(See also General Regulations)

Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to the University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree.

Admission requirements

Sc40    To be eligible for admission to the courses leading to the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Management a candidate

(a)	shall comply with the General Regulations;
(b)	shall hold:
	(i)	a Bachelor's degree with honours of this University; or
	(ii)	another qualification of equivalent standard from this University or from another University or comparable institution accepted for this purpose; and
(c)	shall satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination if required.

Sc40A    A candidate who does not hold a Bachelor's degree with honours of this University or another qualification of equivalent standard may in exceptional circumstances be permitted to register if he/she demonstrates adequate preparation for studies at this level and satisfies the examiners in a qualifying examination.

Qualifying examination

Sc41

(a)	A qualifying examination may be set to test the candidate's formal academic ability or his/her ability to follow the courses of study prescribed. It shall consist of one or more written papers or their equivalent.
(b)	A candidate who is required to satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until he/she has satisfied the examiners in the examination.

Award of degree

Sc42    To be eligible for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Management a candidate

(a)	shall comply with the General Regulations; and
(b)	shall complete the curriculum and satisfy the examiners in accordance with the regulations set out below.

Length of curriculum

Sc43    The curriculum shall extend over not less than two academic years of part-time study, with a minimum of 300 hours of prescribed work and shall include a written examination.

Completion of curriculum

Sc44    To complete the curriculum, a candidate

(a)	shall follow courses of instruction and complete all prescribed written work, practical work and field work;
(b)	shall complete and present a satisfactory dissertation on an approved subject; and
(c)	shall satisfy the examiners in all courses prescribed in the syllabuses.

Dissertation

Sc45    The title of the dissertation shall be submitted for approval by June 1 of the first academic year and the dissertation shall be submitted by a date specified by the Board of Studies; the candidate shall submit a statement that the dissertation represents their own work undertaken after registration as a candidate for the degree. The candidate shall make a formal presentation on the subject of his/her dissertation as required by the programme organizers, during the final semester of the teaching programme; and the dissertation and presentation shall count as the equivalent of two full courses.

Examinations

Sc46    The examination in any course shall consist of elements prescribed by the course teachers, and will normally comprise either written coursework alone, or coursework combined with formal examination; in either case participation in field work or practical work may form part of the examination.

Sc47    A candidate who has failed to satisfy examiners at the first attempt in not more than half of the number of courses to be examined during the first year of study, or in not more than half of the courses, excluding the dissertation, in the second year of study may be permitted

(a)	to present himself/herself for re-examination at a time to be specified by the Board of Examiners in the course or courses of failure, with or without repeating any part of the curriculum; or
(b)	to repeat a year of the curriculum and present himself/herself for examination in the courses prescribed for the repeated year.

Sc47A A candidate who presents himself/herself for re-examination in any subject shall not be eligible for the award of more than a pass mark in that subject.

Sc48    A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in more than half of the number of courses to be examined during any of the academic years of study, or in any course at a repeated attempt, may be recommended for discontinuation of studies.

Sc49    A candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners in the dissertation :

(a)	may be required to make minor corrections and amendments as specified by the Board of Examiners, and to submit the corrected/amended dissertation by a specified date, without the necessity for a fresh examination; or
(b)	may be required to submit for examination a new or revised dissertation by a date to be specified by the Board of Examiners. Such a candidate shall not be eligible for more than a pass mark for the dissertation. A candidate who fails to submit the revised or new dissertation may be recommended for discontinuation of studies.

Sc50    A candidate who is unable because of his/her illness to be present for one or more papers in any written examination may apply for permission to present himself/herself at a supplementary examination to be held before the beginning of the following academic year. Any such application shall be made on the form prescribed within two weeks of the first day of the candidate's absence from the examination. An examination in these circumstances shall not be subject to regulation Sc47A above.

Examination results

Sc51    At the conclusion of the examination, a pass list shall be published in alphabetical order. A candidate who has shown exceptional merit at the whole examination may be awarded a mark of distinction, which shall be recorded in the candidate's degree diploma.

SYLLABUSES FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

A candidate shall follow and be examined in eight courses, or their equivalent, in each academic year of study.

COURSES

The list of courses, and their contents set out thereafter, may be changed from time to time.

FIRST YEAR

All courses are compulsory:

Semester I

ENVM7002	Environmental economics
ENVM7003	Introduction to ecology
ENVM7004	Planning, environment and sustainability
ENVM7005	Quantitative methods for environmental management

Semester II

ENVM7001	Air and noise quality management
ENVM7006	Seminar on environmental management
ENVM7007	Solid waste management
ENVM7008	Water quality management

By June 1 students must have submitted their dissertation titles for approval by the Board of Studies. They will be expected to make a start on the work for this dissertation during the long vacation.

SECOND YEAR

Semester I

1. Three compulsory courses:

ENVM8002	Case studies in environmental management
ENVM8007	Environmental policy and law
ENVM8009	Theories of environmental management

2. One course from the list of optional courses below.

Semester II

1. One compulsory course:

ENVM8006

Environmental impact assessment

2. One course from the list of optional courses below.

List of optional courses:

ENVM8001	Air and noise pollution control
ENVM8003	Conservation biology and management
ENVM8005	Environmental auditing and management systems
ENVM8008	Special topics in solid waste and water quality management
ENVM8010	Earth science and environmental management

The Dissertation (equivalent to 2 courses)

The Dissertation (ENVM8004) will be written during the second year. Attendance at a colloquium at which presentations based on the work for the dissertations is required. This normally takes place in March. The final version of the dissertation must be submitted by April 15, or if a Sunday the next following working day. On the successful completion of the degree, a copy of the dissertation will be lodged in the University Library. Therefore, all material included in the dissertation should be suitable for public access.

COURSE CONTENTS

FIRST YEAR

ENVM7001

Air and noise quality management

Pollutants and sources of air pollution; air pollution index; acid rain and ozone depletion; rising CO2 levels and their significance; measurement of air pollution; introduction to air pollution meteorology and dispersion modelling.

Characteristics of sound; noise measurement; noise sources; effects of noise on humans; noise problems in Hong Kong; noise planning; noise abatement program; strategies for controlling different types of noise.

Legislative control of air and noise pollution.

ENVM7002

Environmental economics

Economic analysis approaches environmental management questions through the systematic comparison of benefits and costs associated with the various technological and planning options. Often, in the case of the environment, such comparisons are particularly difficult because the benefits (and sometimes the costs) are not in money terms. The first part of this course provides a summary of basic concepts in economic analysis (e.g., comparing of marginal costs and benefits). The second part focuses on topics of particular importance to the economic assessment of the environment (e.g., externalities, common property resources) and an introduction to project evaluation techniques.

ENVM7003

Introduction to ecology

Definition; habitats; biogeographical distribution and abundance; evolution and adaptation; population dynamics; inter-specific interactions; trophic levels and energy flow; the ecosystem concept; biological diversity and community stability/disturbance; man and his environment; extinctions/habitat destruction; biological conservation; human populations, technology and environmental change; monitoring change in the biological world.

ENVM7004

Planning, environment and sustainability

This course focuses on the interface between planning systems and environmental management using the concept of sustainable development as an integrating conceptual framework. The evolution of the concept of sustainability is discussed and attention is focused on the development and use of sustainability indicators, policies for sustainability and the transition to sustainable development paths.

ENVM7005

Quantitative methods for environmental management

Quantitative information is crucial to our understanding of relationships in the geophysical and biological systems which constitute our environment. Yet, gaps often exist in our data bases and in some cases the relationships are so complex and variable that decisions must be made under considerable uncertainty. This course provides an overview of important statistical techniques and emphasizes issues associated with the use of quantitative information in environmental decision-making.

ENVM7006

Seminar on environmental management

This seminar series provides an opportunity for presentation and discussion of topics which serve to integrate the various disciplinary inputs to the programme. Topics include emerging environmental concerns in Hong Kong and the region, developments in the methodology and practice of environmental management and case study experiences. Seminars will be presented by University staff and invited participants including representatives of government departments, industry, consultancies and other local and visiting academics.

ENVM7007

Solid waste management

Naturally produced wastes and natural degradation processes; the solid waste problem; resource use and waste generation; sources, types, characteristics and quantities of waste; environmental effects; legislation for waste management; waste management options; waste prevention, reduction and recycling; storage, collection, transport and treatment of wastes; final disposal, economic evaluation.

ENVM7008

Water quality management

The importance of water; types and sources of water pollution; catchment and reservoir management; potable water quality and supply; potable water treatment; wastewater characteristics; wastewater treatment processes; wastewater dispersion and modelling; legislation for water quality management; monitoring of water and wastewater; biological effects of water pollution on water supplies, swimming, amenity value, fisheries and aquaculture; environmental toxicology.

SECOND YEAR

ENVM8001

Air and noise pollution control

Micrometeorology - mixing height, lapse rate, stability classification; air dispersion modelling - gaussian model, wind-tunnel model, plume rise; source control of air pollutants - cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, wet scrubbers, absorbers.

Vibration and noise generation in buildings; air-borne and structure-borne noise transmission; controlling noise in enclosed spaces; vibration isolation of machinery; legislative and technical measures for controlling outdoor noise.

ENVM8002

Case studies in environmental management

This course consists of a series of special topics, drawn from both Hong Kong and abroad, which illustrate how the various professional disciplines come together in the treatment of environmental problems.

ENVM8003

Conservation biology and management

This course is concerned with biodiversity issues in environmental management. The major topics covered will include: the nature and value of biological diversity; global and local patterns of biodiversity; current threats to global biodiversity; the design and management of nature reserves; conservation genetics; ex situ conservation; methods for the assessment of the conservation value of a site; conservation of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Hong Kong.

ENVM8004

Dissertation (equivalent to 2 courses)

The dissertation is an individual, independent research project carried out under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Students may propose their own topics and approach possible supervisors, or they may consider those suggested by faculty members. In either case, the proposed dissertation title must be submitted for approval by June 1 of the first year of their study. Normally, the student develops the research outline in collaboration with his or her faculty advisor and then collects data, carries out analysis and writes the report prior to the colloquium. The deadline for submission of the dissertation is April 15 (or if a Sunday the next working day) of the second year of the programme. On the successful completion of the degree, a copy of the dissertation will be lodged in the University Library. Therefore, all material included in the dissertation should be suitable for public access.

ENVM8005

Environmental auditing and management systems

Principles of environmental auditing and environmental management systems (EMS); structure and organization of audits; acting on audit outputs; environmental reporting; development of standards for auditing and EMS; BS7750; EMAS; ISO14000; auditing in Hong Kong and case study applications.

ENVM8006

Environmental impact assessment

Origins and development of EIA; impact assessment methodologies; ecological aspects of EIA; project and strategic assessments; EIA and the decision making process; EIA in Hong Kong; case study applications of EIA.

ENVM8007

Environmental policy and law

This course consists of two major elements:

(a)

Environmental policy making in selected Asian countries in order to set Hong Kong's evolving environmental policy framework in a broader regional context - comparative analysis of institutional structures for decision-making on the environment, the nature of policy mechanisms used by different countries and modes of policy implementation; and

(b)

Legal aspects of environmental pollution, primarily in the Hong Kong context; the basic features of the Hong Kong Legal system; common law applicable to environmental control, focusing on such matters as strict liability and the torts of nuisance, trespass and negligence; statutory controls relating to environmental protection including general controls in the Summary Offences Ordinance and Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance and delegated legislation, the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, Waste Disposal Ordinance, Air Pollution Control Ordinance, and Noise Control Ordinance.

ENVM8008

Special topics in solid waste and water quality management

Special topics in solid waste and water quality management will be selected from the following areas: agricultural waste disposal; soil pollution; industrial and chemical waste; construction waste; disposal site selection; restoration of landfills; remediation and restoration of contaminated land; advanced chemical, physical and biological wastewater treatment processes; sludge disposal; industrial wastewater minimization; integrated waste management and planning issues.

ENVM8009

Theories of environmental management

The first part of this course examines the changing social, political and organizational context for environmental management since 1945. It evaluates changing paradigms for environmental management, the evolution of the international environmental movement and the emergence of green politics, green consumerism as well as changing business attitudes to the environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the emergence of the concept of sustainable development.

The second part of this course builds on the introduction to project evaluation and benefit-cost analysis provided in the environmental economics course. Topics include identification of benefits and costs, issues associated with discounting, techniques for monetizing certain types of non-monetary impacts, and methods for dealing with those impacts described in non-monetary terms.

ENVM8010

Earth science and environmental management

This course will examine major issues of earth science of relevance to environmental management. Case studies based on past experiences with application to Hong Kong and other major coastal cities will be emphasized. Topics include: chemical composition of earth materials; geochemical surveys; environmental application of isotopes; geological and geochemical aspects of human health; geological record of environmental change with special reference to the Quaternary period; fluvial processes and flood management; coastal processes and coastal management; environmental impact of mining and dredging; geological aspects of land use planning, of water resource management, and of waste disposal.