COURSE CURRICULUM

The Ecology and Environmental Science programme provides students with a strong scientific understanding of ecological systems, environmental processes, and the challenges associated with conservation and sustainability through a combination of practical learning, fieldwork, and independent research. In the first stage of study, students complete modules including Fundamentals of Ecology, Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Methods, Managing Valued Environments, Earth Systems and Processes, Data Handling and Presentation, and Practical Environmental Investigation. These modules introduce the relationships between organisms and their environments while exploring ecological processes affecting individuals, populations, and communities. Students also investigate the impacts of human activities such as pollution, agriculture, conservation practices, and disease management on natural ecosystems while developing practical skills in environmental investigation and scientific communication. In the second stage, students undertake modules including Research Skills and Proposal Development for Ecology and Environmental Science and Monitoring and Management of Habitats and Species, alongside optional modules such as Internship, Biogeography, Plant Ecology and Diversity, Marine Ecology, Field Research, Ice Age Earth, Fluvial Hydrosystems, Geographic Information Systems, Sea-Level Change and Coasts, and Threats to Civilisation. Students develop skills in hypothesis testing, inferential statistics, data analysis, and research design while preparing proposals for future independent investigations and gaining specialist knowledge in areas aligned with their interests. In the final stage of the programme, students study Population and Community Ecology, Pollution in Ecological Systems, and complete an Ecology and Environmental Science Dissertation while selecting optional modules such as Professional Experience, Field Placement, Reintroduction and Rewilding, Climate Change, River Science and Management, Advanced Geographic Information Systems, and Changing Coasts. Students explore the biological processes governing ecosystems and apply modern analytical methods to issues such as sustainability, conservation, and climate change. Through an independent dissertation and practical experience, graduates develop research, problem-solving, and communication skills that prepare them for careers in environmental management, conservation, ecological consultancy, research, and sustainability sectors.