The BSc Environmental Management (EM) programme provides the theoretical knowledge along with practical skills that future leaders will need in order to help create and maintain sustainable societies in Bhutan and beyond. Some of the critical issues any development practitioners and leaders must work to address include: management of scarce natural resources, pollution and waste management, climate change, and population growth. At the same time, the programme aims to inculcate the opportunities and benefits that can arise from the sustainable management of natural resources and innovative eco-friendly practices.

EM students will gain a core foundation in natural and social sciences, economics and humanities, as well as business and policy, with environmentally-focused coursework in these areas. The programme will instil students with the notion that integrative and interdisciplinary approaches are vital for environmental management and sustainable socio-economic development. Some basic science is also included, because those who will set serve as leaders for the current environmental challenges must have some understanding of natural science. The programme graduates should be the translators between the hard science and the policies and practices that the government, organizations, or businesses implement. Through the programme, some of the specific areas students will be learning about include conservation biology, GIS, forest and wildlife management, urban ecology, natural resource policy, watershed management, impact assessment, waste and hazards management, urban environmental management, basic weather and climate studies, and other areas related to natural resources management. The programme also covers topics such as environmental ethics and values, environmental economics, and the importance of social capital.

The programme will help provide Bhutan with home-grown undergraduates in the field of environment conservation and management. The programme is developed in the view of current professional gaps in this discipline with the ultimate aim to enhance Bhutan’s capacity to achieve a sustainable society. Using an integrative approach, students will learn how to develop local solutions that are sustainable and ethical at larger, and global scales. Local environmental issues such as land-use change and planning, conservation biology, energy use, climate change, renewable resource management, and community-based management of resources will be addressed. Field measurements and field skills are important components of this course, and help students internalize and deepen their understanding of theoretical concepts.

The programme also allows students some opportunity for specialization in a subject of their interest related to environmental management through research methods training and an independent project. Students may thus develop independent study and research skills and the ability to present logical, scientific and cogent arguments on a range of environmental and population science and/or management issues, and use these skills as a basis for lifelong learning. In addition to the discipline-specific topics, the core competencies included in the curriculum are intended to give students at RTC a very strong foundation in important lifelong skills such as personal development and analytical skills.

EM graduates will be prepared for careers in a variety of diverse fields, including environmental compliance at government, corporate and industrial bodies, environmental consulting, non-governmental environmental advocacy, or public policy. EM graduates are expected to apply their knowledge and skills to infuse innovative ideas into planning processes, help resolve crucial environmental issues and provide leadership in decision-making and strategy formation. They will also be well educated in ethics and communication, and should be able to understand the implications of their decisions on environmental matters and effectively communicate these, as well as what actions to take. Graduates may also consider the course an appropriate grounding for higher studies (Master’s degrees) in fields such as Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, or Natural Resources Management. Graduates could also pursue a school teaching career in environmental studies.

Specific Objectives

Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates should be able to:

1.    Analyse environmental issues to identify their scientific, social, ethical, political, and economic aspects.

2.    Identify and describe population factors and the anthropogenic connections to, and impacts on, the physical and biological factors that make up the environment.

3.    Discuss, compare the relative advantages of, and implement the methods and instruments that can be used to analyse environmental issues when taking into account their multidisciplinary nature, complexity, and the many actors involved.

4.    Analyse the different environmental ethics, values, and worldviews that exist globally.

5.    Conduct basic field studies in natural settings.

6.    Analyse the status of water resources in Bhutan, their importance, major issues, and approaches to managing them.

7.    Contribute in evaluating the underlying policy frameworks, planning processes, and implementation of development activities in Bhutan.

8.    Assist in planning and performing impact assessment studies for new developmental activities.

9.    Adapt to, assimilate, and use new information and tools as part of a continuous learning process.

10.  Apply the tools and recognize the capabilities of GIS applications for environmental management.

11.  Effectively communicate well-reasoned positions on environmental and other issues.

12.  Work effectively in teams as well as lead them.

13.  Propose and conduct relevant research projects.

Curriculum Structure and Map

All modules shown are 12-credit modules except for RSP 301, which comprises 24 credits.

There are two slots for the elective modules in this programme - BES301: Bhutanese Society, Culture and Economy/LAN202: Basic Journalism, and ENV403: Environmental Humanities and ENV404 Cultural and Human Geography. 

Twenty-four modules are environment / technical skills modules (RSP 301 is counted as two for this purpose) and the other six are core competency modules.

Classification/breakdown of curriculum into broad component categories