Foundation Degree in Managing Environments
Subject to approval
"This course is for you if you want to be a nature reserve manager, a farm environmental advisor, a recycling officer, an estate manager and more."
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UCAS Institution Code:P60
UCAS Programme Code:F751
Duration:2 years FT/3 Years PT
With a Foundation Degree in Managing Environments you could…
…progress on to the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree at the University of Plymouth…
…or become a nature reserve manager, a farm environmental advisor, a recycling officer, a waste management officer, an estate manager…
Bicton College is situated in an area which possesses a diverse range of habitats protected by local and international directives, and managed by key conservation organisations. Regionally, the South West provides some of the best coastline and protected landscapes in the country and is where some of the most extensive and innovative work takes place within the environmental field.
This is what Naturenet – an independent countryside and nature conservation website, says about working in the countryside:
"Countryside work can be very rewarding, great fun and a really good way to live. You get to meet the most extraordinary people and see the most extraordinary places. Countryside staff are well-thought of…and most people are interested in what you do and why. Just occasionally, once in a while, you get to wander around in a wonderful bit of countryside and get paid for it. Without a shadow of a doubt that makes it all worthwhile…" (www.naturenet.net)
Facilities
- 500 acres of open green parkland and rolling countryside
- Extensive grounds, with an arboretum, woodland, farm and a wide range of managed habitats
- Access to forestry plantations, woodlands and coppice for practical work
- Established relationships within the industry, for example with the RSPB, National Trust, East Devon District Council's Coast and Countryside Service, schools and local landowners
- Situated within an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and five minutes from the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
Find out more about our facilites and industry links.
Programme Aims
This new Foundation Degree offers opportunities for those who wish to manage land with conservation and amenity interests. Equal emphasis is placed on working with people and communities as it is with wildlife and habitats. Given that the UK is becoming increasingly urbanised, and greater emphasis is being placed on greenspace management in and around our towns, equal focus is placed on rural and urban settings.
The course therefore provides a modern "take" on countryside management reflecting significant changes that are taking place in our society and the ever-changing demands on land managers.
The course will provide an integrated approach to the management of sites of conservation interest and public open spaces, and will encourage experimentation and innovative approaches to management. Learning how to work closely with landowners and farmers and how to encourage community involvement and decision making will be key elements in this course. An important principle is that ‘people are the answer’: only through working with people at all levels will the right balance be struck between social, environmental and economic needs.
Entry Requirements
At least one of the following:- Two A level at grade C or above, or equivalent combination of two grades
- BTEC National Certificate or Diploma
- MPP grade profile for BTEC National Diploma
- MP grade profile for BTEC National Certificate
- Students with experience will be assessed on merit
Course Structure
On this course you will learn more about wildlife, balanced approaches to producing food and how to help people enjoy, learn more about and explore open spaces. You will also be confronted with problems to solve – traditional conflicts in the countryside, the effects of global warming, global economic pressures and the needs of an increasingly diverse population. Your abilities as an astute and knowledgeable policy adviser and decision maker, and effective communicator, will be put to the test in a variety of settings.
Employers need multi-skilled individuals to manage multi-purpose environments. This course, and the subsequent top up Honours year, will provide the ideal platform for a career in land management both in the UK and overseas. Employability is a major feature of this course.
What you will study
Year 1- Enterprise
- Working with Communities
- Working in the Urban Environment
- Countryside Leisure Management
- Working with Livestock
- Ecology and Habitat Management
- Professional Development and Practice
- Environmental Stewardship
- Major Integrated Assignment
- Wildlife Skills
- Interpreting the Environment
- Estate Management with Conservation
- Planning, Surveying and Monitoring
Assessment
This course will place significant emphasis on experiencing real-life environments; working alongside practitioners and organisations; visiting sites under pressure; seeking out best practice and success stories in both urban and rural settings. Assessment will vary widely, but more often than not will be based on a field visit and evidence collected from practical outdoor situations, and/or opinion and advice from an expret guest speaker.
This course will be awarded by the University of Plymouth.
Progression
Successful students can progress onto the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science Degree at the University of Plymouth. This degree will provide opportunities to work in a variety of roles within the environmental conservation sector, and for a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations.
University of Plymouth Colleges Faculty
The University of Plymouth Colleges Faculty (UPC) is a partnership between the University of Plymouth and over 20 partner institutions, including Bicton College. It is nationally recognised as one of the largest, longest established and best-developed partner college networks in the country and brings university-level education to over 10,000 students across the South West peninsula and the Channel Islands.
All of the higher education courses offered at Bicton College are validated by the University of Plymouth. This means when you graduate you will achieve a University of Plymouth award.
Every UPC foundation degree has a built-in progression route to an honours degree. These are often one-year ‘top-up’ courses available at the University of Plymouth, or in some cases, a partner college or another university.
In terms of academic study, all UPC students have the same rights and status as other University of Plymouth students. In addition, you will be able to benefit from the services that your college can provide – as well as the extra support and resources on offer at the University’s campus.
All UPC students are entitled to use the University’s library, access electronic resources and learning support materials through the web-based student portal, become a member of the University of Plymouth Students’ Union (UPSU) and through your college, gain assistance from the University’s support and advice resources (such as its careers’ service, student funding team, international students’ advisory service and the disability assist scheme).
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 8AA
Tel: 01752 585858 (course information)
Tel: 01752 600600 (all other enquiries)
Fax: 01752 588050
Email: prospectus@plymouth.ac.uk
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APPLY TODAY
For a full-time application apply to UCAS direct at www.ucas.ac.uk or
Write to:UCAS
PO Box 28
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 3SA
To study part-time apply directly to Bicton College.