Tailored Specialisation

Employers in the environmental sector seek graduates who are able to integrate knowledge across disciplines, collaborate effectively in cross-disciplinary teams, and translate information for different audiences. New areas of environmental specialisation are emerging that require synthesis of knowledge from historically distinct fields, for example combining a knowledge of environmental sustainability with business entrepreneurship, or drawing on knowledge of public health to improve landscape planning processes, or practices that require advanced knowledge of both energy systems and environmental law.

The tailored specialisation is designed to support students to develop skills for integration, collaboration and translation while gaining depth of knowledge in one or more fields of inquiry. The flexible structure enables student to tailor subject selection to meet personal learning objectives, developed in consultation with an academic advisor.

Graduates will work in roles that require translation of knowledge across different specialisations or in emerging ‘boundary crossing’ specialist roles.

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 practic

Students completing a tailored specialisation in the Master of Environment will complete two core subjects in Sustainability, Governance and Leadership, and Interdisciplinarity and the Environment. Students in the 200 point pathway will complete at least 12.5 points of subjects selected from a list of compulsory ‘capstone’ subjects which will enable students plan and execute a substantial project in an environmental of environmental scholarship or practice. Students in the 100 point pathway will not normally be required to complete this component. Students will choose the remainder of subjects from an approved subject list in consultation with an academic advisor. Additional subjects may be chosen depending on academic background. Please note that prerequisites may apply.

Core Subjects

Students must complete the following core 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 from the following list of subjects. Other subjects may be taken with the approval of stream coordinator. The following elective options are sorted into discipline/faculty areas:

Architecture Building and Planning elective options:

Arts

Economics

Education

Engineering

Law

All Law subjects, with the exception of LAWS70068, Environmental Law and LAWS70176, Construction Law require permission from the Law Faculty. Other subjects are available from year to year within the Master of Environmental Law program

Law permission form: http://environment.unimelb.edu.au/current_students/useful_forms/application_for_melbourne_law_school_subjects

Public Health

Office for Environmental Programs (Cross-faculty)

Science

Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences