Tropical Environmental Science

Programme Structure & Content

Level 1
Foundation Chemistry, appropriate to the level of chemistry studied previously, introductory Environmental Science, and foundation Biology, covering Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology, are required. Students have the opportunity to study a language, and will be advised about those that are particularly relevant for working in tropical regions.

Level 2
Students take core courses in Plant and Animal Community Ecology and are recommended to take introductory courses in Plant Science and Soil Science. Other courses are chosen as preparation for courses to be taken in Levels 3 and 4 and commonly include Zoology or Geography.

Levels 3 & 4 (Honours)
All students take a course on Experimental Design, Analysis and Presentation, which helps prepare students for their independent research project, carried out in their 4th year. The project is a significant part of the Honours programme and many students base their project on fieldwork undertaken on tropical expeditions in the summer vacation before their final year. Tropical courses in Forest and Savanna Ecology and Forest Management, Biological Conservation and Ecological Processes are taken. Students select further tropical courses from a wide range of subjects including, Rural Development Forestry and Natural Resources. Students select other courses that ensure they acquire expertise in a traditional discipline, e.g. Plant Science, Zoology or Soil Science, to provide a specialist focus for their degree.

Teaching & Assessment

We use a wide variety of teaching methods: lectures, laboratory practicals, fieldwork, seminars and tutorials. Most courses are assessed by both continuous assessment and a written examination. Throughout the degree we emphasise problem-solving and an ability to work independently or in small groups with limited resources: valuable skills for work in developing countries.