Programmes

Terrestrial & Freshwater Ecology (BSc.)

Programme Overview

The programme in Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecology is designed to give students hands-on exposure to the study of terrestrial environments as well as lotic and lentic fresh water systems and associated organisms. It will enable students to gain detailed knowledge of terrestrial and freshwater animal communities and provide an understanding of the concepts, strategies and practices available to scientifically investigate, analyse and manage them. Students pursuing this programme are required to take a minimum of 39 advanced credits.

Programme Objectives

The BSc programme in Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecology aims to:

  1. Enable students to distingusih between the different habitats associated with terrestrial and freshwater systems.
  2. Teach students to identify and classify the different groups of vertebrates and invertebrates associated with Jamaican and Caribbean terrestrial and freshwater habitats.
  3. Familiarize students with the role of natural disturbance in terrestrial and freshwater systems, particularly pollution of freshwater systems.
  4. Exemplify conservation measures which can be used to mitigate against the effects of disturbance in terrestrial and freshwater systems.
  5. Develop the ability to investigate the organisms, habitats and processes associated with different terrestrial and freshwater systems.
  6. Train students to analyse, interpret and present the results of their investigations in a range of scientific reporting formats.

Admission Requirements

In order to read for the BSc Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecology, candidates must satisfy the requirements for entrance to the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Either:

  1. Satisfy the University requirements for Normal Matriculation.
  2. Have obtained passes in two subjects at CAPE (both comprising passes in Units 1 & 2) or at GCE A-Level (or equivalent). One of the CAPE or equivalent passes must be an approved science subject preferably Biology.

Or:

  1. Satisfy the University requirements for Lower Level Matriculation.
  2. Have obtained passes at CSEC Secondary Education General Proficiency level with grades I, II, or since 1998 grade III (or equivalent) in Mathematics and two approved science subjects (one of which should be Biology or equivalent).

Programme Structure

Year 1: A minimum of twenty four (24) credits from Level 1; Eighten (18) of which must be Faculty of Science and Technology courses and include the Biology courses:

Semester I

   BIOL1017: Cell Biology

   BIOL1018: Molecular Biology & Genetics

Semester II

   BIOL1262: Living Organisms I

   BIOL1263: Living Organisms II

 

Year 2: Twenty one (21) credits as follows:

Semester I

   BIOL2401: Research Skills & Practices in Biology

   BIOL2402: Fundamentals of Biometry

   BIOL2407: Biological Evolution

Semester II

   BIOL2403: Principles of Ecology

   BOTN2401: Physiology  of Plants

   ZOOL2403: Maintenance Systems in Animals

   ZOOL2404: Coordination & Control in Animals

 

Year 3: Fifteen (15) credits as follows:

Semester I

   BOTN3406: Tropical Forest Ecology

   ZOOL3403: Entomology

Semester II

   BIOL3400: Issues in Conservation Biology

   BIOL3406: Freshwater Biology

   BIOL3410: Water Pollution Biology

Plus three (3) credits from the following:

Semester I

   BIOL3403: The Biology of Soil

   BOTN3405: Plant Ecophysiology

Semester II

   BIOL3405: Pest Ecology & Management

Careers after Graduation

Career opportunities include areas such as: Restoration Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Environment Biology, Forest Ecology, Pollution Monitoring, Environmental Consultancy, Education and Research fields.