Environmental decision making: a systems approach
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
Many decisions we make and actions we take, either individually or in groups, affect our environment – yet economic and political considerations often dominate. Integrating ‘environment’ with other factors in decision making is vital for an effective outcome. In this course you will learn how to use techniques and develop skills in systems thinking: modelling, evaluating and negotiating for exploring environmental decision-making situations, formulating problems and opportunities, identifying feasible and desirable changes and taking action. The course features a case study on air travel and many other examples. You’ll also have opportunities to explore your own environmental decision-making situation.
Course content
In the twenty-first century, decisions about our environment and development are becoming increasingly complex with the need to consider issues such as climate change, biodiversity, livelihoods, justice and quality of life. We cannot afford to exclude environmental concerns if we are to meet basic human needs both now and in the future as the rate at which we are using some of our resources and polluting air, soil, freshwater and oceans is unsustainable. One of the central messages of this course is that there are choices to be made about our environment and that every individual in their multiple roles in society has some responsibility for making those choices.
This course focuses on people and their decisions and actions that affect and are affected by the environment. A wide range of examples and case studies is included, from everyday environmental decisions, such as recycling our waste and our choice of foods to buy, to decisions at national and international levels that are part of processes such as environmental impact assessment and the development of environmental management systems. One major case study is on the global expansion in air travel with a focus on airport capacity in South East England.
There is a strong practical emphasis in the course and you will learn how to use various systems ideas to explore environmental decision-making situations, to make sense of the complexity of these situations and to recognise the different viewpoints of those who are or could be involved. You will learn a range of techniques and develop skills in critical systems thinking, modelling, evaluation and negotiation. No prior knowledge is assumed.
The course introduces a non-prescriptive framework for environmental decision making with the following linked stages:
- explore (or re-explore) the situation
- formulate problems, opportunities and systems of interest
- identify feasible and desirable changes
- take action.
There are four main course books:
Book 1 introduces environmental decision making and related concepts such as sustainable development. It also includes the aviation case study and gives an initial view of the environmental decision-making framework.
Book 2 covers the first two stages of the framework and introduces systems ideas and practice. It explores the nature and role of environmental legislation and schemes in decision making.
Book 3 discusses the third and fourth stages of the framework considering how environmental decisions are made and what can be learnt from making them.
Book 4 explores the potential for critical appraisal in environmental decision-making processes.
There are associated readings with each of these books and related computer-based activities and resources including video and audio on DVD. A fifth course book provides a compilation of techniques for environmental decision making that are used throughout the course.
Vocational relevance
You will find the course useful if you are, or want to be, engaged in environmental decision making in industry, commerce, local government, a consultancy, a non-governmental organisation or a local community. It can benefit you in your work, community or home if you want to understand how decisions are made in complex and messy situations, and it can help you to participate effectively in environmental decision making at different levels. If you want to consider the environmental effects of a wide range of decisions, including your own, and to facilitate other people’s environmental decision making, this course is for you.
Entry
This course can be taken on its own or counted towards a qualification. There are no entry requirements but if you are taking it as part of a postgraduate qualification, you should have adequate preparation for study at this level, usually demonstrated by a bachelors degree (or the equivalent). If you don’t have a degree, you can enter the postgraduate programme by successful completion of the Advanced Diploma in Environmental Decision Making. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Discount for students in non-OECD countries
If you are resident outside of Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Turkey and the USA, you may be eligible for a discounted fee for this course. To enquire about/claim this discount, telephone + 44 (0)115 962 5451 ext 65972, or email us.
Qualifications
T863 is a compulsory course in our
- Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (D38)
- MSc in Environmental Decision Making (F13)
T863 is an optional course in our
- Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
- Advanced Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (C18)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Policy (E15)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems (E10)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
- MBA (F02)
- Master of Public Administration (F44)
- MA in Environment, Policy and Society (F19)
- MA in Social Sciences (F09)
- MSc in Development Management (F11)
- MSc in Science (F12)
- MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate courses to count towards them. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. The written course material is available in comb-bound format. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability. Most of the course material is presented as written text but use of a computer is also required. You will also be expected to draw diagrams.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, DVD-ROM including audio, video, animated sequences and activities.
Computing requirements
This course has online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. The course software is provided on CD-ROM or DVD.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress on the course, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance. The online forum for the course also provides opportunities for discussion with other students, course tutors and members of the course team. Evidence of your participation in online forums may be required as part of the course assessment. There is also an often lively online forum for all students on the course which one of the course tutors moderates. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Professional recognition
By completing this course, along with Environmental control and public health (T210) and Enterprise and the environment (T862), students can now automatically gain Associate Membership of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) by paying IEMA’s annual fee. Our Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Decision Making, if it includes Integrated safety, health and environmental management (T835), can satisfy the academic requirement for corporate membership of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The Open University is registered with The Association of Building Engineers (ABE), The Institute of Quality Assurance (IAQ) and The Institute of Materials (IOM) for professional recognition.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2009 and May 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
A postgraduate course in Environment, Development and International Studies, Engineering and Technology and Social Sciences.
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Student Reviews
An extremely though-provoking course on aspects of decision-making (of any kind). I learned so much that I have taken into ...
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Coming from a scientific background, I found the title of this course most misleading and the content very disappointing. It ...
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