Wildlife conservation takes place via a multitude of job roles, both in this country and worldwide. The latest Key Findings document (2010) from the National Strategic Skills Audit (UK Commission for Employment and Skills) shows the category ‘conservation and environmental protection officers’ as the fastest growing occupation in England 2001-2009.
Why study this course?
Conservation is an area which has developed enormously in the public’s awareness in recent years, nevertheless, species and habitats continue to decline. Working in conservation allows people to do something rewarding as well as giving the opportunity of working in the some of the most important and attractive habitats, as a result it is an area which often gives great job satisfaction.
Features
Wildlife conservation is taught by enthusiastic academic staff who have close links with a variety of conservation organisations such as Zoos, Safari Parks, Wildlife Trusts biodiversity recording groups and specific programmes such as the Scottish Wildcat Project, Gorilla conservation and the Marine Bill development.
Teaching and learning will involve a range of methods including lectures, seminars, group discussions and practical work both in the laboratories and in the field. One module will be organised as a mini conference where invited speakers will present an 'insider' view of their role in conservation science both in this country and abroad.
The academic staff are research active and continually thrive to promote research within areas of conservation, where they publish their research findings and discuss their work at national and international conferences.
Each module is designed to be studied over a 10 week learning period, typically commencing with a 3 day residential school at the university. Each residential school introduces students to the module content (including support provision, learning materials and assessment details) and provides an opportunity for the delivery of some subject matter, and where appropriate, relevant practical work.
The modules include:
BI7130 Conservation Genetics
BI7131 Wildlife Crime
BI7132 Behaviour and Welfare in Wildlife Conservation
BI7133 Field Identification Skills
BI7134 Conservation in Action
BI7135 Habitat Perspectives in Wildlife Conservation
BI7112 Dissertation
We aim to offer a solid grounding in wildlife conservation to students through advanced academic study of key theoretical areas, and practical applications of this knowledge. This will be done through exploration of our own expertise in field and lab-based research on key species (behaviour, welfare, ecology, genetics, forensics) and habitats. Members of the programme team are also passionately involved in pioneering projects, including the recently established Scottish Wildcat Project and members of the team have also helped lead the development of Wildlife Forensics as an academic subject area, holding the first international conference in October 2010.
100% coursework. The coursework assessment may focus on laboratory reports, case studies, essays or data manipulation exercises.
Examples include:
- Written assignments that critically review and cite key research papers;
- Case studies which identify and formulate appropriate responses and intervention strategies to wildlife conservation and management issues;
- Preparation of research proposals;
Jobs in conservation are extremely variable; some examples include wildlife reserve manager, countryside ranger, park manager, farm manager, species recovery officer, education officer, ecologist, biodiversity records centre manager, volunteer coordinator at home or abroad, conservation scientist, site manager, coastal conservation, managing specific projects, e.g. dormouse officer
Examples of employers include: safari parks, zoos, RSPB, wildlife trusts, wildfowl and wetland trusts, country parks, local authorities, Natural England, The National Trust, water companies, Department for Environment, fisheries and rural affaire (DEFRA), Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, organisations running project abroad for gap year students etc such as Frontier and Operation Wallacea, British Association for Shooting and Conservation.
The MSc will enhances the career prospects of those working within the area of wildlife conservation.
|
UCAS points:
|
|
|
GCE A Level:
|
N/A
|
|
BTEC:
|
N/A
|
|
Irish/Scottish:
|
N/A
|
|
International Baccalaureate:
|
N/A
|
|
QAA:
|
N/A
|
|
External Information:
|
A minimum of 2:2 honours degree, which normally has a significant content of Biological Science (e.g. Biology, Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, Animal Behaviour etc); or substantial relevant working experience together with evidence of recent study or writing at an appropriate level
Overseas Candidates should also be competent in English and have achieved, as a minimum, one of the following standards: IELTS-6.5; TOEFL – 60
The programme or individual modules can be taken as Continuous Professional Development (CPD) modules and will provide opportunities for advancement in many areas of conservation
|
