Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MX0160 Environmental Management in Europe, 7.5 Credits

Miljöförvaltning i Europa

Subjects

Environmental Science Environmental science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	7.5	0101

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to:

- 120 credits at basic level

- English 6

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide a solid understanding of how environmental management in Europe is applied at different scales, from the EU level to the national, regional and local levels. Focus is on environmental management of soil, water, biodiversity and climate. The course addresses several UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG3 (good health and well being), SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG13 (climate action) and SDG15 (life on land).

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

• Summarise the background, the fundamental principles and the managerial approaches embedded in EU environmental law

• Identify how different tools and resources for environmental management can be used to acquire knowledge about the state of the environment and solve environmental problems

• Describe how insight and skills in natural sciences are used together with economics, law and planning in contributing to contemporary environmental management

• Reflect how environmental ethics and sustainability concepts of different stakeholders affect actual environmental policy in the EU

• Apply environmental management tools and resources to analyse environmental policy initiatives

• Compare the implementation of environmental policies in different EU member states

• Effectively identify, utilize and critically assess different forms of digital scientific information

• Cooperate and work independently with environmental management in the context of environmental policy

• Discuss how environmental management in Europe is applied at different scales, from the EU level to the national, regional and local levels

Content

This is a compulsory course for the master’s program EnvEuro. The course is based on distance learning through a number of modules each with subject-specific lessons with weekly assignments.

The focus of the course is the management of natural resources (land, water, biodiversity and climate) from a European perspective. The course covers how the European Union (EU) establishes the policy framework for almost all environmental regulation in the member states, and how this framework determines both opportunities and limitations for implementing environmental management and developing solutions for the environment in the EU.

The course begins with an introduction to the overall concept of environmental management, and to the current state of the European environment. Students will learn about environmental management theory and application and how: - environmental monitoring and analysis, -environmental management including EU environmental legislation, -economic tools for environmental assessment and cost / benefit analysis as well as -EU environmental policy and lobbying are included in these.

The course addresses several of the EU environmental policy initiatives related to soil, water, biodiversity and climate (eg the EU’s green environment, the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Soil Framework Directive), and describes and analyses how these initiatives arose, and how they are interpreted and implemented from EU level to national, regional and local levels. The complex links between the environmental, economic and social consequences of the EU environmental policy are discussed and the course addresses the need for a combined system approach and environmental policy integration.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

To be eligible for the exam, students must complete a minimum 75% of weekly discussions from the online lessons, write a discussion summary, and actively contribute to a team assignment submitted as video. Students will be assessed on a portfolio of three individual written assignments. The first two individual assignments are focused on core environmental management (law, economics and policy). The third individual assignment is based on the development of ecosystem management. The final grade will be based on the content, quality and performance of the individual assignments.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course will be co-ordinated with, and run by the corresponding course at Copenhagen University.

In the beginning of the course all students will meet for one day to get to know each other, meet the teachers and learn about the online learning system. This introduction day is organised as blended online and onsite at one of the university campuses.

Responsible department

Department of Aquatic Science and Assessment