Certificate in Environmental Management

This programme will provide students with a solid foundation of environmental and conservation management knowledge and information and an ability to apply those skills across a range of environmental management contexts.  The skills and knowledge gained are directly relevant to both historical and current environmental management issues.

This programme consists of these local papers:

ENV 100 Ecology and Conservation (Level 4) 12 credits

This paper provides students with an introductory understanding of the ecological and biological principles fundamental to environmental management in New Zealand. Topics include:

• Geological and biological origins of New Zealand
• Basic principles at work in an ecosystem
• The range of indigenous forest habitat
• Risk to NZ from introduced pests and predators
• Weather patterns, interpretation of weather maps and forecasts

Application criteria: Admittance to the programme

Assessment:  Three essays and two sixty minute on-line tests. Each essay or test is equivalent to 20% of the final grade for the paper. Each essay is 2000 words.

ENV 102 Marine Ecology (Level 4) 12 credits

This paper provides students with a basic knowledge and understanding of the physical and ecological factors that characterise the coastal/marine environment. Topics include:

• Formation of the New Zealand coastline
• How flora and fauna have adapted to inhabit the wide range of the coastal marine environment
• Characteristics of shoreline ecosystems
• Human use of coastal and marine environments
• Utilisation of marine resources in New Zealand

Application criteria: Admittance to the programme

Assessment:  Three essays and two sixty minute on-line tests. Each essay or test is equivalent to 20% of the final grade for the paper. Each essay is 2000 words.

ENV 103 Resource Management and Environmental Law (Level 4) 12 credits

This paper will examine the historical and current international context of our New Zealand environmental law. Topics include:

• Historical background to New Zealand environmental law
• Core principles and purpose of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
•  Definition of ‘Effect’ in the RMA
• The RMA 1991 - functions, powers and duties of central government and regional bodies

Application criteria: Admittance to the programme

Assessment:  Three essays and two sixty minute on-line tests. Each essay or test is equivalent to 20% of the final grade for the paper. Each essay is 2000 words.

ENV 104 Environmental Issues (Level 4) 12 credits

This purpose of this paper is to consider the issues that influence environmental management at global, national and local scales. This includes the consideration of political, economic, social and environmental factors that influence the decisions relating to how and what we manage. Topics include:

• Implications of global environmental issues on environmental management
• Issues involved with the use of land resources in New Zealand
• Environmental education and why an organisation would be involved in an environmental education programme
• Private versus public conservation strategies
• Environmental ethics

Application criteria: Admittance to the programme

Assessment:  Five 2000 word essays. Each essay is equivalent to 20% of the final grade for the paper.

ENV 105 Conservation Management (Level 4) 12 credits

This paper explores the problems and challenges associated with managing the New Zealand environment. Topics include:

• Cultural perspectives and how they can influence the management of the environment
• The difference in the philosophical term of “conservation” and “preservation”
• The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy
• Impacts and potential of eco-tourism in New Zealand.
• History of conservation management in New Zealand.

Assessment:  Three essays and two sixty minute on-line tests. Each essay or test is equivalent to 20% of the final grade for the paper. Each essay is 2000 words.

Graduating students may be able to undertake entry level/assistant type positions in the following types of industries:

• Regional or local authorities
• Environmental monitoring/testing
• Relevant government departments

SUGGESTED STUDY PATH/COMBINATIONS

Full time Study

All papers to be completed in a single intake (60 credits).

Part time Study

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period.  Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
• All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs).
• Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Assessments for this programme typically include essays and online tests (essay, short answer and multi-choice questions). There are no external exams for this programme.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $6.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus a non-refundable administration fee of $50.00 for each application processed, and the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Fees must be paid by the due date shown on the invoice.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

Please check the textbook list to see if you need a textbook for the unit(s) that you are applying for. The list is available here:

http://www.sit.ac.nz/documents/pdf/textbooklist.pdf

All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive a Welcome Kit that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of our website at http://www.sit.ac.nz/pages/FAQs for further study and enrolment information.

• All applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in environmental management and have academic attributes which demonstrate that applicants have a reasonable likelihood of successful completion of the programme.
• School leavers should hold Sixth Form Certificate with 20 or fewer in four subjects or a minimum of 12 NCEA credits at level 2 in each of four subjects.
• Mature students: (over twenty years of age at commencement of programme) are welcome to apply, with demonstration of likelihood of successful completion of programme.

In addition to the above:

• A reasonable level of computing competency is required as all study is done through Blackboard, webmail and Microsoft Word.
• Competency in the reading and writing of English is essential.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme, and be eligible for award of the qualification Certificate in Environmental Management (Level 4) they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments, successfully completed assessment requirements for all unit standards, and achieved a total of 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule.