to work as part of a team.
The means of assessment will include seminar presentations, written
reports and oral examinations.
REGULATIONS
The course regulations are in accordance with the University's General Examination
and Assessment Regulations (available from the school office or the Registry).
In addition, the following course-specific regulations apply:
All modules carry a 50% pass mark and 40% threshold mark
LEARNING SUPPORT
Central support: all students benefit from:
University induction week
University Student Handbook
Extensive library facilities
Computer pool rooms
E-mail and internet access
Studentcentral
Student welfare services
Personal tutor for advice and guidance
Course specific: in addition, students on this course benefit from:
Research focus of the Centre for Sustainability of the Built Environment
Course tutors actively engaged in research and dissemination in the field of
Sustainability of the Built Environment
Course Handbook
Course Leader monitoring and supporting progress
Education for Sustainable Development Policy
The University of Brighton is committed to the principles of sustainable development.
Environmental Sustainability is the underlying theme for the whole of the MSc
Sustainability of the Built Environment with evaluation of finite resources (materials,
energy and water) and the impact of pollution caused by combustion of fossil fuels to
manufacture building materials and to maintain a comfortable environment within
buildings being fundamental to the course.
Economic and social implications of sustainability are addressed through the
consideration of ‘one planet living’ in Sustainable Construction and whole life cycle
costing in Sustainable Energy and Environmental Performance of Buildings.
Graduates in Sustainability of the Built Environment are equipped to make a major
contribution to the design, construction, operation and disposal of buildings. As
buildings are responsible for approximately 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in the
UK their contribution can be significant.
Research informed Teaching
This course is delivered by research-active staff and their research interests are
reflected throughout the course. The course is founded on the work of the Centre for
Sustainability of the Built Environment (CSBE) which was developed as a
collaborative venture with the University of Rouen in France and funded by the EU.
Research programmes such sustainable refurbishment, carbon footprinting,
development of innovative materials and use of natural materials provide case studies
and lecture materials.
Professional contacts and research experience of the staff bring added value to project
work within modules and to relevance of the Masters Project.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
More detailed information about the course can be found in a range of documents,
including
School of the Environment Student Handbook
General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught Courses
MSc. Skills handbook
MSc. Dissertation handbook
QUALITY INDICATORS
This section details external indicators of the quality of the provision
QAA Subject Review outcome and date
National student awards
Professional accreditation:
[full details of professional accreditation
can be found under course structure]