Postgraduate Diploma in
Environmental Management
Why is this programme important?
The earth’s biological diversity is under increasing threat. The postgraduate programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to imagine, lead and build more sustainable futures.
Environmental management is a globally identified scarce skill.
The School of Public Leadership in the Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences is proud to announce that the well-established residential post graduate diploma is now offered as a structured hybrid offering for working professionals for broader access to those who are not able to study full-time.
Who is the programme for?
This is an interdisciplinary programme. If you seek a network of colleagues across multiple sectors and from across the continent, this is such an opportunity. A diverse range of graduates have benefited from this programme: some are directly involved in environmental management, while others want to apply environmental management more intentionally into their work.
Conservation managers and team, economists, data science practitioners, teachers, scientists, engineers, policy makers, political analysts have participated.
This hybrid postgraduate programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to imagine, lead and build more sustainable futures. (Read about hybrid learning here)
Eight Modules (15 Credits Each)
- Environmental Ethics
- Environmental Issues
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Economics
- Environmental Governance
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Environmental Analysis and Management
- Introduction to Sustainability Transitions
- Elective: Advanced Topics in Environmental Management
About hybrid learning
Discover a flexible and dynamic learning experience with our hybrid programme. Benefit from self-directed learning, complemented by daily synchronous sessions and three immersive in-person contact sessions throughout the year. This unique blend ensures you have the flexibility to shape your learning journey while growing a valuable professional network through real-world experiences.
Pathways to further study
The Postgraduate Diploma could lead to the MPhil in Environmental Management and advanced study at doctoral level.
Admission requirements
A bachelor’s degree with a final pass mark of at least 60% in any of the following major subjects:
- Geography and Environmental Studies
- Public and Development Management
- Economics
- Geology
- Sociology
- Botany
- Zoology
- Agricultural Economics
- Logistics
- Forestry
- Ecology/Nature Conservation
- Civil Engineering
- Architecture
- Town and Regional Planning
- Surveying,
- Any other field regarded as equivalent.
Your teaching team: talented and committed faculty from multiple disciplines
Providing guidance with ample learning and assessment opportunities to scaffold your knowledge and skills. One of the most significant learning outcomes to expect, is for you to be better prepared to navigate complexity.
Prof Louise du Toit
Module: Environmental Ethics
Louise du Toit is a Professor of Philosophy. Her main research interests include a wide range of themes within feminist philosophy, especially in the interface between African and European traditions. She is interested in sexual violence, Critical Theory, political philosophy, hermeneutics, philosophy and literature, phenomenology, legal philosophy, environmental philosophy, and feminist philosophy of religion.
Prof Johan Hattingh
Module: Environmental Ethics
Johan Hattingh is Professor Emeritus at Stellenbosch University. In his current research, Professor Hattingh focuses on the problem of integrating ethical considerations in environmental decision-making, and he focuses on institutional responses to the ethical issues related to climate change.
Prof Martin de Wit
Module: Environmental Economics
Martin de Wit is Head Environmental Management at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University. Martin teaches environmental governance, environmental and ecological economics. His research includes integrated ecological-economic assessment and modelling, climate communication, municipal waste systems, urban river restoration and the relationship between persons, environmental governance and social order.
Ms Bronwen Beck
Module: Environmental Law
Ms Bronwen Beck is an adjunct lecturer at the University of the Western Cape and PhD candidate from the North-West University. Bronwen teaches environmental law in the programme. Her research expertise falls within the area of environmental law and human rights law, with a specific interest in water law, local government law and the water-energy-food nexus, and their interaction with human rights and issues of social justice.
Dr Samantha Williams
Module: Environmental Analysis and Management
Samantha Williams is a senior lecturer in the School of Public Leadership (SPL) and program leader for the postgraduate diploma in Environmental Management (PGDip). Her main research interests include natural resource management, governance of natural resources, sustainable livelihoods, and small-scale fisheries. Samantha teaches environmental management and supervises students at the postgraduate level.
Mr Kyle Loggenberg
Module: Geographical Information Systems
Kyle Loggenberg graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2018, receiving his MSc degree (Cum Laude) in Geoinformatics.
He is currently a Lecturer in Geoinformatics at the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at Stellenbosch University, where he teaches GIS and Earth Observation courses at 2nd and postgraduate level. His PhD research focuses on the application of hyperspectral imagery and machine learning in the field of precision viticulture.