INTRODUCTION
Improper planning and management of socio-cultural, economic and ecological activities has over the years contributed to environmental problems. In the rural areas, for instance, poor management of land, forest and water resources has resulted in floods, crop failure and deforestation while in urban areas unplanned land uses have led to squatter conditions characterized by proliferation of slums, poverty, overcrowding, moral decadence and pollution. In response to these challenges, the Department of Environmental Planning and Management was established in 1991 to produce high and middle level environmental planners and managers who can address the environmental challanges. Its programmes are designed to equip the trainee with professional knowledge, skills and techniques necessary to plan, manage and maintain a balanced, sustainable and productive environment.

MISSION
The Department's vision is to offer professional training, community service and consultancy through self sustaining environmental planning and management programmes.

OBJECTIVES
•To equip the student with practical knowledge, skills and techniques for environmental planning and management.
•Undertake research and disseminate results through publications, seminars, workshops etc.
•To prepare the student to understand and address the complexities of nature and man's interaction with his environment.
•To offer the student opportunities to develop analytical and problem solving skills.
•To produce high and middle level environmental planners, managers, decision-makers and technocrats.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
The Department offers demand-driven, market and target-oriented programmes which satisfy the needs of the public and private sector, donor community, Non-governmental organizations and the self-employed.

Popular courses which have been offered in the past based on the needs of these groups include: UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
•Planning Theory
•Urban Renewal and Redevelopment
•Environmental Impact Assessment
•Statistical and Data Analysis Techniques
•Environmental Information Systems Landscape, Urban, Site and Neighbourhood Planning and Design
•Environmental Resource Use Planning
•Waste Management
•Planning and Management of Public Utilities, Urban Slums & Squatter Settlement
•Project Feasibility Planning & Development
•Disaster Preparedness and Management
•Environmental Planning Law
•Environmental Action Planning
•Planning for Refugees and Displaced Persons
•Planning and Management of Rangelands
•Environmental Action Planning
•Environmental Accounting and Auditing
•Environmental Impact Assessment
•G.I.S. and Remote Sensing of Environment
•Wetland Resources Management

POSTGRADUATE COURSES
•Participatory and Advocacy Planning
•Project Development, Planning, and Management
•Waste Management and Pollution Control
•Development Control in Environmental Planning
•Regional, Rural, Urban, Site and Neighbourhood Planning Studios
•Research Methodology and Project Planning

DIPLOMA COURSES
The Department also offers Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in Environmental Planning and Management whose objectives are to produce high level environmental planners and managers who will provide environmental planning and management service at national, regional and local levels. Such courses include:
•Environmental Impact Assessment
•Integrated Environmental Management
•Environmental Policy and Law
•Environmental Action Planning
•Environmental Conflict Resolution and Management
•Eco-tourism
• G.I.S. and Environmental Management

CERTIFICATE COURSES
Short term courses in environmental planning and management are also offered by the Department targeting Local Government Executives, Community Development leaders, Industrial and Company Executives, Educationalists, Policy and Decision-Makers, Politicians and the local NGOs.

Courses in this programme include:
•Environmental Management Policy and Development
•Environmental Management Awareness
•Industries and Environmental Sensitivity
•Environmental Management for Community Educators
•Environmental Management for Policy-Makers

NON-ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
The Department has over the years been engaged in Non-Academic but income generating activities to sustain its technical programmes. They have included landscape design and planning activities, field studio project designs, and community services like site and neighbourhood planning.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission into the undergraduate programmes is offered to students satisfying the University Admission requirements. In addition, the students are required to have obtained a good pass (B- and above) in K.C.S.E. or its equivalent with at least three of their subjects in Geography, Mathematics, Technical Drawing, Economics, Fine Art, Agriculture or Biology.

Admission into the postgraduate programmes is offered to students with at least a Bachelor's degree (Second Class Upper Division) in a relevant discipline such as Geography, Economics, Architecture, Surveying and Photogrammetry, Land and Building Economics, Law, Engineering, Agriculture and Sociology.

COURSE DURATION
The course duration for the undergraduate course extends to a period of 4 years; postgraduate 2 years; diploma 1 year and certificate 1 to 3 months.

CAREER PROSPECTS
The potential employers for graduands of the various programmes in the Department include: Government Ministries, Local Authorities, International Environmental Agencies, Universities/Research
Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and private sector.

MODE OF DELIVERY
The Department emphasizes on practical learning experiences and uses the following creative teaching methods to help students to develop initiative, creativity and responsibility: Studios, Practicals, Fieldwork, Discussions, Tutorials, Audio-Visual Aids, Information Technology Systems,, Lecturers, Seminars, Posters Assignments/Term Papers and Attachment/Internship.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The Department has a fully equipped studio remote sensing, environmental survey, cartography and mapping, urban, rural and regional planning.

OPPORTUNITIES
The Department has the following opportunities which can be exploited:
•Existing intra and inter linkages and collaborations.
•Availability of information technology facilities within the University.
•Increased concern and demand for environmental planning and management.
•Ready market for the Department's know-how among developers and investors.
•Urge for sharing research findings with stakeholders.
•Existence of young environmentally receptive and engaging sectors of the community (environmental activists).
•Established Departmental Consulting firm - KENVIRON - for consultancy, extension and outreach services.

STAFF CAPACITY
The Department has adequate staff with experience and leadership in their areas of specialization, especially in Architecture, Physical Planning, Surveying, Environmental/ Resource Planning, Landscape Design, Environmental Law, Geology, Hydrology and Information and Communication Technology (IT) which combine to form a strong environmental planning and management team.


FUTURE PROGRAMMES
With the increasing need of environmental management, the Department is planning to offer the following courses in the very near future:
•Certificate in strategic Planning and Management
•Diploma in Env. Action Planning and Mgt.
Postgraduate Diploma in Env. Landscape Design and Management.

ACHIEVEMENTS
•Graduates from the Department are doing well in the public and private sectors.
•Several members of staff have won awards to pursue further studies.
•The Department has established links with other institutions.