Wildlife and Conservation Management

Course Summary

The Wildlife and Conservation Management course is aimed at those who care about wildlife and the environment and want to protect it so that everyone may enjoy it. Biodiversity conservation, species and habitat identification, visitor management and land use are all included in a dynamic, hands-on course taught by enthusiastic professionals with direct experience in the land based industries. The course offers flexibility, allowing you to choose modules to suit your particular aspirations, and you’ll put the knowledge you gain to good use though real-life scenarios and case studies. This course attracts students of many different ages, backgrounds, and future aspirations. What they all have in common is an interest in studying this unique mix of biodiversity, conservation ecology and people management topics.

Assessment Methods

This course is assessed in a variety of ways. Students will be assessed using methods such as essays, investigations and case studies, as well as through problem based exercises, presentations and observed or work experience tasks. Individual and collaborative projects are also used to assess students knowledge and skills. The course has been designed so that key transferrable skills are naturally embedded in the curriculum, equipping students with essential skills for the workplace and beyond.

Modules

Year 1: Biodiversity Conservation, Ecology and Ecosystems, Geology and Geomorphology, Rural Land Use, Environmental Awareness, Graded Unit 1, Interpretation and Visitor Management Techniques, Classification and Identification of Organisms, Leadership of Countryside Activities, Planning and Development, Heritage Studies, Biology, Wildlife Management, Information Technology, Animal Care: Wildlife, Wildlife Husbandry and Rehabilitation.

Year 2. Modules include: Ecological Surveying, Data Collection and Handling Methods, Education for Sustainability, Tourism: sustainability and rural communities, Applied Interpretation, Terrestrial Ecology, Habitat Management, Graded Unit 2, Graded Unit 3, Business Management, Conservation Skills, Freshwater Environments, Marine Environments, Personal Development Planning, Soil Management, Work Placement, Geodiversity Conservation, Geographic Information Systems, Forestry: Woodland Conservation, Data Management for Ecological Surveying.

Year 3: Mandatory modules include: Conservation Site Management, Ecological Principles and Applications, Rural Planning and Environmental Assessment, Integrated Catchment Management, Community Project Management, Research Skills and Data Analysis
Students will also select 2 elective modules. To aid this selection a number of pathways linked to potential careers/academic interest areas have been developed:
Conservation Management pathway
Ecology Pathway
Land Management Pathway
Natural Heritage and People Pathway

Year 4: Mandatory modules include: Honours Project or Work Based Research Project, Action for Biodiversity, Wildlife and Resource Management Conflicts, Professional Skills for Conservation
Students will also select 2 elective modules. To aid this selection a number of pathways linked to potential careers/academic interest areas have been developed:
Conservation Management Pathway
Ecology Pathway
Land Management Pathway
Natural Heritage and People Pathway

Year 1: Biodiversity Conservation, Ecology and Ecosystems, Geology and Geomorphology, Rural Land Use, Environmental Awareness, Graded Unit 1, Interpretation and Visitor Management Techniques, Classification and Identification of Organisms, Leadership of Countryside Activities, Planning and Development, Heritage Studies, Biology, Wildlife Management, Information Technology, Animal Care: Wildlife, Wildlife Husbandry and Rehabilitation.

Year 2. Modules include: Ecological Surveying, Data Collection and Handling Methods, Education for Sustainability, Tourism: sustainability and rural communities, Applied Interpretation, Terrestrial Ecology, Habitat Management, Graded Unit 2, Graded Unit 3, Business Management, Conservation Skills, Freshwater Environments, Marine Environments, Personal Development Planning, Soil Management, Work Placement, Geodiversity Conservation, Geographic Information Systems, Forestry: Woodland Conservation, Data Management for Ecological Surveying.

Year 3: Mandatory modules include: Conservation Site Management, Ecological Principles and Applications, Rural Planning and Environmental Assessment, Integrated Catchment Management, Community Project Management, Research Skills and Data Analysis
Students will also select 2 elective modules. To aid this selection a number of pathways linked to potential careers/academic interest areas have been developed with suggested elective modules:
Conservation Management pathway: GIS & Remote Sensing or Field Study Skills (this module is based on a 4 day – 1 week field study trip) or Multipurpose Woodland Management
Ecology Pathway: GIS & Remote Sensing or Evolutionary Ecology or Field Study Skills (this module is based on a 4 day – 1 week field study trip)
Land Management Pathway: Land and Habitat Restoration or Wildlife Interactions with Agriculture or Multi-purpose Woodland Management.
Natural Heritage and People Pathway: Interpretation Planning and Evaluation, Multi-purpose Woodland Management and Active Tourism

Year 4: Mandatory modules include:Honours Project or Work Based Research Project, Action for Biodiversity, Wildlife and Resource Management Conflicts, Professional Skills for Conservation
Students will also select 2 elective modules. To aid this selection a number of pathways linked to potential careers/academic interest areas have been developed with suggested elective modules:
Conservation Management Pathway: Landscape Scale Conservation or Advanced GIS or Practical Applications in Multipurpose Woodland Management
Ecology Pathway: Advanced GIS and Marine Ecology and Conservation (this module is based on a 4 day – 1 week field study trip).
Land Management Pathway: Upland Management and Practical Applications in Multipurpose Woodland Management
Natural Heritage and People Pathway: Issues in Heritage Interpretation, Advanced GIS and Upland Management

Assessments have been structured to ensure that the learning outcomes above are tested effectively:
Knowledge and understanding is assessed in a variety of mechanisms through investigations, case studies, presentations, essay and unseen written examinations.
For assessment of intellectual skills we will use problem based exercises, investigations, case studies, presentations, essay. Independent project work or research dissertations are typically used to demonstrate capability in a range of intellectual skills linked to specialist knowledge, understanding and practical skills.
Assessment of practical skills must involve a practical demonstration of it this will involve observed tasks, presentations or work experience tasks.
Assessment of transferable and key skills our assessments have been designed in such a way that the transferable/key skills are embedded and are readily transferable to employment and other contexts. An example being communication/teamwork can be developed through structured opportunities in the curriculum. For example, written communication skills can be developed and assessed through essays or dissertations; oral communication skills through presentations and seminars; or team-working skills through collaborative projects in the field or desk-based.