MSc in Environmental Science and Management

MSc in Environmental Science and Management at SchEMS, Kathmandu

The MSc in Environmental Science and Management at SchEMS is a postgraduate environmental program affiliated with Pokhara University. SchEMS has offered the program since 2000, and its curriculum was updated in 2023 with two specialization pathways: Environmental Science and Climate Change. The stated intake capacity is 90 seats.

The academic structure combines environmental science, management, policy, climate studies, statistics, GIS and remote sensing, fieldwork, practical study, research methodology, electives, and thesis work.

Quick highlights

The revised curriculum gives students a common environmental foundation before moving into specialization courses, practical work, research, electives, and a final thesis.

Academic structure

The program is organized across four semesters. Foundation courses cover environmental science, engineering, social dimensions, statistics, GIS, urban environmental management, watershed management, and planning. Later semesters add specialization courses and research work.

The curriculum allows students to follow either Environmental Science and Management or Climate Change as their concentration area.

Semester I

The first semester establishes the common scientific and interdisciplinary foundation of the MSc.

Subjects include:

• ENV 501 Biophysical and Forest Environment

• ENV 502 Environmental Engineering

• SOC 501 Sociology and Cultural Components

• STT 501 Environmental Statistics

• Watershed Management

• ENV 503 Practical I

Practical I covers work involving air, water, soil, flora, and fauna.

This semester combines environmental science with quantitative and social study. Environmental Statistics provides an analytical component, while Sociology and Cultural Components addresses the social setting in which environmental issues and management decisions occur.

Semester II

Semester II extends the common curriculum into spatial analysis, urban environmental issues, planning, concentration study, and practical work.

The semester includes:

• ENV 514 GIS and Remote Sensing

• ENV 621 Urban Environmental Management

• MGT 512 Strategic Planning, Conflict Management and Consensus Building

• Concentration 1

• Concentration 2

• Concentration 3

• practical work

GIS and Remote Sensing is directly relevant to spatial environmental analysis, while Urban Environmental Management addresses environmental issues associated with urban settings. Strategic planning and conflict management adds a management and decision-making component.

Semester III

The third semester places greater weight on specialization and research preparation.

It includes:

• RCH 621 Research Methodology and Scientific Writing

• Concentration 4

• Concentration 5

• Concentration 6

• Concentration 7

• practical work

Research Methodology and Scientific Writing prepares students for structured academic research before the thesis stage. The concentration courses depend on the specialization selected by the student.

Semester IV

The final semester consists of thesis work and elective study.

Students undertake:

• Thesis

• Elective I

• Elective II

Each elective carries three credit hours. Elective availability depends on the availability of the relevant resource person.

Environmental Science and Management specialization

The Environmental Science and Management concentration addresses environmental assessment, management systems, conservation, economics, climate change, governance, and decision analysis.

The concentration courses include:

Environmental Assessment and Environmental Management System connect scientific information with formal environmental management processes. Wildlife Conservation adds a biodiversity and conservation component, while Environmental Economics examines environmental issues from an economic perspective.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis introduces structured consideration of multiple factors in environmental decisions. Environmental Governance, Policy, and Legislations addresses institutional and policy dimensions.

Climate Change specialization

The Climate Change specialization focuses more directly on climate science, impacts, adaptation, mitigation, finance, governance, diplomacy, social dimensions, and societal transition.

Its concentration courses include:

The specialization therefore approaches climate change from several directions. Climate Science establishes the scientific component, while Impacts and Adaptation and Mitigation and Low Carbon Development address responses to climate change.

Economics and Finance, Policy, Governance and Diplomacy, Ethics and Social Dimensions, and Societal Transition add economic, institutional, political, and social perspectives.

Practical and field-based learning

Practical study is included alongside coursework in both specialization pathways.

Confirmed practical components include:

• ENV 503 Practical I in air, water, soil, flora, and fauna;

• ENV 515 Practical II for Environmental Science and Management — Field Work, Case Study and Term Paper;

• ENV 624 Practical III for Environmental Science and Management — Field Work, Case Study and Term Paper;

• ECC 559 Practical II for Climate Change;

• ECC 649 Practical III for Climate Change.

The Environmental Science and Management practical sequence explicitly includes fieldwork, case studies, and term papers. These components sit alongside laboratory work and research-oriented coursework.

Research methodology and thesis

Research is a formal part of the MSc structure. RCH 621 Research Methodology and Scientific Writing appears before the final thesis stage.

Students complete a research project or thesis in an approved area of study and submit an integrative research report. Thesis assessment also includes a viva-voce examination and seminar presentation. The research report carries 75% of the assessment weight, while the viva carries 25%. Internal and external examiners participate in the evaluation.

The Environmental Science and Management pathway uses ENV 691 Thesis, while the Climate Change concentration includes ECC 691 Thesis.

Elective courses

Students select two electives in the final semester, with each elective carrying three credit hours.

The elective options include subjects such as:

• Forests and Wildlife Ecology

• Sustainable Forest Management

• Biodiversity Conservation

• Watershed Hydrology

• Population and Environmental Health

• Mountain Environment

• Disaster Risk Management

• Environmental Pollution

• Climate Change and Mountain Environment

• Climate Induced Loss and Damage

• Climate Change and Carbon Trading

• Climate Modelling

These electives allow students to add study in conservation, forestry, watersheds, environmental health, mountain environments, disaster risk, pollution, climate modelling, carbon trading, and climate-related loss and damage.

Environmental laboratory facilities

The School of Environmental Science and Management (SchEMS) maintains an Environmental Monitoring & Research Laboratory for its environmental programs, including MSc-level study.

Laboratory activities cover:

• air-quality assessment;

• water-quality assessment;

• soil-quality assessment;

• vegetation analysis;

• faunal analysis;

• environmental experimentation;

• data analysis.

These facilities are relevant to the practical elements of the MSc, particularly work involving environmental monitoring, air, water, soil, flora, fauna, field investigation, and research.

Research and technical context at SchEMS

Environmental research and technical investigations form part of the wider academic setting at SchEMS. Areas connected with its environmental work include:

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA);

• climate finance;

• climate change loss and damage;

• climate adaptation studies;

• environmental baseline studies;

• GIS and remote sensing;

• environmental and climate mainstreaming in development projects;

• data analysis and management.

Several of these areas correspond directly with the MSc curriculum. GIS and Remote Sensing appears as a foundation course, while environmental assessment, climate finance, impacts and adaptation, governance, loss and damage, and data analysis are reflected in specialization or elective study.

Library and research resources

SchEMS maintains library resources for coursework and research. These include textbooks, reference materials, academic journals, specialized databases, and research guides.

Such resources are particularly relevant during Research Methodology and Scientific Writing, concentration study, elective coursework, seminar preparation, and thesis research.

Who may consider this MSc?

The program may suit graduates whose academic interests relate to environmental science, environmental management, climate change, conservation, policy, environmental assessment, GIS, research, or resource management.

The Environmental Science and Management specialization has stronger coverage of assessment, environmental management systems, wildlife conservation, economics, decision analysis, and governance.

The Climate Change specialization concentrates more directly on climate science, adaptation, mitigation, climate economics and finance, policy, diplomacy, ethics, and societal transition.

Students choosing between the two can therefore consider whether their academic interests are broader environmental management or a more concentrated climate-change pathway.

Career and further study direction

The subject areas studied in the MSc relate to environmental management, environmental policy, climate work, conservation, research, and sustainable development.

Graduates may explore opportunities in:

• government agencies;

• NGOs and INGOs;

• research institutions;

• international organizations;

• environmental management;

• policy-related work;

• sustainable development activities.

The degree can also support further academic and research study. Career outcomes depend on a graduate's academic preparation, research experience, practical abilities, specialization, professional experience, and available opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MSc in Environmental Science and Management at SchEMS?

It is a postgraduate environmental program affiliated with Pokhara University. The curriculum combines environmental science, management, practical work, field study, research, electives, and thesis work.

When did SchEMS start offering the MSc program?

SchEMS has offered the M.Sc. in Environmental Science and Management since 2000.

How many seats are available for MSc Environmental Science and Management at SchEMS?

The stated intake capacity is 90 seats.

What specializations are available?

The curriculum provides two specialization pathways: Environmental Science and Climate Change. The specialization structure was introduced through the 2023 curriculum update.

How many semesters are in the MSc curriculum?

The curriculum is organized across four semesters, with the final semester containing thesis and elective components.

Does the MSc include GIS and Remote Sensing?

Yes. ENV 514 GIS and Remote Sensing is included among the foundation courses and appears in Semester II.

Does the program include fieldwork and practical study?

Yes. Practical components include environmental work involving air, water, soil, flora and fauna, as well as fieldwork, case studies and term papers in the Environmental Science and Management specialization. Separate practical courses are also included for Climate Change.

Is thesis work compulsory in the MSc program?

Yes. Thesis work is part of the final stage of the program. Students complete an approved research project, submit an integrative research report, attend a viva-voce examination, and give a seminar presentation.

What subjects are included in the Climate Change specialization?

The specialization includes Climate Science, Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation and Low Carbon Development, Climate Change Ethics and Social Dimensions, Climate Change Economics and Finance, Climate Change Policy, Governance and Diplomacy, and Climate Change and Societal Transition.

What subjects are included in the Environmental Science and Management specialization?

The concentration includes Environmental Assessment, Environmental Management System, Wildlife Conservation, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Climate Change, Environmental Economics, and Environmental Governance, Policy, and Legislations.