| Qualification: | Degree |
| Level: | 7 |
| Dates: | 2026 Semester 1: 16 February to 13 November |
| Duration: | Three years full-time |
| Location: | |
| Credits: | 360 |
Maybe you are passionate about climate change, local food systems or conservation, maybe you are passionate about getting a great job with the Ministry for Primary Industries, a regional Council, a renewable energy company, a local food company or an environmental consultancy company. Maybe you love camping and tramping and maybe you want to learn some useful skills like pest monitoring and water quality testing. If any or all of these apply to you then look no further because SIT’s Bachelor of Environmental Management programme offers you the broadest scope of any Environmental Management degree course in New Zealand.
SIT delivers an exciting, hands-on programme with a host of field trips, guest speakers and industry-related research projects. This degree course will develop your theoretical knowledge and practical skills for a growing number of environmental management careers.
The impact of human activities on our planet is sadly, becoming increasingly obvious. Learn how to manage human activity and create a sustainable balance with nature. Environmental Management is an all-encompassing area which looks to find the answers to a sustainable existence.
Learn about:
Hands-on training with Environmental Management Equipment
Note: Currently, only Sustainable Food Systems electives are being offered. EM210 Renewable Energy Technologies and EM310 Energy Auditing are unavailable until further notice..
The Bachelor of Environmental Management programme offers a new pathway in sustainable food systems with two elective papers: one at Level 6 (second year) and one at Level 7 (third year). At the end of the first year, students can choose EM211 Sustainable Food Systems 1. In the third year, based on this choice, students may continue with EM311 Sustainable Food Systems 2. This elective pathway allows students to engage deeply with sustainable food systems, a key area in building a sustainable human society.
Year One
EM100 Data Management and Introductory Biometrics
Provides students with mathematical, analytical, and computing skills sufficient to achieve an understanding of how to source, collect, manipulate, analyse, interpret, and present data relevant to environmental sciences.
EM101 Resource Management and Environmental Law
Introduces students to the concepts, principles, and applications of environmental law, its historical and current context, and the various Acts that currently govern environmental law and related legislation within New Zealand society.
EM102 Work Environment Skills
Provides students with practical knowledge of various instruments, techniques, machinery, and Occupational Health and Safety requirements that they will encounter on entering the workforce.
EM104 Ecological Principles and Conservation in New Zealand
Provides students with an understanding of the ecological and biological principles fundamental to New Zealand ecosystem management.
EM105 Marine and Freshwater Ecology
Provides a basic knowledge and understanding of the ecological factors which characterise coastal, marine, fluvial, and lacustrine environments. The potential impacts of various management activities will also be explored.
EM106 Conservation Management
Explores the problems and challenges with managing the New Zealand environment.
EM107 Environmental Science 1: Introduction to Chemistry
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will acquire knowledge of the basic concepts of chemistry as it applies to environmental management. On successful completion of this paper, the student will be able to describe the fundamental chemical concepts of atomic theory, chemical bonding and chemical reactions, demonstrate knowledge of the major chemical cycles and their influence on the environment and have an understanding of the phenomenon of pH and its relevance to environmental science.
EM110 Introduction to Renewable Energy
Introduces students to concepts of sustainability and renewable energy (RE) in the context of energy production and utilisation. Reviews existing and emerging renewable energy sources.
Year Two
EM200 Research and Statistics
Prepares students for professional practice by presenting research as a uniting strategy for practice, theory, and scholarship. Both scientific and interpretive knowledge will be drawn upon in preparing the student to become a competent practitioner of research. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will also be assisted in developing skills as a beginning researcher.
EM202 Earth Science and Environmental Management
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will learn to relate earth architecture, earth cycles, and earth geomorphology to the current environmental situation. They will investigate the relationship between surface features, surface processes, chemical constraints, and ecology and habitats. This paper introduces students to the concepts and applications of remotely sensed data and the application of these data to geological and environmental problems.
EM203 Land and Freshwater Environmental Management
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will consider the issues that influence environmental management of land and freshwater at global, national, and local scales. This includes consideration of political, economic, social, and environmental and regulatory factors influencing decision-making.
EM205 Marine and Coastal Environmental Management
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will consider and assess the issues that influence marine and coastal environmental management at a global, national, and regional level.
EM206 Conservation and Environmental Management
This paper extends the theoretical knowledge, skills, and experience of students gained in EM100 level papers relating to environmental management. It also expands on concepts pertaining to ecological theory and ecological processes through time and introduces concepts of habitat restoration and protection.
EM208 Environmental Science 2: Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Genetic and Microbiology
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will acquire knowledge of the basic concepts of organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and genetics as they apply to environmental management.
EM209 Geographic Information Systems
This paper provides a foundation for understanding and applying what GIS is, its functionality and applications in a real world GIS context.
Choose one of the two following papers:
EM210 Renewable Energy Technologies*
*(This elective is not currently offered; please choose the Sustainable Food Systems option.)
This paper expands on EM110 and extends students' knowledge of the concepts and principles associated with renewable energy technology with an emphasis on commercially available and small-scale applications. It includes terminology and measurement units employed and basic manipulation of data relating to energy systems.
EM211 Sustainable Food Systems 1
This paper examines the issues, theories and concepts that are involved in the development of sustainable food systems. Learning through field trips exploring local food initiatives and sustainable agriculture systems, through research and lectures, this paper equips students with in-depth understanding of different types of food systems from local to global.
Year Three
EM300 Research I
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will apply their knowledge and gain industry experience within an environmental management related context. The cooperative experience is structured to allow students to critically reflect on the relationship between academic studies and practice and to develop the capabilities of teamwork and problem solving. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will prepare a proposal for an industry related project which will be research orientated and beneficial to the environmental management context.
EM301 Research II
This paper will provide an opportunity for students to extend their knowledge and gain further industry experience with the environmental management context previously selected. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will complete a project which will be research orientated.
EM304 Advanced Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring
Introduces students to the concepts, principles, and skills associated with environmental impact assessments.
EM306 Case Studies in Environmental Management and Sustainability
Provides an over arching paper, which brings together the elements developed during the degree programme. The paper emphasises governance at the national and local level coupled with the legal, scientific, management, economic, and societal constraints in relation to various environmental problems confronting the world, the nation, and Southland. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will be encouraged to explore issues from various points of view (society at large, local iwi, various management levels in the public and private sector, and stakeholders) and to propose consultation methods, solution pathways, management indicators and scientific solutions.
EM307 Mineral Resources Management
Expands on 100 and 200 level related papers and investigates both mineral and energy resources, to differentiate between renewable and non renewable earth resources, to explore how these resources form and to explore methods used to manage the exploitation of the resources in an environmentally responsible manner.
EM207 Catchment Evolutions, Soils and Hydrogeology
Extends first year environmental studies and introduces more complex catchment evolution, soil and hydrology concepts.
Choose one of the two following papers:
EM310 Energy Auditing*
*(This elective is not currently offered; please choose the Sustainable Food Systems II option.)
Provides students with knowledge and skills in procedures required to conduct an energy audit. This will involve site inspections, identifying and documenting energy requirements for that site, recording energy utilisation details, and measuring, quantifying, and reporting energy consumption needs.
EM311 Sustainable Food Systems II
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
The degree will prepare graduates for employment in a wide and growing number of careers in the environment and energy-related fields, or for further advanced study in specialist areas such as environmental health, or policy and planning.
Our graduates now work in positions such as:
More than 85% of our graduates have gone into employment or further study in these fields.
The programme will provide students with exposure to a wide range of potential employers or clients in the areas of environmental management e.g. central, regional and local government; primary production and energy related industries.
Graduates will have well-developed theoretical knowledge coupled with relevant applied skills. Bachelor of Environmental Management graduates may be eligible to articulate to postgraduate programmes in environmental management at other tertiary institutions, both within New Zealand and overseas.
Further advanced study can be completed in specialist areas such as environmental health, or policy and planning.
University Entrance NCEA Level 3. Three subjects at Level 3 or above made up of the following:
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English, or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or
Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL), or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school Years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, AustraliaÂ, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school Years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or
Successful completion of a Bachelors' Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment:
Degree at Level 7
The Head of Faculty will determine the maximum number of students permitted to enrol in the degree programme. All enrolments in the Bachelor of Environmental Management are approved at the discretion of the Programme Manager in consultation with the Head of Faculty and teaching staff as required.
Every candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Environmental Management is required to follow to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies, a programme of study for a minimum period of three years. Each year of study comprises two 17 week semesters. Programmes of study for the degree are made up of clusters of papers taken at the appropriate levels as outlined in Appendix 1 of this document. The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 360 credits for successful completion of the degree. Individual papers may have specific prerequisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which must be satisfied by all students.
In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Environmental Management, the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the degree schedule.
The student completing the Bachelor of Environmental Management will normally be expected to complete the three-year programme (full-time equivalent) within five years. Notwithstanding the requirements set out above, the Head of Faculty with the approval and recommendation of the Board of Studies, may allow a student a longer period to complete the programme.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-3.00pm at SIT's main Invercargill campus.