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Elective courses recommended as part of the Ecosystem Services MSc

Context

The Ecosystem Services MSc comprises four compulsory courses (2 x 20 credits and 2 x 10 credits), a set of optional courses (total 60 credits) and a 60 credit dissertation.

Compulsory courses

The two 20 credit compulsory courses are:

▪Ecosystem Dynamics and Function (Semester 1, 20 credits)

▪Ecosystem Values and Management (Semester 2, 20 credits)

In addition, we have two skills-related compulsory courses, designed to give you practice with both natural and social science methods. These provide an introduction to the scientific methods you will use throughout your masters, and lots of opportunities to develop your quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis skills. The course consists of lectures, seminars and practicals in the first semester and an assessed field course at Easter.

▪Analysing the Environment (Semester 1, weeks 1- 11, 10 credits)

▪Analysing the Environment Study Tour (1 week, just after semester 2, 10 credits)

Optional courses

For full time students, you need to select 60 credits of elective courses. This can be weighted between semesters as you wish, however note that the 2nd semester is generally busier with dissertation selection and preparation.

For part time students, we recommend taking all the compulsory courses in your first year, but this can be varied to suit your needs.

A list of course that we recommend, and which other students often choose, is given below. You may be able to take other courses, in GeoSciences and in other Schools in the University. You can also take 4th year undergraduate courses as part of your Masters (up to 20 credits). In particular, the specialist courses offered as part of the Ecology and Environmental Science BSc, or Geography MA, can be a useful way of deepening your programme of study.

Process

  1. Before you start the programme, have a think about what you want to get out of the MSc. What skills and knowledge do you have now, and what will you will need to pursue your career? Also have a think about what you would like to work on for your dissertation and the skills this will need. If you are not sure, then hedge your bets and pick electives that cover a wide range of disciplines, skills and careers.
  2. Fill in the attached form (Appendix 1) with your selection for elective courses – for now, feel free to list multiple options. If you are part time, fill in one sheet for each year.
  3. Meet with your Programme Director (PD) in induction week to discuss your choices and refine. Bring the form to the meeting, and your thoughts following the course choice brainstorming exercise. Once finalised, take the form in person (room 332, Grant Institute), or send it by email to the programme secretary ()and Susie will enrol you on your courses.

What if I change my mind?

Most courses let you enrol during week 1 and 2, so you can change during this time. You can also change your semester 2 enrolments any time during semester 1, but you’ll need to meet with your PD to discuss this.

Recommended courses (as of September 2016)

See: for latest info and for details of the first class of each module.

Note that there are many legacy courses on this system that may not be running. Be aware that things can change at short notice: the University is the size of a small town and the unexpected happens fairly often. In the list below, brackets indicate the semester, and all are 20 credits unless stated.

Ecosystem science and management

Water Resource Management (2)

Forests and Environment (2)

Land Use/Environmental Interactions (2)

Marine Systems and Policies (1)

Environmental Geochemistry (1)[10 credits]

Soil Science Concepts and Application (2)

Novel Strategies for Carbon Storage in Soil (2)

Policy and management

Environmental Impact Assessment (2)

Participation in Policy and Planning (2)

Waste Reduction and Recycling (2)

Frameworks to Assess Food Security (1)

Sustainability of Food Production (2)

Integrated Resource Management (1)

Integrated Resource Planning (2)

Energy and Society (2)

Economics, business and finance

Foundations in Ecological Economics (1)

Applications in Ecological Economics (2)

Social and sustainability science

Encountering Cities (1)

Human dimensions of environmental change and sustainability (1)

Political Ecology (2)

Values & the Environment (1)

Also have a look at the courses offered in the School of Social and Political Sciences

Remote sensing and GIS (suggested courses, many more exist)

Note that many GIS courses are 10 credits and run for half a semester (block 1 and 2 are in semester 1, block 3 and 4 are in semester 2).

If you have no prior GIS experience, we suggest that you take the undergraduate 20 credit course:

  • Principles of Geographical Information Science (semester 1; GEGR10039)

Or, if you already have some experience you can do the 10 credit MSc level course.

  • Principles of Geographical Information Science (semester 1, block 1; PGGE11067)

To build on this we suggest two of the following courses from semester 2, e.g:

  • Geo-visualisation (Semester 2; block 3; PGGE11087)
  • Introduction to Radar Remote Sensing (Semester 2; block 5; PGGE11064)
  • Hyperspectral Remote Sensing (Semester 2; block 3; PGGE11040)

If you want to use GIS for your dissertation, you should also consider

  • Introduction To Spatial Analysis (Semester 1; block 1; PGGE11091)
  • Spatial Modelling (Semester 1; block 1; PGGE11092)

And if you are interested in developing programming skills:

  • Object Orientated Software Engineering: Spatial Algorithms (Semester 1; block 2;PGGE11106)
  • Object Oriented Software Engineering Principles (Semester 1; block 1; PGGE11042)

COURSE OPTION CHOICES

There may be restrictions on numbers who can attend courses so please choose more than your required options (in order of preference) for each semester (if required). We will try and add you to your first choice but if that course is full we will then add you to your second choice.

STUDENT NAME: (Please Print) / DEGREE: (Please Print)
MSc Ecosystem Services
MATRICULATION NO: (Please Print) / DATE: (Please Print)
SEMESTER 1 – OPTIONS / Credits
SEMESTER 2 – OPTIONS / Credits