Environmental Management

Year One

Botany
Learn the biology and ecology of our native plants. You’ll learn to identify many New Zealand natives while on field trips.

Vertebrate and Invertebrate Biology
You will learn to describe the biology, ecology and classification of New Zealand vertebrates (birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals) and invertebrates (from streams, estuaries, and  bush), and will be able to successfully identify them.

Water and Zero Waste Management
Study zero waste management principles, the impact of zero waste on the environment, and recycling. You’ll look for innovative ways of reducing and reusing waste. This will be interesting  and challenging and is a boom industry globally.

Many communities are struggling with waste water issues and you will become familiar with a number of those as case studies within this course.

Conservation Issues and Perspectives
You’ll study Mäori and local Western conservation issues and perspectives. All government departments in New Zealand must endeavour to work in partnership with Mäori. In this course you  will study Mäori perspectives on the environment, as well as those of many other groups in the global society. You will take part in a three to five day marae stay.

Students on the course in 2011 made a range of videos exploring and highlighting important current issues. Check out their videos and learn more. 

Biological Surveying, Outdoor Risk Management and Leadership
In an outdoor activity you will be taught to manage risk and how to lead a group and conduct a range of introductory survey and data collection methods, including the use of GPS and  elementary equipment.

You will undertake a number of short field trips plus one longer trip, to gain the necessary skills in outdoor people management to achieve successful biological surveys in the field.

Practical Skills
You will study a number of practical skills including such things as first aid for emergency situations, operating and use of a chainsaw, spray safety and application, and driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and tractor.

Year Two

Ecological Restoration
Interpret ecological processes and indigenous biota for management purposes. You will study the principles of population change for indigenous species, their ecology and what makes  New Zealand biota unique, and you’ll begin to identify the potential for restoration of habitats.

Coastal Management
Learn about key legislation, planning documents and organisations important in the management of New Zealand’s environmental resources, and research the options and methods  available for resolving conflict regarding the use of these resources.

Biological Surveying
This course teaches you the biology, ecology and behaviour of flora and fauna. You will conduct and organise basic terrestrial surveys, design questionnaires and sampling experiments, become familiar with using introductory statistics and introduce survey techniques. This double course includes at least one significant field exercise of one to two weeks in duration.

Environmental Reporting/Research Project
You’ll initiate, plan, organise and produce a report on an approved topic and present the results to an appropriate audience using a computer generated format.

Freshwater Ecology and Monitoring
This course provides you with knowledge and understanding of the freshwater environment. You’ll learn to establish correct sampling techniques for freshwater systems and determine future protocols for monitoring change.

• A minimum of 42 credits toward NCEA Level 3 including credits in biology and English plus at least two more from science/computing subject areas
• OR completion of an approved certificate programme at Level 3 or above.

Applicants who are 20 years and over, who do not meet the above criteria, will need to provide evidence of their ability to undertake this programme with a reasonable likelihood of success. Students must be physically fit and capable of coping with tramps lasting up to ten days in the New Zealand bush.

English Language Requirements:

If you are an overseas student or a new resident and English is not your first language, please note that study at tertiary level requires both written and oral participation.

You will be required to have an IELTS score of 6 or TOEFL score of 550.

• Year One $5,623 incl. course related costs
• Year Two $5,680 incl. course related costs

The standard published fee is applicable for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only.

An international fee is payable for non New Zealand citizens/permanent residents.

• Diploma in Environmental Management Level 6

Conservation, resource management, research, consultancy, zero waste or pest management, biosecurity, biosurveying.

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Pathways

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) with a major in Biological Sciences