To be admitted to a postgraduate diploma, a person should:

• Have obtained a USP’s bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 in the 200 and 300 level courses of the relevant disciplines;
• Have obtained a tertiary qualification deemed by the senate or its delegate to be equivalent to above;
• Have obtained a professional qualification deemed by Senate or its delegate to be equivalent to above;
• Have, in exceptional cases, demonstrated experience or achievement Senate or its delegates deems sufficient; or
• Have met the mature student admission criteria

PC425 – Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment

Semester: 2.                 Mode: O

Course Coordinator: Dr. Hilda Sakiti-Waqa

Course Description:
The course teaches students the principles and methodology of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of development proposals. The course is cross-disciplinary building on environmental expertise acquired from undergraduate science, arts, business and law programs to enhance research skills and an understanding of methodological issues. Students will acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the best practice assessment processes to critically evaluate development projects for environmental sustainability to support sustainable development throughout the Pacific region.

PC427 – Social Impact Assessment (New Course)

Semester: 1.            Mode: O

Course Coordinator: TBC

Course Description:
This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of social impact assessment as a tool for improving the effectiveness of development activities in Pacific island countries. It introduces social problems and issues that have frequently undermined development effectiveness throughout the world, while emphasizing issues of particular relevance in the Pacific: climate resilience and adaptation, customary lands and common property resources, cultural organization and leadership, and overcoming practical constraints common to small or remote locations. Through case studies and practical exercises, students will be expected to attain knowledge of social impact assessment concepts and methods, and to demonstrate how they may be applied in a Pacific island context.

At least DG415 Urbanisation, Development and Urban Planning (Semester 2, F2F) as the mandatory course for this stream and any 1 elective course from the following list:

• DG422: Environmental Change and Green Development (Semester 1, F2F)

PC420: Research Projects in Climate Change

Semester: 1 & 2      Mode: Online

Course Coordinator: Dr Awnesh Singh

Course Description: The course is suitable for students who want to do a short research project in climate science, climate finance, tropical meteorology, physical oceanography, disaster risk management, food security, environment impact assessment, climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and ecosystem-based adaptation at the postgraduate level. The course is tailored to the individual students’ requirements and is designed as an opportunity to work on a particular research topic. Students are required to do an independent research project, which includes a major report and seminar. Before registering for this course, students must first seek out a supervisor, obtain their agreement to provide supervision, and be assigned a research topic.

PC440: Applications of GIS in Environmental Planning and Management (New Course)

Semester: TBC      Mode: TBC

Course Coordinator: TBC

Course Description: TBC