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Accessibility statement
A image to illustrate Making environmental decisions module
Many decisions and actions, both individual and collective, affect our environment, yet economic and political considerations often dominate. This module uses a systems framework to integrate the environment with other elements when making environmental decisions in complex situations, by defining the environment to include biophysical, economic, political, social and other factors. You’ll develop a case study about an environmental decision-making situation of interest or concern to you, and engage with examples from different parts of the world, for instance, water, energy, agriculture, forestry and climate change.
This online module is organised into four blocks, presented online through text, audio and video. The main blocks are supported by a Techniques guide provided as a printed book.
Block 1 - Introducing environmental decision making
You’ll start by considering different meanings of decision-making, particularly environmental decision-making, various approaches to the decision-making process and the factors that influence that process. You’ll draw on your own experience and the module material and work online with other students to review some of your examples. You will begin to develop a case study about an environmental decision-making situation of interest or concern to you, and you will engage with the module framework, which provides a way of approaching environmental decision-making from a systems viewpoint and a structure for the module.
Block 2 - Exploring with systems
The first stages of the framework and this block are concerned with developing your systemic awareness and exploring situations, initially using systems diagrams and drawing on your case study, other real-life examples and your experiences. You will learn how to engage in environmental decision-making by:
At this stage of the module, you’ll also begin to monitor and evaluate your learning.
Block 3 - Identifying change
Next, you will focus on the framework's middle stages, considering the purpose and transformation of the systems of interest and what changes are feasible and desirable. This block critically examines economic and ecological rationalities and other issues and activities associated with rational choice and decision support, such as modelling. You will learn how to use models to make sense of complex situations and how to take factors such as risks and uncertainties into account. You will then use practical tools to see how to address issues of participation and negotiation in environmental decision-making processes.
Block 4 - Taking action
The final block focuses on taking action, and you will step back to consider the framework as a whole. It includes systemic and systematic techniques and iteration because the framework does not intend to encourage a linear process. This block concerns the contexts, agency and tools for environmental action. It should help you develop understanding and practice for environmental decision making and explore how such understanding and practice are combined in the notion of ‘praxis’. This block provides you with a conceptual overview and some practical techniques, backed up with real-life examples, drawing on your own experience, and some key readings. You will engage in critical evaluation as an integral part of taking action and learn how to build evaluation into environmental decision-making.
Your final use of the framework will be in the end-of-module assessment (EMA) for which the module prepares you gradually as you study. You can choose an environmental decision-making situation of interest to you as a basis for this EMA.
This module will be of interest to you if you are or intend to become:
Environmental decision-making as an activity is key to underpinning the concepts and responsibilities in environmental management processes. This module is distinctive in its explicit use of systems theories in its conceptual framework and focus on decision making. This systemic approach recognises and makes sense of the highly interconnected and complex challenges many environmental managers face in their decisions. These challenges include working with multiple and often conflicting perspectives of stakeholders and issues of sustainability, biodiversity and quality of life. Systems theories are well recognised as applicable in many management traditions, particularly where management issues are as much about people as they are about their environment. The systems skills you can expect to develop in this module also have broader vocational relevance beyond environmental management.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
You’ll also be provided with a Techniques guide as a printed book.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
T891 is a compulsory module in our:
T891 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Making environmental decisions (T891) starts once a year – in November.
It will next start in November 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in November 2027.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
There are no entry requirements for this module.
Although this module has no entry requirements, we recommend you have a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent).
The study materials for this module are provided as a series of web pages via the module website. They should be accessible using a screen reader (although some mathematical or scientific materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Figure descriptions of any diagrams will be provided, and the study materials are available in alternative formats, including written transcripts of any audio components.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
StartEndRegister byEngland fee
01 Nov 202630 Apr 202708 Oct 2026£1,930
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
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Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
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