Master of Applied Science (Environmental Management and Spatial Sciences) (K7J4)

This course provides in-depth knowledge and skills in creating data driven, collaborative solutions to complex environmental problems. The spatial knowledge and skills you develop will help you to become a global citizen who can adapt and enhance the cultural, Indigenous, natural and physical values in landscapes.

Our approach in building up spatially enabled and skilled graduates involves a unique combination of skills, knowledge and experience to understand environmental processes across both space and time, aka: spatial sciences. We develop your knowledge base from environmental science, policy, social science and other relevant disciplines.

Our graduates have both an understanding and empathy for environmental management and the skills to collect, analyse and visualise data so they can make productive planning contributions across scales, both time and size.

CLO1to understand the sources of spatial data, methods of spatial data collection, data quality issues, and the processes required to effectively import, manage, visualise, analyse and present spatial datasets.

CLO2to design geographical information systems that take into account different data, information, and knowledge from various disciplines.

CLO3to practice in the discipline of geography and spatial sciences by ethical means, applying evidence-based knowledge and research techniques, including those associated with field work.

CLO4to communicate perspectives and knowledge in environmental and spatial sciences to specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, oral, cartographic, and other visual means.

To prepare you for the collaborative nature of your future career, this course provides several opportunities to interact with professionals from council, state government, industry or not-for-profit organisations, all who contribute practical expertise and advice to your learning experience.

Engagement with industry

Local experts are invited as both guest lecturers and on field-trips across multiple units to demonstrate the state-of-the-art industry practices in the field of environmental management and spatial sciences that Tasmania is known for. Through these engagements, you will have opportunities to tackle the real-world problems and solve them, such as extracting geo-information from spatial data to inform decision makers in solving the pressing local problems that have global relevance, like urban mobility and bush-fire risk management.

Unmatched field and site experiences

Field experience is also applied throughout your studies. You will have opportunities to immerse yourself in Tasmania’s living laboratory as you conduct spatial oriented environmental field work both with our world class teaching staff, and industry partners. You will produce live data that is then brought into the laboratories for analysis and contributes to ongoing monitoring of some of Tasmania’s most pristine areas.

Through guest lecturers and site visits you will see first-hand examples of locations and industries that use environmental management and spatial science knowledge to inform their operations. These are all easily accessible in Tasmania, often being no more than an hour from campus.

Tasmania is literally a living laboratory

The University of Tasmania has with six diverse ecosystems all within 30 minutes of the Sandy Bay campus, and the world’s second largest temperate rainforest only an hour away. We’re the gateway to Antarctica and, as the birthplace of the green movement, celebrate our biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

Many of your classes will be conducted outside in this natural environment, and your proximity to a wide range of pristine, diverse environments, and the researchers who travel from around the world to work in them, give you unparalleled practical field experience while you study. Plus, it makes Tasmania an amazing place to live!

Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to work with Tasmanian agencies and analyse local environmental data sets, contributing to ongoing environmental management programs, providing genuine project experience, and creating networking opportunities that can lead to local opportunities for employment in Tasmania.

Your learning experiences also includes a range of case studies and industry engagement sessions with a range of Tasmanian businesses and government departments who are active in the environmental management and spatial sciences field, and who contextualise your classroom theory through real life examples.

The information and spatial knowledge developed with local exposure and authentic learning in mind develops adaptable skills and knowledge that will help you find work elsewhere in Australia and overseas.