BSc (Hons) Wildlife and Countryside Management (top-up) modules

Total of 120 credits

3080 Heritage Property

Led by Cassie Newland, this module examines the management of heritage assets including buildings, landscapes, and archaeological sites. Students explore conservation planning, policy, stakeholder roles, and sustainability. Learning is supported by seminars, guest speakers, and site visits. Assessment consists of two professional practice reports (each 1500 words), focusing on historical context, significance, and management recommendations.

3090 Forestry and Woodland Management

Led by Jonathan Code, this module covers woodland creation, silviculture, and ecosystem services. Students assess timber production alongside biodiversity, recreation, and climate mitigation. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, and site visits. Assessment comprises a 2000-word professional practice report and a portfolio of artefacts, evaluating woodland management planning and ecological appraisal.

3098 Countryside & Environmental Management

Led by Ian Grange, this module explores contemporary countryside and environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and rural poverty. Students examine these topics through academic, technical, and operational lenses, using field visits and case studies. Assessment includes a 1000-word literature review and two 1000-word problem sheets, focusing on project funding proposals and applied sector knowledge.

3223 Ecological Consultancy

Led by Ian Grange, this employment-focused module develops professional skills for ecological consultancy. Students learn to navigate ecological, legislative, and business frameworks, conduct protected species surveys, and produce client-ready reports. Assessment includes a 1500-word literature review and a 1500-word professional field survey report, simulating real-world consultancy scenarios.

3300 Research Project / Dissertation

Led by David O’Connor, this cross-disciplinary module guides students through independent research, from proposal to final thesis. Support includes lectures, tutorials, and workshops. Assessment includes a 5-minute presentation and a 12,000-word thesis or equivalent multimedia portfolio, evaluating research design, data analysis, and critical synthesis.

3329 Climate change and Natural Resource Challenges

Led by Emmanuel Zuza, this module explores the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and agriculture, with a focus on soil health and sustainable resource management. Students examine mitigation strategies, regenerative agriculture, and the role of soil in achieving sustainability goals. Assessment includes an online exam and an individual scientific poster on climate change impacts.

3330 Technology and Agroecological innovation

Led by Jessica Stokes, this module examines the integration of agricultural technologies and nature-based solutions within modern farming systems. Topics include Agriculture 4.0, carbon reporting, urban farming, and data-driven decision-making. Assessment includes two 1500-word reports: one evaluating a current nature-based solution, and one proposing an improved strategy through a case study.

3332 Specialist study module

Led by David O’Connor, this content-free module supports independent, personalised study in a chosen specialist area. Students engage with advanced scholarship and develop autonomous learning skills. Assessment is an academic poster (A1 size) compiled from formative tasks using a patchwork text approach.

3333 Wildlife Behaviour & Evolution

Led by Katharina Watson, this module explores faunal ecology and evolutionary processes across global ecosystems. Students study feeding and reproductive behaviours, interspecific interactions, and ecological cycles. Assessment includes a 15-minute group presentation and a 2000-word scientific report based on field-collected ecological data.

3337 Sustainable Farm Management

Led by Jenny Edwards, this module examines farm management strategies that balance productivity with environmental and social sustainability. Students develop a comprehensive farm plan incorporating agroecological and agrotechnological approaches. Assessment is a 3000-word coursework assignment, requiring a detailed farm management plan aligned with Net Zero and biodiversity goals.

3342 Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Environment

Module leader to be confirmed, this module introduces GIS and remote sensing for environmental, ecological, and agricultural analysis. Students learn QGIS software and apply spatial data to real-world scenarios. Assessment includes a 1000-word report on remote sensing techniques and a 2000-word report with maps analysing an environmental case study.

3346 Advocacy and Activism in Food and Farming

Led by Jessica Stokes, this module explores how civil society influences food and farming policy through advocacy and activism. Students examine historical and contemporary movements, campaign strategies, and stakeholder dynamics. Assessment includes a 1000-word essay critiquing an existing campaign and a 2000-word group project developing a new campaign.