Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Bachelor of Science in Conservation Ecology

The Bachelor of Science in Conservation Ecology in Agriculture is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Bachelor of Science in Conservation Ecology offered by the Stellenbosch University

Would you like to address the world's conservation issues as part of your work one day? This unique programme, with an emphasis on socio-ecological systems, equips you to work at solving conservation challenges. The areas in which you may choose a career are: environmental impact assessment and monitoring (terrestrial and freshwater), restoration ecology, game farm management, ecotourism, community-based natural resource management and environment-oriented, sustainable production in agriculture and forestry (including organic plant management), conservation planning, and conservation biology research.

The four-year programme kicks off with modules in Biology, Chemistry, Geo-environmental Science, Computer Skills and Mathematics. During your second year you will be studying subjects dealing with conservation ecology, biodiversity and applied sciences, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Biometry and Microbiology. And in your third year the focus will be on Conservation Ecology, Biodiversity and Ecology, as well as a choice between Soil Science, Environmental Sociology and Genetics. During your fourth year you integrate all the skills that you gained in the first three years in order to focus on the big and burning issues in conservation.

In addition to this, in all four years of the programme, we keep you in touch with hands-on practicals throughout the year. You will also, in your fourth year, have a choice between either developing your own comprehensive conservation plan for a game farm, game reserve or nature area, or conducting a research project on a pre-determined conservation issue. You may also choose specialist topics, such as insect conservation biology. Because of the extinction crisis, the demand for such specialised knowledge is growing worldwide.