The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management is a 36-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Environmental Management offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

It articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and the 72-unit Master of Environmental Management and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

Admission requirements

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management (or an approved equivalent) must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management or a comparable award normally receive credit for up to 18 units towards the Graduate Diploma.

Course aims

The course is designed to provide students with an understanding of environmental processes, environmental systems, and environmental management.

Students may also undertake some study of specific environmental problems, research methods, geographical information systems, and environmental economics, philosophy or politics.

The course is international in scope, but case study material will draw especially on the experience of Australia and other countries within the Asia-Pacific region. 

Learning outcomes

Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management will be able to:

  • demonstrate an enhanced understanding and appreciation of current issues in environmental management
  • identify the main theories, issues and complexities shaping the environment in which contemporary policymakers work
  • demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the challenge of environmental management and associated environmental management tools.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

A student's program of study must be prepared by the Program Approver.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • the program must be completed within six consecutive semesters
  • no topic may be attempted more than twice
  • a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.

Core - Year 1 topics


Select 9 units from:

 ENVS8741  Managing Environments GE  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 ENVS8711  Australian Environmental Change GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS8721  Environmental Decision Making Tools GE  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics


Select 18 units from:

 DVST8701  Sustainable Development GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS8701  Coastal Management GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS8722  Environment in Film GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS8732  Environmental Impact Assessment GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8712  Asian Regional Development GE  (4.5 units)

Option - Skills based option topics


 Select 9 units from:

 EASC8700  NCGRT Australian Groundwater School  (4.5 units)
 EASC8762  Field Investigation GE  (4.5 units)
 EASC8771  Environmental Research Methods GE  (4.5 units)
 EASC8772  Groundwater Hydrology  (4.5 units)
 GEOG2721  Computing Methods in Geography  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8700  Geographical Information Systems GE  (4.5 units)
 WARM8761  Public Health Related Aspects of Drinking Water Quality  (4.5 units)