General requirements for university studies.

This course prepares students to work with environmental management concepts and tools in a wide variety of settings including businesses, government, and NGOs. The purpose of the course is to familiarize students with tools and their use so that students can work to change internal routines and knowledge as well as external relations with other organizations to ensure that the organization they work for is better able to reach its environmental potential. The transdisciplinary approach of this course means that upon leaving the course students will have experience with concrete tools to be able to coordinate a variety of environmental work, within and between organizations; calculate environmental impacts; and sketch alternative solutions or approaches.

This transdisciplinary course focuses on the following seven core themes: natural or urban green space environmental management, environmental spatial planning, the work environment, an introduction to business economics, business environmental management, basic climate change strategies, and product design for the environment. Within the transdisciplinary nature of this course the tools and concepts listed below marked A deal primarily with spaces, geography and physical planning i.e. more governmental tasks while the ones marked B deal primarily with the organizations and environmental management within businesses whereas those marked C are relevant in many situations. In addition to basic understanding of core concepts and practice using the various tools, students will develop understanding of what it means to lead and coordinate processes and environment projects in different organizations.

Specifically this course includes:

After finishing the course the students shall be able to demonstrate:

1. Knowledge of key concepts in environmental management which, in this transdisciplinary course, includes: natural or urban green space environmental management, environmental impact assessments, the work environment, business economics, business environmental management, climate change planning, risk assessment, product development and design, and project management.

2. Understanding of the relevant areas for application of environmental management tools as well as their strengths and limitations.

3. Understanding of the forces and trends that have shaped and are influencing the use of various environmental management tools.

After finishing the course, the student shall be able to:

4. Read and evaluate the content of various reports from the use of tools or evaluation processes in the area of environmental management including but not limited to the following: environmental impact assessments, environmental reports, life-cycle assessments.

5. Participate in group efforts to work with tools and evaluation processes including but not limited to the following: environmental impact assessments, life-cycle assessments, eco-design, establishing a management plan for nature protection areas or urban green spaces, systematic work environment work, environmental management systems.

6. As a manager of a project, follow-up a budget during the course of a project.

7. Together with others, make a relevant investment calculation and participate in the formulation of a climate strategy for an organization.

After finishing the course, the student shall be able to:

8. Among the various environmental management tools, choose those most suitable to a given environmental problem, appraise the problem and make suggestions for solutions.

9. Communicate the results of the use of one or more environmental management tools.

10. Be able to lead the process of selecting among various consultant bids to carry out environmental assessments using one or more environmental management tools.

In addition to the introduction to the course and an introduction to project management, the course consists of seven themes or tasks. Each theme is introduced using one or more lectures. Depending on the theme in question, understanding and skills are deepened through seminars, exercises, study visits, projects and the use of case studies. In some themes skills, abilities and approaches are enhanced through a form of group project.

Introduction, seminar and final presentation (1 credit) (grading scale UG) (Learning outcomes 1, 8, 9, 10)

Business Environmental Management, individual exam (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)

Work Environment, individual exam (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9)

Introductory Business Economics, individual exam (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Products and the Environment, seminars and exercises (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 8, 9)

Environmental Impact Assessment, seminars and exercises (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)

Green Space Environmental Management, group work (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9)

Climate Strategies, group work (2 credits) (grading scale A-E, U) (Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)

To pass the course total at least the grade pass (E) respectively G is necessary. The course grade consists of a mean of the grades of all themes, with grading scale (A-E). Each of the themes have an equal weight.

Additional readings (articles etc.) to be determined by the principal course instructor and made available on the course website or equivalent.

The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.