BSc [Hons] International Wildlife Biology
Course Content
Year One
- Diversity of Life – plants and inverterbrates
- Cellular Biology
- Experimental Design and Data Manipulation
- Principles of Ecology
- Landform systems
- Big game tracking (South Africa)
Year Two
- African Biodiversity (South Africa)
- Genetics
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Modelling for Wildlife Management
- Comparative Physiology
- Animal Behaviour
- Tropical Ecology (Honduras, Cuba, Indonesia)
Year Three
- Ecological Interactions
- Wildlife Management
- Molecular Ecology
- Marine and Freshwater Biology
- Tropical Medicine or Communities Agriculture and Biotechnology
How To Study
In the first year students will cover the basic principles of plant and animal taxonomy and classification, geomorphology, ecology, cellular biology and quantitative methods. Two modules are taken during the first summer in South Africa. The first is “Big game tracking”, a level 1 module based in research camps in National Parks including the Kruger N.P., a pristine environment straddling the Mozambique border and home to the top five big game species. The second module “African Biodiversity” is at level 2 and examines the high diversity of endemic species in the Fynbos and ecosystems of the southern Cape.
The second year modules include Vertebrate Zoology, Animal Physiology, Animal Behaviour, Genetics and Environmental Modelling for Wildlife Management. There is also an opportunity to learn to dive and to apply survey techniques on coral reefs and in forests on the Tropical Ecology Field Course module to Cuba, Indonesia or Honduras.
In the final year, Ecological Interactions, Marine and Freshwater Biology, Principles of Wildlife Management, Molecular Ecology, Tropical Medicine, Communities, Agriculture and Biotechnology and a Project are taken.
In addition to their degree students should obtain their PADI open water diving qualifications and may obtain certificates in “Field Guiding” from the Nature College in S. Africa that help them to work in game lodges. Students may also have the opportunity to study abroad for their undergraduate project.
Students wishing to do the degree modules but who are unable to do the overseas or practical modules could select alternatives for a BSc in Biology. If you are adventurous and want a relevant theoretical and practical knowledge of wildlife biology and the experience to develop confidence to work with, organize and educate others then this may be the degree for you.
