Core modules

• Sustainable Development in Practice
  This is a problem based learning module that will encourage you to use your own creativity and initiative. Over the course of the module you will be given 4 case study team briefs (based on expertise across Brunel University) and allowed the freedom to direct your team where you believe the best solution lies. The cases are designed so that there is no "right" answer: you have to research and plan a solution that is positive or acceptable to as many of the people the issue affects as possible. The solution must consider environmental, economic and societal impacts. This is a core module for all IfE MSc programs and runs through term 2. More
• Global Climate Change
  This module is delivered by Professor Suzanne Leroy (IfE) in term 1 to students on the CCIS and Environmental Science:Legislation and Management programmes. The module is designed to provide a deep and detailed understanding of the processes that influence earths climate, how environmental change can be measured (eg through proxies), and how future environmental change can modelled to support better understanding of human-environment interactions. More
• Research and Critical Skills in Environmental Science
  This is a core module for all IfE MSc programmes and is intended to support our PG taught students learning through their MSc programmes. The module benefits from contributions from all IfE teaching staff, and provides a forum for discussion, encouragement of scientific argumentation and critical thinking, and development of transferrable skills such as basic experimental design and statistics, literature searching and scientific writing. The module features a synoptic assessment based on a research proposal, which encourages development of research ideas, in support of the dissertation process. More
• Environmental Hazard and Risk
  This is a core module for all IfE MSc programmes, delivered in term 1 by Dr. Dan Pickford (IfE), and covers basic concepts in environmental risk assessment (hazard, exposure, risk, source-pathway-receptor). The module then explores various arenas in which risk assessment methods are used for environmental protection (eg environmental impact assessment, risk assessment for human and environmental health protection in chemical safety assessment). The module also addresses risk management issues, public perception of risk and how risk is incorporated into science-based policy making. More
• Dissertation
  For the Award of MSc, students will need to satisfactorily complete a research dissertation, supervised by staff in the Institute for the Environment, potentially in collaboration with partner schools or external organisations. The dissertation will be conducted in term 3 (May-September) for full-time students, and throughout a third ‘dissertation year’ for part time students. We aim to prepare students for the dissertation process throughout the year, through tutorial support and more formally through the research proposal exercise which provides the synoptic assessment in the Research and Critical Skills module. The dissertation is a critical part of the graduate training process in which knowledge and understanding gained through the taught element of the program is embedded in a meaningful piece of research. This activity can add value and distinction to the student’s individual learning experience and demonstrate relevance of the qualification to potential employers. More

Specialist modules

• EU and International Environmental Law
  This 30-credit specialist module is delivered in term 2 by the Brunel Law School (Dr Stephen Allen), and provides an introduction to the foundations of international and European Union (EU) environmental law. It is intended to be suitable for both law and non-law students, and no prior knowledge of law is assumed. Specifically, it looks at: sources of international and EU law, reasons for and historical background to international law on the environment, selection of international legislative instrumentation, international institutional decision-making, and general principles of international and EU environmental law. It also focuses on selected substantive areas of international and EU environmental law, for example, international trade and environmental protection, human rights and the environment, access to environmental justice and international regulation of waste management. More
• Environmental Management
  This 30-credit specialist module is delivered throughout terms I and 2 by Dr Stephen Kershaw (IfE), and provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of terrestrial, marine and estuarine management issues and tools, vulnerability of societies to environmental issues, institutional structures, regional and international approaches to environmental management, national and international legislation pertaining to waste management and control, methods of water supply management and related environmental issues and key aspects of river quality and reservoir management. Students will be able to develop and implement environmental and water management policies, understand the national and international drivers that control environmental management, understand the environmental and technological issues in the management and disposal of waste and understand the principles of contaminated land assessment and remediation. More