SD4131 Critical Dimensions of Environmental Management

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Module coordinator

Dr L E S Cole

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Lydia Cole

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module will introduce students to the multiple dimensions of ecosystems, from the fundamental principles underlying their effective functioning to how contemporary land management approaches compromise this functioning and the provision of ecosystem products and services on which we rely. We will discuss different methods of measuring ecosystem resilience and environmental change, of understanding the trade-offs inherent in ‘sustainable’ landscape management and of developing effective strategies for contemporary and future human-environment interaction. Students will be introduced to concepts and skills from across the disciplines of ecology, environmental and conservation science, amongst others, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary methods of knowledge creation and dissemination.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS SD2006 AND PASS SD2100 ) OR ( PASS GG2014 AND PASS SD2100 ) OR ( PASS SD2001 AND PASS SD2002 ) OR ( PASS GG2011 AND PASS GG2012 )

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework - 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1hr lecture (x10 weeks), 2hrs seminar (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

267

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Describe the characteristics of a healthy ‘functioning’ ecosystem and how these relate to the delivery of ecosystem services
  • Understand the variety of methods used to measure the health of different ecosystems
  • Understand how to identify relevant stakeholders and to gather information on how each uses and values the landscape in order to develop a sustainable landscape management plan
  • Recall the different frameworks and tools available to manage landscapes in a sustainable way at different spatial and temporal scales
  • Appreciate the multiple dimensions of sustainable landscape management and the trade-offs involved in decision making
  • Create their own framework for developing and/or assessing the effectiveness of a sustainable landscape management plan