A natural history degree involves the study of animals, plants and their natural environments. To understand it fully, you need to draw on scientific knowledge from many areas, which makes this a diverse and exciting subject
Essential Info
On this fascinating natural history degree, you will study different organisms – how they are identified, their life history and relationships. Through the study of their habitats and environments, such as oceans, rivers, forests, agricultural land and urban areas, you will learn how humans affect living things. You will also get to explore the processes that shape our land, coastlines and climate.
Work-based learning is a unique and important part of this course, which will improve your employability. Work placements last between four and six weeks in some of the world’s most exciting wildlife locations such as Kenya, Malaysia, Australia, Ghana, Portugal and Poland (additional costs apply). As well as international experience, there are placement options with conservation bodies in the UK.
“I’ve always had a great interest in wildlife and conservation, and studying these subjects in a Natural History setting has been fantastic. I have had a number of incredible experiences to date, for example studying volcanos and visiting glaciers in Iceland. As part of my work based learning module I worked with hand reared white rhino calves and lion cubs in a rehabilitation centre in Africa. The photography and film making modules have enabled me to capture these experiences. The course has given me a great range of practical skills needed to gain employment and I would definitely recommend this course.” Christopher Lewis – BSc(Hons) Natural History
Brochure Download
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What You Will Study
On Glamorgan’s natural history degree you will get to explore the diversity of life, wildlife management for conservation, marine biology and environmental survey skills. A key feature of this natural history degree is gaining practical skills that you can apply on land, in freshwater environments and in the oceans. To develop these skills, you will go on a range of one-day and residential field courses to some of the UK’s best landscapes. There is also a tropical ecology module, where you can dive coral reefs and survey tropical forests in Indonesia, Cuba or Honduras. Wildlife photography and film-making is another exciting part of the course. Using our facilities at ATRiuM, you will produce a documentary of your own.
Modules:
Year One
- Landform Systems
- Diversity of Life One
- Diversity of Life Two
- Principles of Ecology
- Introductory Geology
- Video Production One
Year Two
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Environmental Modelling for Wildlife Conservation
- Observational Field Methodology
- Natural History Photography
- Environmental Wildlife Fieldwork
Additionally two modules from the following options:
- Animal Behaviour
- Documentary Film Making
- Earth History and Palaeontology
Year Three
- Ecological Interactions
- Marine and Freshwater Biology
- Wildlife Management
- Advanced Environmental Survey
- Fieldwork
- Project
Plus one module from the following options:
- Climatic and Environmental Change
- Work-Based Learning
- Natural History Fieldwork
How You Will Study
The focus is hands-on learning to ensure you gain practical survey and research skills, and you will study in brand-new laboratories at our Glyntaff campus. The degree also involves work in adventurous field settings. Several modules are entirely fieldwork-based. Others involve lectures and laboratory work, usually with day-long field excursions. The work placement and dissertation modules develop work-related skills and usually involve organisations in various countries.
Prospects
How does this course make me employable?
93% of our Environmental and Physical graduates (which includes geography and geology) are employed or in further study 6 months after graduation. (HESA Performance Indicators 2009/10)
Possible Career Options
By graduation, you will have the professional skills to work for national parks, nature reserves, environmental consultancies, national and international wildlife bodies, national, regional and local government, utility companies and regulatory agencies. Your analytical skills will give you excellent prospects in research and policy development. You can even make wildlife films to gain career options in visual media and environmental education.
