Why Study / Key Benefits

The Land and Water Science major focuses on the relationship between land, water, ecosystems and human activity. It is particularly relevant to natural-resource management at river-catchment scale and to environmental challenges such as climate change, sustainable agriculture and sustainable production within environmental limits.

Key benefits include:

• Develop a scientific understanding of Earth systems, environmental processes, land and waterways.
• Learn practical environmental monitoring and field skills.
• Study river catchments through ecology, hydrology, geomorphology and water-quality perspectives.
• Develop knowledge of soil fertility, environmental management and sustainable agriculture.
• Learn how technology and innovation can be used to identify and manage soil and water risks.
• Gain experience applying scientific knowledge to real environmental-management problems.
• Incorporate M?ori environmental perspectives and m?tauranga M?ori into environmental study.
• Develop skills relevant to environmental policy, resource management, GIS, agriculture, biodiversity and related sectors.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The 360-credit degree combines the Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science core with the 120-credit Land and Water Science major and other degree requirements.

The Land and Water Science major currently provides a 120-credit selection from the following courses:

• 121200 Environmental Monitoring and Field Skills – practical environmental monitoring, field techniques, environmental data collection, analysis and interpretation.
• 121214 Landscape and Human Ecology – ecological principles, ecosystem services and socio-ecological systems, including Maori cultural perspectives.
• 121310 Environmental Solutions – technology and innovation for measuring, managing and mitigating soil and water risks, with numerical and practical work.
• 121313 Catchment Solutions – river-resource management integrating ecology, hydrology, geomorphology and water quality.
• 188363 Applied Environmental Management – environmental-management tools, environmental challenges and links between science, policy and practice.
• 189251 Soil Fertility Management – soil properties, plant nutrient cycling, fertilisers, soil-water relationships and environmental impacts.
• 189362 Integrated Farm and Environmental Management – farm resources, nutrient management, contaminant-loss processes and freshwater farm-environment planning.
• 247220 Pataiao: Matauranga and the Environment – Maori environmental-management values and practical assessment and monitoring from Maori and iwi perspectives.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science currently has two majors:

• Land and Water Science
• Geoscience

Both are designed around understanding Earth systems and developing scientific approaches to environmental challenges.

For Land and Water Science, the main disciplinary areas include:

• Environmental science
• Soil science
• Water and catchment science
• Hydrology
• Geomorphology
• Ecology
• Environmental management
• Sustainable agriculture
• Natural-resource management
• Environmental monitoring
• Maori environmental knowledge and management

Programme Highlights

• 360-credit NZQF Level 7 bachelor's degree.
• 3 years full-time.
• Land and Water Science is a 120-credit major.
• Study is available at Manawat or through distance/online learning.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• Strong emphasis on natural-resource management at river-catchment scale.
• Combines environmental science with practical field and data skills.
• Covers soil, water, ecosystems, agriculture and environmental management.
• Includes environmental monitoring and applied problem-solving.
• Incorporates matauranga Maori and Maori environmental-management perspectives.
• Provides pathways into environmental management, government, consulting, agriculture, forestry, GIS and biodiversity-related careers.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies a wide range of potential employers and career areas for Land and Water Science graduates.

Potential employers include:

• Central government agencies.
• Regional councils.
• District and city councils.
• Private-sector environmental consultants.
• Entrepreneurs and environmental businesses.

Potential career areas include:

• Environmental planning and policy.
• Coastal management.
• Landscape management.
• Soil and water management.
• Agriculture and forestry.
• Geographic information systems.
• Tourism and recreation.
• Development.
• National parks.
• Renewable energy.
• Biodiversity management

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current Massey programme page confirms that Land and Water Science is an active specialisation and provides current course enrolment information.

Important current considerations:

• There are no additional programme-specific admission requirements beyond Massey's university admission regulations.
• Biology and Chemistry preparation may be required depending on the student's previous secondary-school background.
• Several 200- and 300-level courses have prerequisites.
• Students should plan prerequisite courses carefully from first year.
• Some courses involve practical environmental monitoring and field skills.
• Course availability can change, so the current course schedule should be checked before enrolment.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying this qualification in New Zealand, the relevant visa is generally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an appropriate scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living costs or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• A genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Satisfactory course attendance and academic progress.