Do distance Learning or part-time ecology degrees exist?

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi,

Do distance learning or part-time ecology degrees exist?

If they do, could someone please signpost me as trawling the internet doesn't turn anything up.

[eeyore]

a freind of mine is doing one with bournemouth uni ( I think) so they do exist

Bournemouth University | Courses | Ecology and Wildlife Conservation

the other one that springs to mind is the good old OU - they dont do an ecology course per se , but you can take an open degree and build one up out of ecology modules

BD - BA/BSc Open degree - Open University Qualification

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi Eeyore,

Thanks for the details. I wonder if my current degree in business could be used as credits so I would have to do less years of study?

I will keep looking.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Leigh Robinson

Hi Eeyore,

Thanks for the details. I wonder if my current degree in business could be used as credits so I would have to do less years of study?

I will keep looking.

I think its probably doubtful that it can for the bournemouth course - but it might be eligible for the OU open course

the otherthing is whether you need a first degree in ercology or whether you could jump straight to post grad

what is it that you want to do, job wise when you have the qualification - I mean do you actually want to be an ecologist, be a land manager, do research or what ?

reason i ask is that as you are already a graduate there may be other routes which dont involve having to get another degree

[Leigh Robinson]

I do not yet have a clear picture of what exactly I want to do. My interests are in sustaining biodiversity so that would be around working with protected species and preventing their extinction. I also have an interest in reintroducing extinct species such as the wolf, bear, elk etc. I am not sure where that would take me work wise. I am interested in woodland habitats also.

I am quite academic so research would be fun but I need to be out in the open air a lot of the time.

In one way, ecologist may be the right way to go but I think I would get bored if I was spent my time doing EIA for town planning so I would have to keep an interest in the more exciting things.

Ideally I need to be earning £17,000 plus to continue paying the bills. Are there any roles that are hands on I could be doing whilst studying?

Thanks for you input its really appreciated.

[tufftie]

Yes - try Exter Uni That's where I did mine...urmm and was able to specialise in squirrels lol Seriously, they are very good and imo far far the best of the Distance Learning places

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi,

I looked at Exeter Uni's site. They have non accredited distance learning courses. These are not the same as degree's. I am reluctant to sign to these as I am not sure if they translate to the jobs market.

Are employers taking on non degree qualified applicants at all?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Leigh Robinson

Are employers taking on non degree qualified applicants at all?

as an employer (in the conservation/rights of way field) i can answer that one - and the answer is.. erm ..maybe

mostly "we might specify a degree or equivalent qualification ideally in a relevant subject."

however relevant life experience and/or other training would also be taken into account

so in your case we would say buisness degree , tick - further training(even if not to degree level) in a relevant feild, tick

for example my assistant has a degree in fine art - but also has five plus years working in conservation and rights of way.

all that not withstanding i wouldnt spend time and money on a non certificated course - you'd be better off with a certificated qualification even if it were an HND or NDip

[tufftie]

Sorry about that, they must have stopped doing them. Have you tried doing a general google search? There used to be a few out there that did them - apart from the OU (who I never really liked as there curriculum was far more rigid than other Uni's - though again this may have changed).

[cmullen]

My MSc was in Biological Recording with University of Birmingham and Field Studies Council. It was mostly distance learning but with around 8 long weekends of going to an FSC centre (mostly Preston Montford in Shrewsbury) where you do courses in things you find interesting, you can concentrate on botany, ornothology or invertebrates mostly but they have courses in everything from mammals to rock pool invertebrates. Good for learning field id skills if that's what you're interested in. It also has modules concentrating on biological records, records centres and stats that you need to do. You can do it in 2-5 years depending on your circumstances, and you can do a shorter course to start with to see if you like it.

Biological Recording: Collection and Management MSc/Diploma/Certificate - Postgraduate - University of Birmingham