Wildlife Conservation and Ecology

Is your ambition to undertake meaningful conservation work to protect our wildlife and our environment for years to come?

This course includes a broad range of specialist modules and practical opportunities to gain the essential industry skills and knowledge, with which to effectively conserve species, habitats and biodiversity both in the UK and overseas.

Through your studies, you will address a range of topics such as wildlife ecology, conservation biology, evolution and adaptation, ecological survey skills and species identification and principles of ecological restoration.

Combined with dedicated practical work, using our campus laboratories, the wider Reaseheath estate and servicing our community conservation work, you will develop a broad range of transferable knowledge, skills and competencies for future application in the conservation science and ecology sectors.

In your first year, you will develop essential knowledge and skills in wildlife conservation, ecology, evolution and biodiversity, with an emphasis on practical experience whilst in your second year, you will shift in emphasis to more academic and research-informed study, including themes in population management, ecological restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental impact and mitigation. A work placement within a relevant field of industry or an international field course is also available to study for academic credit at this level. Your final year will further develop your critical thinking skills and deepen your knowledge in areas of conservation and ecology, and will include a research dissertation on a topic of your interest.

Course Features:

• Surveying techniques

• Species identification

• Evolutionary biology

• Conservation biology and biodiversity

• Restoration ecology

• Environmental assessment and impact mitigation

• Access to a diverse rural green space across the campus

• Field course opportunities in Kenya and the UK

Career Options:

• Conservation science research

• Ecological/environmental consultancy

• Wildlife/conservation management

• Conservation charities

• Conservation ecotourism

• Conservation education

• Progress to MSc or PhD study

Level 5

Core

• Research Methods

• Principles of Ecological Restoration

• Animal Ecophysiology

• Experiential Learning

Optional - choose two

• Behavioural Ecology

• Technological Advancements in Conservation

• Ecological Assessment, Impact Mitigation & Enhancement

• Wildlife Health and Rehabilitation

Level 6

Core

• Dissertation (40 credits)

• Applied Issues in Wildlife Conservation

• Environmental Sustainability & Natural Resource Management

Optional - choose two

• Biology & Conservation of Mammals

• Biology & Conservation of Birds

• Biology & Conservation of Herpetofauna

• Conservation Education

• Applications of Animal Behaviour for Conservation

• Anthrozoology

Level 4

• Conservation Biology and Biodiversity

• Ecological Survey and Census Skills

• Conservation of British Habitats

• Scientific Communication

• Evolution & Adaptation

• Wildlife Ecology

We design a wide range of assessments that will help you to develop industry standard skills and knowledge. In your first year, the assessments consist of multiple-choice questions and short essays, practical assessments and presentations and written coursework. This written coursework can be in the form of reports, essays or posters, depending on the module.

In your second year, there will be some variation, depending on the optional modules chosen, but there will be a combination of written coursework. This coursework may take the form of essays or case studies, or be based on laboratory practical sessions. For Experiential Learning, you may be creating a reflective blog, while for Research Methods, you will be writing a proposal and using statistical software to analyse data.

In your third year, the dissertation is assessed through a written proposal and scientific article which represents the research carried out by the student. Other assessments include a species management plan for the Biology and Conservation modules, and a seminar for Anthrozoology.