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Course overview

BSc (Hons) Zoology with Environmental Management will allow you to study structure, classification, behaviour, health and nutrition and conservation of a wide range of animal species, and in addition to study the management of the ecosystems the species are associated with.

Through the programme you will specialist knowledge and skills in ecology, physiology, genetics, evolution, taxonomy and behaviour using the diversity of the Animal Kingdom as a focus, and in addition will allow you to develop your knowledge of ecosystems, conservation, and environmental protection. The programme recognises the importance of an understanding of both scientific principles and the socio-economic context to enable an intelligent application of policies, technologies, and management systems appropriate to wild, zoo, domestic, and agricultural animals, in the UK and internationally. Attention is given to specific strategies and key skills such as those emerging with respect to wildlife conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disease and pest control, managing fisheries, improving livestock including through genetic modification, animal welfare on farms and in zoos, and the national and international legislation underpinning these subjects. As a Zoologist and an Environmental Manager, you will develop a broad knowledge of the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in a variety of geographically diverse ecosystems and be able to apply a range of skills to solve practical problems and to undertake a wide variety of career opportunities. 

Through a range of teaching and learning methods including tutorials, laboratory and field classes, and residential field courses you will develop your key skills including field surveying, species identification, sampling procedures, data analysis and research methods. Opportunities to investigate the use of technologies in the studies of animals, including Geographical Information Systems and eDNA, will be explored. As a graduate you will possess practical skills in laboratory and field techniques, project management, data handling, analysis, and report writing, as well as the ability to engage in further study and postgraduate research. Finally, recognising the importance of the effective communication of scientific and related material to a wider audience of planners, policy-makers and the general public, you will acquire skills in report writing, oral presentations and critical and analytical thinking. 

A core first year, shared between Applied Zoology, Zoology with Entomology, and Zoology with Environmental Management allows students the freedom to transfer between these three course areas during their first year, once they have experienced some of the learning opportunities at ÎÞÂ붯»­. You will put into context your learning through the opportunity to select species to focus their studies on in a number of their modules throughout the programme. In Year 2 you will start to study your specialisations, allowing for further contextualization. Your integrated placement year in Year 3 of the programme allows you to put into practice what you have learnt, and to develop both specialist and core skills that will increase your employability as well as feeding into your final year of study. During the final year, you will explore your specialisation further and will undertake original research as part of your Honours Research Project. 

Work Placement

The third year of your degree, which you’ll spend on work placement, is your chance to get a year’s relevant, high quality experience, in the UK or overseas. You may choose a placement job that builds on your interest in environmental management working for an ecological or environmental consultancy, conservation charity or wildlife trust. The National Trust is a popular placement employer, as are Field Studies centres, local authorities and statutory conservation agencies. Or maybe you’ll take the opportunity to work with species you won’t find at Harper such as zoo or marine animals. You might work within a zoo, for example, or the Durrell Wildlife Conservation. The choice is yours, but we’ll be there with advice and support both before and during your placement.

Careers

Follow this bespoke route and you could become a zoologist specialising in environmental management or an ecologist, environmental consultant or nature conservation officer. Other careers include research scientists, field trials officers, ecological consultants and nature conservationists. You may find yourself conserving endangered species and habitats, working in disease and pest control, or developing policies and regulations. Zoologists can also be found improving agricultural crops and livestock, developing and testing new drugs, or promoting animal welfare and education.