Integrated Water Catchment Management

Integrated Water Catchment Management is offered as a major field of study in the Master of Environment degree.

With global climate change and more extreme weather conditions, water catchments have never been under more pressure, and professionals with skills in their management are in high demand.

Catchment management involves the integration of sound biophysical information with social and economic analysis. This is used to achieve the best outcomes for a catchment's natural resources and the people who live and work there.

Students studying this major will look into the functioning of catchments and the constraints to improving catchment management; particularly, how these constraints can be eased.

Integrated Water Catchment Management is appropriate for professionals working in soil and water regulation, land management, and conservation in the private and public sectors.

The major is suitable for students with a first degree in physical science, life science, social science, engineering, forestry, horticulture or agriculture. Professional geologists, natural resource scientists and managers who wish to gain advanced knowledge of catchment management strategies in urban and rural environments would also benefit from studies in this field.

Students can expect to find employment in regulatory agencies, local and state government authorities, environmental consulting companies, and industries concerned with land development, recreation and tourism.

Students who complete the Master of Environment will have:

• Knowledge to undertake professional practice in environment or sustainability, including:
  • Specialised knowledge in an environmental discipline or field of practice, including knowledge of recent developments in this field
  • Knowledge of the cross-disciplinary nature of environmental issues and professional practice to promote sustainable futures
  • Knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to specialist field of environmental inquiry

• Skills for collaborative and creative problem solving in environmental practice, including:
• Ability to critically analyse and synthesise environmental knowledge
• Ability to envision environmental change and propose pathways to realise this change
• Ability to communicate complex environmental knowledge and research effectively to a range of audiences
• Ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams
• Technical skills for professional practice and research in field of specialisation
• Demonstrated capacity to:
• Exercise well developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner in an environmental discipline or professional field
• Plan and execute a substantial project in an area of environmental research or practice

Upon successful completion of the Integrated Water Catchment Management specialisation, students will be able to:

• Analyse the biophysical, social and economic factors that influence the functioning of water catchments.
• Propose strategies for improving the functioning of water catchments; and

• Collaborate with professionals from across disciplines and sectors to contribute to integrated water catchment management

Students will be required to complete the two core subjects, plus choose three subjects from the compulsory specialisation subject list. Students in the 200 point pathway must also take at least 12.5 points of subjects from the compulsory capstone subjects – these subjects enable students to complete an independent project related to professional scholarship or practice in integrated catchment management. Students in the 100 point pathway will not normally be required to complete this component. Students must also undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The selection of electives is made in consultation with the Integrated Water Catchment Management major coordinator. A full list of subjects available within this specialisation can be found here:

http://environment.unimelb.edu.au/courses/streams/integrated_water_catchment_management

Core subjects

Students must take the following core subjects:

Compulsory Specialisation Subjects

Students must complete three of the following subjects:

Compulsory Capstone Experience

Students must complete at least 12.5 points from the following compulsory capstone subjects - please note that if you select either a 25 or 50 point subject that spreads across two semesters you must enrol into the subject in both semesters (your student centre will be able to assist with this). Students completing the 100 point pathway will normally be exempt from this requirement.

Elective subjects

Students should make up the balance of the award with electives. Subjects in the list below are recommended. Other subjects may be taken with the approval of stream coordinator.