Short courses in Sustainable Communities and Environments
Part-time, Distance learning
Subject area • Environment
Related subjects • Construction, building and surveying • Geography • Planning, housing and regeneration
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Find out more information about studying a distance learning course.
One of our students talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course.
We offer all our postgraduate sustainable communities and environments modules as short courses.
These courses are for people that work in these areas and want to update their knowledge and improve personal and professional skills.
They provide you and your organisation with
• current policy and practice expertise in your sector
• new technical and management skills
• an opportunity to learn and share best practice with other professionals
You can complete one or more courses and do not need to study for a qualification.
We provide you with full access to our IT and learning resources and you receive support from tutors during your studies.
You work in various ways including • small lecture presentations • group discussion and workshops • informal presentations and seminars • short field visits.
For a full list of modules, module descriptions and attendance patterns visit the course content section.
Assessment
Assessment is optional, although it is often a useful part of your learning. Successfully completing the assessment provides you with masters level credits and official recognition of your achievement.
If you earn enough credits you are awarded a recognised qualification. For example, four 15 credit modules gains you a postgraduate certificate, and eight achieves a postgraduate diploma.
Attendance
We deliver the short courses using weekly sessions, block days or distance learning.
Some are available as distance learning and on-site, so you can select your attendance method. Others may use a mix. The normal attendance method is given in with each module description.
We recommend that you contact us for further information such as timetabling or availability.
Work-based learning
We know that as professionals, you are continually updating and improving your own skills and expertise while at work. Many of our courses use work-based learning allowing you to draw on your own experience and to reflect on the learning achieved.
Many assessments allow you to base your projects on real life situations, which if often benefits you and your organisation.
Some courses, such as professional learning in the workplace and the consultancy project are designed to use your work experiences as the basis of your learning and professional development.
Organisations
For organisations who can guarantee at least ten participants, we can also deliver any of our courses over a four or five day period, normally at a location of your choice.
Further information
Visit our sustainable communities and environments web pages to find out more about our courses, events and workshops.
Find out more about Short courses in Sustainable Communities and Environments
Weekly sessions, block days or distance learning.
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
2013/14 academic year
15 credit module typically costs £445
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/funding
Assessment for the short course is optional
Distance learning study
Distance learning is a rewarding and flexible way to learn. You study at the time, place and often pace of your choosing, to fit around your personal and working life. Like all types of learning, you need skills in personal organisation, time management, self-motivation, and a commitment to academic study.
As a distance learning student, you normally learn away from the University – in your own home or place of work. Most of our distance learning courses are delivered online via a portal called Blackboard.
We prepare you for your distance learning course with an online induction package. It helps you develop and practise your skills and allows any issues, concerns or development needs to be addressed prior to commencing a course of study.
You're fully supported by our learning centre, with library database searches and information enquiries, journal article supply and other help in accessing library and information services, all without having to travel to Sheffield.
We believe that you learn best when you engage in prolonged debate. Your course provides an active learning experience, with an ongoing dialogue between you, your peers and your tutors via discussion forums, blogs and others. You carry out a series of structured tasks, which build towards a successful final assessment submission.
John Sharpe (1:34)
John Sharpe, Rolls-Royce employee, and one of our MSc Total Quality Management and Organisational Excellence graduates talks about his experiences of studying a distance learning course while working.
Download the transcript of this video.
