MSc Biodiversity and Conservation

Year 1

(Award available for year: Master of Science)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able to

- demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge and mastery of techniques relevant to biodiversity and conservation; and/or to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of concepts, information and techniques at the forefront of biodiversity and conservation;
- exhibit mastery in the exercise of generic and subject-specific intellectual abilities;
- demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;
- take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others;
- formulate ideas and hypotheses proactively and to develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these;
- evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in biodiversity and conservation critically and creatively.

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
- self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
- critically to engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:

- demonstrating an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within biodiversity and conservation;
- demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area in biodiversity and conservation;
- drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study in biodiversity and conservation;
- evaluating and criticising received opinion;
- making reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.