The University of New England
offers a degree in the Bachelor of Natural Resources for people
wishing to gain employment in areas such as environmental
protection, soil conservation, national parks and wildlife
management, catchment management, sustainable land management,
biodiversity conservation, land rehabilitation and management,
water resources management, vegetation management, resource
economics, environmental impact assessment, resource and
environmental conservation, rangeland management, natural
resource data management and modelling and components of forest
management. The degree is a well-recognised qualification for
such job opportunities and is considered highly appropriate by
resource management agencies, industry consulting firms and
private companies.
Bachelor of Natural
Resources (with Honours)
The Bachelor of Natural
Resources is a science-based degree in the conservation, use and
management of Australia's natural resources. The degree programme
is a four year professional degree, built on a foundation of
sciences and applied sciences with the opportunity to specialise
over the final years in the employment areas listed above. The
first year of study provides students with a fundamental
background in biological sciences, chemistry, physics and
mathematics. In addition there are units in natural resources
management that initiate the core component of the degree to be
developed during the following years. The second year of study
emphasises the applied sciences with units in ecology, geology,
Australian flora, Australian fauna, soil science, biostatistics,
and hydrology. These subjects provide the basic understanding of
ecosystem function that is needed for effective resource
management. The third year of study introduces units in the
science and technology of resource management and cover topics
such as resource economics, surveying and remote sensing, land
evaluation, land degradation, environmental impact assessment,
resource assessment, and resource management systems. The final
year units are mainly concerned with policy and management of
natural resources and are taken with further units in resource
science and technology in the chosen area of specialization. In
addition, all students can undertake in fourth year a major
project on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with an
academic supervisor.
The Graduate Certificate in Natural
Resources comprises coursework study of 24 credit points (four
units of study) from the senior undergraduate units from the
Bachelor of Natural Resources. The Graduate Certificate is
completed in one semester as a full-time candidate or up to four
consecutive semesters for external or part-time study. Each
coursework programme is chosen by the candidate in consultation
with the Sub-Dean of Natural Resources and allows candidates to
organise specific subject areas for study. The Graduate
Certificate is a fee-paying award and costs a total of $3,600
($900 per unit).
Postgraduate Diploma in
Natural Resources
The Graduate Diploma in Natural Resources
consists of a coursework component and a project report to a
total of 48 credit points (eight units of study). It is completed
over a 10 month period as a full-time candidate or not more than
8 consecutive semesters as an external or part-time candidate.
The Graduate Diploma has a core of required units (including a 6
or 12 credit point project) and a set of elective units chosen to
give each candidate an area of specialisation. The units are
chosen from those available for the senior undergraduates. Each
student programme is prepared in consultation with the Sub-Dean
of Natural Resources.
Master of Environmental
Management
The Master of Environmental Management is
a coursework only programme comprising 48 credit points that can
be completed in one year as a full-time candidate or in six
consecutive semesters as an external or part-time candidate. All
coursework units must be completed at the masters level. The
programme does not include a project report or a research
programme. This programme is particularly suited to overseas
candidates as well as resource managers who wish to undertake
further study for professional reasons and to gain the latest
training in resource management.
Master of Natural
Resources (coursework)
The Master of Natural Resources is a
coursework and research project programme comprising 72 credit
points (9 units of study) that can be completed in 18 months as a
full-time candidate and up to 5 years as an external or part-time
candidate. The research project report involves guided research
on topics relevant to resource management (counting for 24 credit
points) and masters level coursework. Candidates choose their own
programme in consultation with their appointed supervisor and the
Sub-Dean of Natural Resources. The programme is particularly
valuable for graduates with an appropriate first degree, who are
currently employed as resource managers and wish to upgrade their
qualifications for either professional or academic reasons or for
graduates wishing to enter the resource management field that
have a particular interest in a small research topic. The Master
of Natural Resources can be used as a basis for admission to the
PhD programme.
Master of Resource
Science (research)
The Master of Resource Science is a
research only degree involving the preparation of a thesis on a
topic related to natural resources management. The programme is
completed in two years as a full-time candidate or five years as
an external or part-time candidate. At least one supervisor is
appointed for each candidate to provide academic advice and
guidance on the research topic of interest to the student.
External candidates are normally required to attend the
University for about two weeks each year for consultation and
research activities.
Doctor of Philosophy
The PhD programme is a supervised research
degree based on the preparation and examination of a major thesis
written by the candidate. The PhD programme is administered by a
University-wide PhD Committee and supervision is provided by
academic members of Divisions. A PhD preliminary course may be
prescribed by the Committee for candidates who do not meed the
admission requirements for the PhD. The PhD may be completed as
either an internal or external candidate. External candidates are
required to meet a minimum period of residency and/or
face-to-face consultation with the academic supervisor in another
locale. International students are eligible to undertake their
studies externally, principally in their home countries, provided
they can meet the residency and consultation requirements.
Enquires: Mrs Wendy Hyde
Administrative OfficerFaculty of the Sciences
Phone (02) 6773 2662 Phone (02) 6773 2077
