BSc (Hons) Wildlife Conservation with Foundation Year

Program Overview

Through a combination of lectures, seminars, field trips, and practical applications, students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in wildlife conservation, environmental education, and related fields. The program emphasizes active learning, fieldwork, and practical applications, preparing graduates to make a positive impact on the environment and wildlife conservation.

Program Outline

Outline:

Year One:

• Introduction to Zoo Biology: Covers basic concepts of zoology, focusing on lecture-based learning and day trips to local zoos.
• Biodiversity: Explores the diversity of life on Earth, emphasizing the major groups, their characteristics, and evolutionary relationships.
• Global Distribution of Wildlife: Analyzes the factors influencing species distribution, adaptation, and biogeographic principles for conservation planning.
• Field Biology: Introduces field techniques for ecological surveys in land and aquatic habitats, encompassing identification, taxonomy, and GIS applications.
• Study Skills: Develops effective learning and presentation methods applicable throughout the course.

Year Two:

• Conservation Biology: Introduces modern concepts of conservation biology, focusing on species and population levels, conservation planning tensions, and interdisciplinary tools.
• Wildlife Behavioural Ecology: Studies principles of wildlife ecology and animal behavior, with emphasis on mammal and bird species and scientific methods in their study.
• Monitoring Environmental Change: Provides practical experience in environmental monitoring techniques for human impact assessment in various environments.
• Ecology in Action: Explores the principles of population and community ecology, including the impact of factors like competition and predation.
• Research Skills: Develops independent research skills in data analysis and observation, applicable throughout the program.

Choose one option from:

• Ocean Challenges: Examines the challenges faced by marine ecosystems and organisms, including data collection, analysis, and contemporary environmental issues.
• Primate Behaviour and Conservation: Analyzes primate societies, their structure, evolution, conservation priorities, and ecological processes underlying social systems.

Year Three:

• Environmental Geographical Information Systems: Explores the design and implementation of GIS solutions for mapping, monitoring, and modeling terrestrial environments.
• Practical Ecology and Conservation: Provides knowledge and skills for ecological consultancy, covering survey methods for protected species and habitats.
• Choose one option from:
• Final Year Project and Professional Skills (HANS):
Conducts independent research on a chosen topic, focusing on data collection, analysis, and professional skill development for employability.
• Final Year Project with Science Communication and Professional Skills: Similar to HANS, but with an emphasis on science communication methods and their application.
• Plus one option from:
• Mitigating Climate Change:
Analyzes the principles and effects of climate change on natural environments, urban settings, and society.
• Modeling Environmental Systems: Introduces the role and implementation of models in environmental problem-solving.
• And one module from:
• Tropical Ecology and Conservation:
A 2-week field trip to a tropical biology field station for studying tropical ecosystems and biodiversity, culminating in a scientific report.
• Applied Freshwater Biology: A module focused on freshwater systems relevant to the water industry, encompassing biological and chemical evaluation of water quality, fish populations, and data analysis.

Assessment:

• Combines coursework and examinations, with variations depending on the level of study.
• Utilizes various formal, informal, and continuous assessment methods, including research projects, laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, field notebooks, data analysis, and presentations.

Teaching:

• Encourages co-creation of knowledge and active learning.
• Utilizes lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory practicals in the Bodmer Laboratories, and field trips.
• Emphasizes practical applications and real-world case studies.

Careers:

• Prepares graduates for employment in wildlife conservation, environmental education, captive animal environments, and research.
• Graduates have secured positions in wildlife rescue centers, country parks, animal sanctuaries, zoos, and environmental and ecological consultancies.

Other:

• The program emphasizes fieldwork and practical applications.
• It utilizes advanced facilities like the Bodmer Laboratories for skills development.
• It offers opportunities for international field trips.
• It provides a strong foundation for further postgraduate studies in related fields.
• The program description heavily emphasizes active learning, fieldwork, and practical applications.