Program Overview

No doubt, that economic growth and social development are two intertwined objectives of all societies. Achieving these two objectives and sustaining the outcome of invested funds and exerted efforts require special attention to protecting natural resources from exploitative uses and wastes.

The sole purpose of Environmental Management is to safeguard natural/environmental resources and ensure sustainable development at large. Environmental Management is a set of procedures and applications that an organization adopts and applies. Organizations are either a commodity producer, such as a farm, petrochemical establishment or energy-producing plant, or service producer organization, such as hotels, restaurants and resorts, commercial centers, office buildings, etc. They can be governmental entities, private sector companies, or non-profit organizations. In all cases, these organizations need to elaborate and implement an Environmental Management System (EMS). The concepts and tools of environmental management seek to realize better management of natural resources and protect them from irrational use and all sorts of pollution as well.

The program strives to meet the needs of the GCC society for skilled human resources capable of dealing with the challenges of sound environmental management and actively contributing to sustainable development.

Through its well-planned modules, the program is designed to provide its students with the skills, knowledge, and competencies in environmental management to function effectively in diverse organizational settings engaged in the field.

Professionals and decision-makers in the field of crop production, protection, irrigation water management and Landscaping who want to pursue their education for higher Post-Graduate Diploma and MSc levels, as well as graduates holding suitable BSc degrees such as Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Geology, Engineering, Remote Sensing and GIS and Agro-Meteorology can apply.

Vision

A program that is instrumental in empowering the GCC countries to protect their finite natural resources enabled the pursuit of sustainable development. The program seeks to assist the GCC countries in maintaining a clean and healthy environment that enhances the quality of life for present and future generations.

Mission

The Environmental Management Program endeavors to offer a unique curriculum of study, research, and community services. The program offers courses, conducts research and provide technical assistance and training aiming to protect, restore and enhance environmental quality towards good public health, environmental integrity and economic viability.

Program Objectives

• Availing the GCC region and the Arab world with experts and specialists in the field of Environmental Management.
• Conducting research and teaming up with national, local, and worldwide institutions and associations to examine issues about the protection and management of environmental and natural resources.
• To provide technical assistance and training to local, national, and regional institutions on environmental management systems and related issues, such as disaster risk reduction, environmental justice, environmental economics, environmental statistics, decision-making and the like.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, the graduate should be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to use concepts and sciences applicable to environmental management
• Apply scheme/s for EMS related to managing an ecosystem or economic activity.
• Recognize adequate research methodology and techniques for problem-solving.
• Design and apply systems for quality assurance, including but not limited to codes of practice and standards, health and safety requirements and environmental issues
• Select appropriate mathematical methods and computer-based software for modeling and analyzing problems
• Incorporate economic, societal, environmental and risk management dimensions in an environmental management scheme
• Think critically and develop communication skills using technical and scientific language.

Program Outline

The Environmental Management program is targeting policymakers, managers and environmental specialists in governmental agencies working with environmental issues and challenges.  Executive managers and environmental specialists in corporations are also the primary audiences of the program.  Graduate students who wish to pursue their studies in the field of environmental management are encouraged to join the program too.

Research areas include:

• Environmental management for sustainable businesses, private sector companies, and Non-Government Organizations, including ISO 14000 certification, EIA procedures, risk management and the like
• Environmental management and planning for public institutions, particularly environmental planning and policy formulation, environmental assessment, energy management, waste management, climate change, and the like.
• Supportive measures for successful environmental management and planning. These measures using economic incentives, financial instruments, environmental awareness, laws and regulations, environmental statistics, environmental education and the like.

Outline of Courses

NRE Courses

Environmental Management Courses

*All students must take the above-specified courses according to the degree sought. Some courses are given in the forms of modules for 3-4 weeks for 2 to 3 hours per day to accommodate student needs. Elective course(s) can be selected from other programs within NRE, or at another department or college within AGU after the approval of advisor.

​Methods of Assessment

Monitoring and evaluation are at the crux of quality assurance. At the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), the Environmental Science Program stated earlier attains its aim through two parallel, yet interlinked modalities of assessments. First is assessing the students' comprehension of the delivered material via assignments, in-class think pieces, task performance exercises, lab reports, site-visits reports, and midterm and final exams. Second, is to take into consideration students' comments through their course evaluations and meetings that the Chair of the Department holds with them. Together these two tracks of assessments merge into the course report that each instructor prepares and submits at the end of each semester. The Program Coordinator prepares an annual Program report. The Chair the department prepares NRE's annual report, including achievements, emerging issues, and planned activities addressing them. Members of the Academic Committee discuss the report before raising it to the College for support with needed resources for implementation.

Admission requirements

General Requirements

• The applicant must be a citizen of one of the GCC countries. Applicants from other Arab countries, who are residents of any country, can apply and might be accepted in available positions.
• Applicants from GCC countries should submit their nomination from Ministries of Education at his/her country. Citizens of other Arab countries, who are residents of any GCC country, can submit their applications directly to the admission office at AGU.
• The applicant has to meet all department requirements and pass any tests and interviews that the academic program requires. S/He must pass the medical exam and submit a certificate of decent behavior from his/her competent authority in his/her country.

Academic Requirements

• The applicant must be a citizen of one of the GCC countries. Applicants from other Arab countries, who are residents of any country, can apply and might be accepted in available positions.
• Applicants from GCC countries should submit their nomination from Ministries of Education at his/her country. Citizens of other Arab countries, who are residents of any GCC country, can submit their applications directly to the admissions office at AGU.
• The applicant has to meet all the department's requirements and pass any tests and interviews that the academic program requires. S/He must pass the medical exam and submit a certificate of decent behavior from his/her competent authority in his/her country.

Diploma in Graduate Studies and MSc. degrees

Applicants must have concluded their undergraduate studies at an institution that AGU recognizes. Her/his Grade Point Average (GPA) should be 2.0 or more on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent of (very good)., The applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 or more on a scale of 4.0, or the equivalent of (very good) to apply directly to the MSc. Program. Those holding a Diploma from a program can apply for an MSc degree if their GPA is 3.0 or more.

The applicant should hold a degree in the following specializations:

• BSc or MSc degree in natural sciences, engineering and technology, and agricultural sciences.

• BA or MA in social sciences in the related fields of the programs of the department

In all cases, the Academic Committee of NRE must approve the application to join the MSc Degree.

Program faculty

Course Description

• NREEM 510 Global Environmental Issues (1Cr) (110): Seminar on the particular topic of contemporary global human-environment relationship.
• NREEM 521 Management of the Marine Environment (2Cr) (220): Terminology and concepts in marine ecology, groups of marine organisms, assessment of water and sediment quality, management of marine habitats, anthropogenic pollutants and their control, management of marine communities, sustainable development of the marine environment,  marine environmental legislation and laws.
• NREEM 522 Environmental Management Systems (2Cr) (220):  Concept of an Environmental Management Systems, the EMSs importance of firms and global level, recycling, clean production mechanism, life cycle assessment of a product, the role of EMS in environmental management, international environmental systems, Procedures to implement and operating EMS programs (ISO14000, ISO14001).
• NREEM 523 Project Management (2Cr) (220): framework, quantitative methods, scope, time, cost, quality; human resources, communication, risk, procurement, integration, and professional responsibility.
• NREEM 524 Environmental Policy Making (2Cr) (220): the Political, legal, and social context of policy and policymaking, policy analysis, stakeholder identification and their role, policy instruments, implementation, and impacts of policies, decision-making process.
• NREEM 525 Environmental Economics (2Cr) (220): Microeconomic theory and analysis in resource management and use decisions, valuing environmental resource degradation.
• NREEM 526 Energy Resources Management (2Cr) (220): Energy and development, the environmental impact of energy generation and use, energy policies, fossil fuel energy,  renewable energy resources, consumption and conservation of energy types; energy use and energy efficiency, calculation of national energy balance.
• NREEM 527 Disasters and Risk Management (2Cr) (220):  Cities are subject to a wide array of risks including, but not limited, to oil spills, fires, extreme weather events, dust storms, flash floods, are among the significant disasters. The course introduces the student to the basics of disaster risk reduction and management and the role of spatial planning and urban management in preparedness, prevention, and risk reduction, case studies from the GCC region.
• NREEM 530 Waste Management and Pollution Abatement (3Cr) (330): Introduction to environmental pollution,  environmental, socioeconomic and health impacts,  management of pollution, the role of legislation and environmental conventions in pollution control, wastewater, and solid waste management, air quality management, the technology of pollution control.
• NREEM 532 Environment and Sustainable Development (3Cr) (330): Earth's ecosystems, issues, and topics related to relationships between human populations and natural resources, strategies for sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.
• NREEM 540 Diploma Project (4Cr): A student is expected to provide satisfactory evidence indicating a grasp of theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge in his field of study (environmental management). By the end of work, the student is expected to present his/her learning outcomes that reflect a thorough understanding of the chosen topic using sound methodologies.
• NREEM 680 Master Thesis (8Cr): A student is expected to provide satisfactory evidence indicating a good grasp of all the dimensions of the research problem, ability to identify, follow and utilize the relevant references in addition to clear contribution towards understanding and solution of a research problem with suggestions and recommendations. By the end of work, the student is expected to present a thesis that reflects a thorough understanding and analysis of the chosen topic using scientific methodologies​