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Ecology and Evolution
Master
In Bath ()
Description
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Type
Master
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Duration
1 Year
The aim of the programme is to provide professional-level training that will develop highly skilled bioscientists with strong theoretical, research and transferable skills all of which are necessary to work at the forefront of modern biosciences. Suitable for: Three categories of applicants in particular are suitable for this programme: Those whose first degree did not take them to the highest level and/or who may have had little or no practical research experience. Those who wish to specialise further beyond their first degree in the named specialisation but do not foresee a research degree as the natural progression after graduating from this programme. Those who have graduated in a different but related area of the biosciences but now wish to change directions and emerge as specialists in a new area.
About this course
Entrants should normally have a 2.1 or higher first degree from the UK in an appropriate biological science or an equivalent from other countries.
English requirements:
* IELTS 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components).
* TOEFL 580 (paper-based test) or 237 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in the TWE or 92 (internet-based test) with not less than 21 in each of the components.
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Subjects
- Project
- Ecology
- Credit
- Conflict
- Biology
- Conservation
Course programme
Overview
Ecology and Evolution covers the origins and appearance of organisms and their genes as well as their interactions within the environment. It includes not only theoretical and experimental studies of evolutionary biology within the laboratory studying genes, genomes and phylogeny but also field work and applications to real problems, biodiversity and conservation science.
Programme Structure
The programme is a one year, full-time taught degree running over three semesters. The structure of the programmes is:
- Semester One: Five 6-credit units including Literature Reviews related to the specialisation.
- Semester Two: Five 6-credit units including a Research Project Preparation Unit.
- Semester Three: A single 30-credit Research Project.
Literature Reviews: This unit is designed to develop the knowledge base and level of understanding in two current research areas of the specialisation and give experience of extended scholarly writing. The topics will be chosen by the academic specialisation tutor. The topics may be related to the chosen research project.
Research Project Preperation: This unit is designed to provide both research-specific and transferable skills as preparation for the semester three project. It will include risk assessments (for microorganisms, chemicals, radiation, etc.), safety legislation, time management, project planning, academic writing, making effective presentations, poster preparation, bibliographic databases, personal development planning, scientific ethics, plagiarism, requirements of the Data Protection Act and intellectual property rights, spinouts and licensing. Research skills will be related to the requirements of the research project.
Available 6-credit taught units include:
- Concepts in evolution
- Field course
- Behaviour & ecology
- Evolution in deep time
- Sexual conflict
- Conservation biology
- The evolution of genetic systems
- Molecular evolution and phylogenetics
Titles of projects that have been offered in recent years include:
- Conflict and cooperation in animal breeding systems
- Conservation biology of wetland birds
- Evolutionary functional genomics
- Evolutionary genomic approaches to the study of sperm form, function and evolution
- Fossil gaps in the Tree of Life
- How “shaky” are published phylogenetic trees?
- Mathematical modelling/computer simulation in ecology/evolutionary ecology
- Mechanisms of aging in fruit flies
- Models or empirical tests of sexual conflict
- Molecular evolution: evolution of non-coding DNA
- Pathogen-induced recombination in fruit flies
- Theoretical and empirical evolutionary quantitative and population genetics
- What type of characters are most helpful in reconstructing the Tree of Life?
There are several units and ancillary activities to support the development of the student. Besides the Literature Reviews and the Research Project Preparation units there will be programme tutorials run by the Director of Studies and personal tutorials with the Academic Tutor. Free English language tuition is provided in a course especially designed by bioscientists for non-native English speakers.
Assessment
Assessments of taught units are varied. In addition to essays and written examinations, masters level units will often have coursework assessments of seminar discussions, oral presentations, poster presentations and critical analyses. The project is assessed by submission of a report and an assessed talk or poster.
Additional information
Comments: Previous masters students have come from Argentina, Austria, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK.
Career opportunities: An MSc from the University of Bath will be recognised as an award for graduate ability that will be valued by companies and higher education institutions worldwide. They should have a competitive edge in relation to undergraduate students applying for similar positions. They will be able to find posts in industry and government where a working knowledge of the nature and demands of academic research is needed.
Contact person: Dr. Alan Wheals
Ecology and Evolution