Conservation Biology and Health & Wellbeing BA (with Foundation Year)

CONSERVATION BIOLOGY

Conservation biology is concerned with the protection and management of nature and the Earth’s biodiversity. It involves an evaluation of human and other factors that affect all living organisms with the aim of protecting and conserving species, their habitats and ecosystems. It is an interdisciplinary subject that draws on natural sciences to devise satisfactory processes and approaches by which to sustain and protect plant and animal biodiversity in the UK and abroad.

This course mainly focuses on conservation in terrestrial environments. It develops knowledge of key areas such as the principles and practices of ecology, habitat management, nature conservation and the functioning of natural systems, particularly with regard to different points of view including scientific, ethical and philosophical perspectives. Opportunities are provided to apply knowledge and understanding of conservation biology during field courses within the UK and abroad giving first-hand experience of a range of ecosystems.

A Placement Year option is available for this course. Undertaking a placement year as part of your degree programme offers you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience alongside your studies.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Recent years have seen widespread recognition of the need to move beyond medicine with a greater emphasis on the promotion of health and wellbeing. New government initiatives and policies are giving this greater priority than ever before. Health and Wellbeing is a vibrant, multidisciplinary degree in which you will explore a range of issues and debates relevant to health and wellbeing in contemporary society.

The degree draws upon a range of disciplines, including sociology social policy and psychology to understand the key challenges to health and wellbeing in the 21st century. Throughout your studies, you will be considering key questions such as what factors influence health and wellbeing? How do social experiences impact upon health and wellbeing? Why do different social groups experience health and wellbeing differently? Alongside this, you develop the practical skills necessary for work in the field, through work on case studies and opportunities and applied research projects within the local community.

The degree provides you with the opportunity to develop practical skills, knowledge and insight into a range of issues relating to health and wellbeing in contemporary society. With its strong emphasis on social justice and welfare, you will be enabled to develop as critical social scientists who, as a graduate, will be able to use your skills and knowledge to the benefit of your local community and society more broadly.