Environmental Planning (EP)

Undergraduate Study & Papers | Graduate Study & Papers
Contact Information | Careers | Planning Research

Do you care about the natural environment? Are you interested in the ways in which humans interact with the environment? Would a career which involves shaping and managing these interactions be attractive to you? If so, you might be interested in Environmental Planning as a programme of study.

The Environmental Planning programme (EP) aims to help you deepen your knowledge about the natural world and human use of the natural environment. It aims to give students the knowledge and skills that are needed to make sure that New Zealanders use their natural resources with care and with as little harm as possible. You will learn the latest knowledge and ideas about sustainable development and an ethic of care for our environment.

Because environmental problems usually include a human aspect as well as a natural element, EP involves papers from the subjects of Biology, Economics, Political Science, Earth Science and Geography, plus Environmental Ethics from Philosophy. These papers give students depth of knowledge about environmental issues as well as a good grounding in each of the core subjects. It helps if you have done one or another of the subjects at high school but is not necessary.

Careers

The EP programme is suited for people who would like a career in the use or conservation of land, water, sea coast or natural resources. Opportunities for students with a background in resources and environmental planning are wide in both public and private sectors. In the public sector, positions are available in central government departments, such as Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Te Puni Kokiri, and Land Information New Zealand as well as in regional and district councils. In the private sector, jobs are available in planning consultancies, development companies, and large resource user organisations such as forestry, mining, energy, and the dairy industry. Many Māori organisations are also interested in graduates with a knowledge of the Resource Management Act and environmental planning.

The EP programme can be followed to three levels: undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate.

Undergraduate 2011 brings exciting new changes in the EP programme. We are delighted to introduce at undergraduate level a new Bachelor of Environmental Planning degree (BEP). This is a four year degree dedicated to the study of Environmental Planning. Following extensive consultation with planning professionals, the NZPI, within the University and with other New Zealand Universities we have devised a programme of study designed to provide an excellent pathway for students who wish to make a career in environmental planning or related resource management industries.

The degree is unique in that it offers a multi-disciplinary research-led programme in Environmental Planning consistent with the changing needs of contemporary planning theory and practice.  The proposed degree emphasises the integrated nature of planning through the delivery of papers from social, economic, political and environmental sciences to understand and evaluate planning processes, policies and tools set within New Zealand, and increasingly global, systems.

The interdisciplinary nature of the degree provides students with the opportunities to develop strength in areas of choice. The Environmental Science and Resource Planning pathway and programmes differentiate the Waikato degree from many other planning programmes.

Some of the content of the papers in the degree will specifically focus upon the Regional environment, with a spotlight upon contemporary issues of importance such as the quality of water in rivers and lakes, urban intensification in an agricultural landscape, the sustainability of activities in the coastal marine environment, recognising and providing for the relationships of tangata whenua with resources and conservation of biodiversity in the Region.

Undergraduate Options

Environmental Planning is available as a specified programme for the Bachelor of Environmental Planning. Environmental Planning is also available as a major for the Bachelor of Social Sciences, the Bachelor of Science (BSc), and the Bachelor of Science (Technology) (BSc(Tech)). Environmental Planning may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.

Bachelor of Environmental Planning Degree (BEP)

To complete the specified programme in Environmental Planning for the BEP, students must complete the compulsory papers listed in the appendix to the regulations for the degree as well as the requirements of a planning stream. To complete a planning stream, students must complete 130 points, of which at least 100 points must be above 100 level, including 60 points above 200 level.

BEP Degree (information)
BEP Degree Regulations (UoW Calendar)
Degree Planner (downloadable pdf)
Programme Core Content Structure (jpg)
Planning Streams (listed below)
Undergraduate Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Planning Streams for the BEP
Students must complete one of six Planning Streams available for the BEP. All Planning Streams require 130 points, including the compulsory paper ENVP408 and a further 110 points of which at least 80 points must be above 100 level, including 40 points above 200 level. The Planning Streams are divided into two pathways; the Environmental Science and Resource Planning Pathway and the Socio-Economic Policy and Planning pathway.

The Environmental Science and Resource Planning pathway will appeal to those who wish to work in regional councils or in environmental organisations and has three Planning Streams:

» Coastal and Marine Environments;
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• BIOL102 The Biology of Organisms
• 15 points from ENVS101 Environmental Science, ERTH103 Discovering Planet Earth, ERTH104 Earth and Ocean Environments or GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• BIOL212 Ecology
• ERTH242 Oceanography
• BIOL314 Marine Biology and Monitoring
• 20 points from ERTH343 Coastal Geomorphology and Management or ERTH344 Coastal Oceanography and Engineering.

» Freshwater Environments;
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• BIOL102 The Biology of Organisms
• 15 points from ENVS101 Environmental Science, ERTH103 Discovering Planet Earth, ERTH104 Earth and Ocean Environments or GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• BIOL212 Ecology
• BIOL313 Applied Freshwater Ecology
• ERTH384 Advanced Environmental monitoring
• 30 points from ERTH245 Weather and Climate, ERTH246 Introduction to Hydrology, ERTH345 Catchment Hydrology or ERTH346 Groundwater and Hydrological Analysis

» Terrestrial Environments;
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• BIOL102 The Biology of Organisms
• 15 points from ENVS101 Environmental Science, ERTH103 Discovering Planet Earth, ERTH104 Earth and Ocean Environments or GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• BIOL212 Ecology
• BIOL312 Applied Terrestrial Ecology
• ERTH384 Advanced Environmental Monitoring
• 30 points from ERTH233 Soils in the Landscape, ERTH234 Soil Properties and their Management, ERTH251 Engineering Geomorphology, ERTH333 Pedology and Land Evaluation,ERTH334 Soil and Land Management, ERTH352 Engineering Geology.

The Socio-Economic Policy and Planning pathway will appeal to those interested in more policy-oriented positions and also has three Planning Streams:

» Society, Politics and the Environment;
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• POLS100 Playing Politics: Conflict, Cooperation and Choice
• SOCP102 Introduction to Social Policy
• POLS212 Policy Issues: International Perspectives
• SOCP206 Social Policy and Social Issues
• POLS318 Global Environmental Politics and Policy
• 20 points from POLS328 New Zealand Government and Politics, GEOG309 Gender, Place and Culture or SOCP302 Social Policy.

» Environmental Economics;
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• ECON100 Business Economics and the New Zealand Economy
• ECON110 Economics and Society
• ECON217/ECON317 Economics, Law and Policy
• ECON315 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
• 40 points from ECON200 Macroeconomics and the Global Economy, ECON202 Macroeconomics and Business Economics,  ECON204 Quantitative Methods for Economics and Finance, ECON304 Econometrics, ECON339 Urban and Regional Economics or AGRI301 New Zealand Agribusiness.

» Public Policy and the Environment.
Students must complete ENVP408 and a further 110 points as follows:

• 15 points from POLS100 Playing Politics: Conflict, Cooperation and Choice, SOCP102 Introduction to Social Policy or GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• 15 points from ECON100 Business Economics and the New Zealand Economy, ECON110 Economics and Society or GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• POLS212 Policy Issues: International Perspectives
• 60 points from ECON202 Macroeconomics and Business Economics, ECON217/317 Economics, Law and Policy, , POLS211 Political Systems Around the World,  SOCP206 Social Policy and Social Issues, ECON315/ECON415 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, , GEOG309 Gender, Place and Culture, POLS318 Global Environmental Politics and Policy, POLS328 New Zealand Government and Politics, SOCP302 Social Policy

Bachelor of Social Sciences

To complete a major in Environmental Planning for the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc | Degree Planner | Undergraduate Papers), students must gain at least 120 points above 100 level in Environmental Planning, including ENVP206, ENVP217, GEOG219, ENVP306 and 40 points from ENVP305, ENVP307 or ENVP308. It is recommended that students intending to major in Environmental Planning include ENVP106 and GEOG103 in the first year of their programme of study in order to meet prerequisites at 200 and 300 levels.

Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Science (Technology)

To complete a major in Environmental Planning for the BSc and BSc(Tech), students must gain 120 points above 100 level in Environmental Planning, including BIOL212, ENVP206, 20 points at 200 level from the Earth Sciences papers listed for the subject, ENVP306, 20 points from the 300 level Biological Sciences papers listed for the subject, and 20 points from the 300 level Earth Sciences papers listed for the subject. It is recommended that students intending to major in Environmental Planning take BIOL102, ERTH103 and GEOG103 in the first year of their programme of study in order to meet prerequisites for study at 200 level.

Graduate & Postgraduate Options

Entry into the graduate EP programme follows on from the University's undergraduate EP programmes, or from an appropriate qualification or workplace experience. The Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Planning is a qualification aimed at preparing students for a career in environmental planning. Students wishing to pursue less specified planning related graduate study should consider the BSocSc(Hons) Resources and Environmental Planning programme. The Masters of Environmental Planning is post graduate degree which combines research with professional planning practice.

Prescriptions for the GradCert(EnvPlan) and GradDip(EnvPlan)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Environmental Planning at an advanced level in their first degree. To complete the GradDip(EnvPlan) students must complete 120 points at 100 level or above, including ENVP206, ENVP306, and a further 80 points from ENVP papers listed for Environmental Planning, of which 60 points must be at 300 level or above.

Undergraduate Environmental Planning Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Prescriptions for the PGCert(EnvPlan) and PGDip(EnvPlan)
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate Environmental Planning papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level Environmental Planning papers or all their undergraduate Environmental Planning papers.

To complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental Planning students must complete 60 points at 500 level, including ENVP503, ENVP504, ENVP510 and ENVS524.
To complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Planning students must complete 120 points at 500 level, comprising ENVP503, ENVP504, ENVP505, ENVP508, ENVP510, ENVS524 and a further 30 points from papers listed for Environmental Planning.

Graduate Environmental Planning Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Prescriptions for the BSocSc(Hons)
Resources and Environmental Planning is available for the BSocSc(Hons). Completion of the BSocSc(Hons) in Resources and Environmental Planning provides entry to the Masters in Environmental Planning (MEP). To be eligible to be considered for admission to Resources and Environmental Planning papers, students should normally have at least a B average in their 300 level papers or all their undergraduate Environmental Planning papers.

To complete a BSocSc(Hons) in Resources and Environmental Planning, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally ENVP591), ENVP510, ENVS524, and 60 points from papers listed for Environmental Planning or papers approved by the Programme Convenor for Environmental Planning. Students considering progressing to the MEP should check the prerequisites for entry.

Environmental Planning Papers for the BSocSc(Hons) (Catalogue of Papers)

Prescriptions for the MEP
The Master of Environmental Planning comprises at least one 6-month practicum based on experience in the workplace, plus a research dissertation equivalent to two papers (60 points) and one other 30 point paper of relevance to planning, or a research dissertation equivalent to 3 papers (90 points).  The practicums involve reading and reflection on weekly practice in a workplace setting.  The dissertation must involve research on a planning topic. The programme is the equivalent of a year's normal graduate study, but because candidates will normally be employed full-time while studying for the MEP, it is expected that the normal period for completion is likely to be 18 months to 2 years.

Students applying to enrol in the MEP, must have graduated in one of the following, with at least a B+ grade average:

i) BSocSc(Hons) in Resources and Environmental Planning (REP), or
ii) PGDip(EnvPlan), or
iii) an approved qualification including, or together with, approved graduate papers in the field of resources and environmental planning, and evidence of at least two years’ work experience in a relevant field.

To complete an MEP, students must normally complete ENVP501, ENVP502 and ENVP592. ENVP501 may be replaced with an approved elective. ENVP592 may be replaced with ENVP593. Papers approved for the elective may include any 500 level paper that, at the discretion of the Convenor of the programme, can be demonstrated to be relevant to planning. Students should note the prerequisite papers. The requirements for admission to the MEP are set out in the Faculty Graduate Handbook.

Graduate Environmental Planning Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Contact Information

Convenor: Pippa Wallace
Room: HI2.03
Tel: +64 7 838 4466, ext. 6199
Email: pwallace@waikato.ac.nz

See Also:

Focus on Geography 280kb pdf (Off Campus Winter 2006 Edition)
EP Library Site
Biodiversity