A Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Program in Conservation, Management and Utilisation of Forest Resources and Preventive Environmental Approaches (Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimisation)
| Lecturing staff | Fees |
| Objective | Application procedure |
| Course structure |
Target Groups
The target groups for the Master’s program are those who are employed in forestry, wildlife and environmental sectors, in manufacturing industries relevant to natural resources, in training institutes and graduates who wish to follow career in these sectors.
Lecturing Staff
Lecturing staff consists of internal staff members of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and visiting lectures from other Departments of the University Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Moratuwa and University of Peradeniya; and Government Officers from Environment, Forestry, Wild-life, Landuse and related sectors.
Overall Objective of the Course
The overall objective of the Master’s program is to develop decision-making knowledge and skills required to manage forest resources and the natural environment. The course will train professionals and would be professionals to undertake tasks in forest, wild-life management such as conservation and utilisation, and to manage water, soil and air pollution.
Course Fees
Rs. 80,000.00. This payment can be made in two installments.
US $ 2700.00 per semester for foreign students and non-citizens. US$ 1350.00
for students from SAARC countries.
Admission Requirements
Degree in Agriculture, Biological Science or Physical Science or a Special Degree in Geography or Geology.
Application Procedure
Fully completed applications should be sent to the Deputy Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda on or before 31st December 2005. A receipt in support of Rs. 350.00 to the University Account No. 1062-004031-6 at the Peoples Bank, Gangodawila Branch, Nugegoda should also be included with the submission of the application form. The payment slips are available at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
For further details, please contact course co-ordinator, Dr. Upul Subasinghe.
Closing date of Applications: 31st December 2005
After applying, suitably qualified applications will be called for an interview during January, 2006. The Master’s program for the selected candidates will also commence in January, 2006.
Forestry and Environmental Science teaching at University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The Forestry education at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura has a history of more than 20 years. M.Sc. Course in Forestry (since 1997, Forestry and Environmental Management) has been offered to 16 batches of students since 1983, and 180 have obtained the M.Sc. degree. Many of them are now employed in forestry and environmental sectors in Sri Lanka and other countries. At present 20 students follow the course.
Since the inception of a new Department of Forestry and Environmental Science 1996, it has been possible to offer an undergraduate programme in Forestry and Environmental Science. The undergraduate course comes under the purview of the Faculty of Applied Science.
Our Mission
The mission of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science is to assist in the sustainable management of natural resources and environment through manpower and knowledge development.
Course Structure
The course consists of 4 semesters, each of 15 weeks duration. Lectures and practicals will be conducted on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am – 6 pm. In addition, field classes will also be conducted to different forests, timber industries and environmentally important places.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course consists of Core course, Assignments and Research project.
CORE COURSE
The core course consists of 30 subjects in four modules. Each subject unit consists of lectures, practicals and/or field classes. At the end of each unit there will be a unit examination.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTORY SCIENCES (04 units, 60 credits)
Foundation Mathematics
Earth Science (Geology, Soil, Climatology)
Forest Biology and Physiology
Statistics and IT for resource management
MODULE 2 – FORESTRY AND BIODIVERSITY (12 Units, 225 credits)
Tree diversity and systematics
Tropical Forest Ecology
Biodiversity Conservation
Wildlife management
Forest Disease and Pest Management
Ecotourism and Recreation
Urban Forestry (landscaping etc)
Forest Inventory and Mensuration
Forest Management
Silviculture and Tree Improvement
Wood based industries
Social forestry and Agroforestry
MODULE 3 – NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (10 units, 165 credits)
Project formulation appraisal and management
Watershed and water resource management
Surveying, Remote sensing and GIS
Land use planning and management
Environment and Resource economics
Policy, law and administration
Urban and Rural Sociology
Environmental Impact assessment (SIA, strategic environmental impacts)
Corporate Environmental Management (forest certification)
Global and National Environmental Trends
MODULE 4 – POLLUTION PREVENTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT (04 units, 75 credits)
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Pollution and control
waste management (microbial and chemical technologies)
Environmental Modelling
Field classes will be conducted on following themes
Forest based industries
Forest ecology, taxonomy, dendrology
Forest mensuration and inventory
Forest and plantation management
Rural sociology
Pollution control, environment impact analysis
Silviculture, agorforestry
ASSIGNMENTS
There are four types of assignments
Seminar presentations: During the course 10 seminar presentations will have to be conducted on topics that are decided by the lecturers of the different courses. Active participation in seminars is also required. Marks are allocated for communication skills
Seminar and field diaries: Students are required to maintain a Seminar diary to record a critical evaluation of the seminars that are being presented by all the students. Also a field diary should be maintained to record the field tours conducted during the course.
Case studies: Students will analyse a selected problem related to a (a) environment and (b) forestry sector from ecological, economic, ethical and socio-political perspectives. The projects should be presented in written and oral form.
Management plan: Students will prepare a detailed Management plan including the collection of field data through inventory and survey, for plantation and natural forests. This exercise will usually be conducted at the research, training and demonstration forest at Yagirala managed by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
RESEARCH PROJECT
Each student is required to carry out a research project in line with national and departmental research goals, and submit a dissertation at the end of the course. The dissertation is assessed by internal and external examiners and students will be asked to defend their work in a viva voce examination.
ASSESSMENT
The total marks for M.Sc. course will be 1,000 allocated as follows.
| 1. Core course subjects (Examinations and assignments) |
500
|
|
| 2. Assignments |
250
|
|
| Case studies Management plan Seminar presentations Field and seminar diaries |
50
25 150 25 |
|
| 3. Research project |
250
|
|
| Total |
1000
|
The Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura reserves the rights to make changes and adjustments in the program as may be necessary to accommodate varying circumstances.
For further details, please contact course co-ordinator, Dr. Upul Subasinghe, Department of Forestry and Environment Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka