Course description
This course develops your technical and field skills in ecology and nature conservation. It focuses on the survey, evaluation and management of existing sites, as well as the restoration of damaged land.
There is increasing evidence showing that employers from many parts of the environmental sector are struggling to recruit graduates with these required skills in ecology and nature conservation.
When designing the course, we used guidance produced by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management to ensure graduates have the field survey skills to enter the profession.
We work with public and private organisations to make sure the course meets the needs of employers. Because of this, you complete many work-based assignments.
The consultancy project module requires you to complete a project, often in partnership with a real organisation. Previous examples include
• an assessment of the economic benefits to tourism of re-wilding an area within a national park
• evaluating the ecological sections of a range of environmental impact assessments
To develop the skills needed to • survey • assess • conserve • enhance landscapes and wildlife, you complete many field work exercises.
Previous field visits include regeneration schemes in Toronto, Canada, and post-industrial landscapes in Cornwall. We also make frequent visits to local sites in Sheffield and the Peak District.
Our environment subject area also has a proven research track record, attracting over £400,000 funding each year from research councils and industry.
This funding means that we can invest heavily in specialist computing and laboratory facilities, such as our individually designed, environmental and soil laboratories. Our research also means that we can feed the latest developments and understanding into our course content.
Associated careers
Our graduates develop careers in
• private sector environmental organisations
• conservation agencies
• wildlife trusts such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• local authority ecological services.
Most part-time students are supported by employers and many find that they progress in their workplace after completing the course.
Course content
Core modules
• environmental perspectives and policy development • landscape and wildlife management • professional management skills • environmental impact assessment • landscape planning and restoration (includes a field visit) • survey and evaluation (a block week in May) • consultancy project
To complete the masters you also take • applied research methods • dissertation
Optional modules
One from • environmental management systems • social inclusion and cohesion in semester • visitor and sustainable tourism management • cultural landscapes and protected area management • environmental liability for the redevelopment of contaminated land • geographical information systems • geographical information systems and the environment
