University College Cork (UCC), Ireland
University College Cork (UCC)| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Full-time | 1 year | September | find out | find out |
Overview
MSc Ecological Assessment will help you develop skills in practical taxonomy, sampling and interpretation of ecological data in the context of environmental legislation. Habitat mapping, Appropriate Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment are examples of areas where these skills are sought by ecological consultancies and other employers. The course has been designed in consultation with industry professionals to provide personnel skilled in the ecological assessment of terrestrial and freshwater habitats. It is run in discrete blocks to allow those already in employment to continue their job in a modified form.
In addition to the fees,there is a two-day (one night) field trip to Killarney. You will arrange your own transport and accommodation for this trip. Purchase of textbooks is not compulsory, but certain books may be recommended for individual topics.
Course Details
The MSc Ecological Assessment will teach you key practical skills in the ecological assessment of terrestrial and freshwater habitats in order to meet a demand for personnel skilled in rigorous methods of ecological assessment. This applied course focuses on sampling procedures, skills in taxonomy, and the analysis, interpretation and reporting of ecological data.
Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits involving lectures, practicals, seminars, workshops, fieldstudy and self-directed learning. Students will also undertake a substantial Research Project (AE6017) to the value of 30 credits in an area of Ecological Assessment for submission by September 1st in the academic year of registration for the programme.
Core Modules
Students take 65 credits as follows:
AE6001 Ecological Site Assessment (5 credits)
AE6002 Plant Identification (10 credits)
AE6003 Habitat Classification and Survey (5 credits)
AE6005 Quantitative Ecological Surveying (5 credits)
AE6006 Legislation and the Natural Environment (5 credits)
AE6017 Research Project (30 credits)
BL6019 Ecological Applications of Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)
Elective modules
Students take 25 credits from the following:
AE6007 Aquatic Invertebrates (5 credits)
AE6008 Grasses: Identification and Sampling (5 credits)
AE6009 Carabidae: Identification and Sampling (5 credits)
AE6010 Lichens: Identification, Sampling and Biomonitoring (5 credits)
AE6011 Bats: Identification and Survey (5 credits)
AE6012 Professional Ecology Work Placement (5 credits)
AE6013 Bryophytes: Identification and Sampling (5 credits)
AE6014 Spiders: Identification and Sampling (5 credits)
AE6016 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) (5 credits)
AE6020 Birds: Survey and Interpretation (5 credits)
AE6021 Appropriate Assessment (5 credits)
There is a six-week work-based module if you wish to gain experience in the workplace. Further experience will be gained by the completion of a practical ecological assessment project (30 credits) which puts into practice the skills you have acquired on the course.
Fact File
Course Code: CKR39 Full-time
Course Title: Ecology - Ecological Assessment
College: Science, Engineering and Food Science
Duration: 1 year Full-time
Teaching Mode: Full-time
Qualifications: MSc
NFQ Level: Level 9
Costs: 2015/2016 Irish/EU fee EUR 6,000.Fees for 2016/17 TBC
2016 Entry Requirements: Second Class Honours, Grade II degree in a Biological Sciences area or an equivalent or related relevant degree or have reached an equivalent standard through completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Closing Date: To Be Confirmed for 2017/2018
Next Intake: To Be Confirmed
Course Practicalities
This is a full-time course run in blocks of two to four days with continuous assessment work completed in the intervening periods. Taught modules run from October to June with typically four to six days per month. There is a large practical component to many of the modules. Field trips are generally in the Cork region with one overnight trip to Killarney. The practical ecological assessment project will be submitted by the start of September 2014.
Assessment
Taught modules are assessed by a variety of methods involving: continuous assessment (reports, essay and seminars), written examination and the preparation of named biological collections. The practical ecological assessment project is submitted in the form of a written report and you will also get the opportunity to present a short seminar on the topic.
Application Procedure
Application for this programme is on-line atwww.pac.ie/ucc. Places on this programme are offered in rounds. The closing dates for each round can be found here. For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply.
All required documentation must be either uploaded to your online application, or sent in hard copy to The Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway, immediately after an application is made.
Further Contact Information
Dr Simon Harrison
E: s.harrison@ucc.ie
T: +353 (0)21 490 4526
2016 Entry Requirements: Second Class Honours, Grade II degree in a Biological Sciences area or an equivalent or related relevant degree or have reached an equivalent standard through completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification.
Closing Date: To Be Confirmed for 2017/2018
Next Intake: To Be Confirmed
Contact University College Cork (UCC) to find course entry requirements.
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