Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Environmental Management and Sustainability (F751)

Explore the scientific and socio-economic issues behind sound environmental management, whilst developing professional and scientific skills with this BSc Environmental Management with Foundation. This is a four-year programme that includes a year of foundational study and leads directly into the three-year course.

During this degree students will learn about the technical, scientific and socioeconomic aspects of environmental issues, and develop methods for tackling them. The course focuses on the needs of employers and students will develop their professional skills alongside their scientific knowledge, using exercises such as mock consultancies. Additionally, students will carry out a short industry placement and have the chance to study abroad.

Students can tailor this course to suit their specific interests. They can follow either the Landscape and Countryside Management pathway or the Global Environmental Management pathway by selecting specific optional modules, or choose their own route by selecting modules from each. The Landscape and Countryside Management route has a stronger biological emphasis and covers topics such as land management, nature conservation and farming. The Global Environmental Management pathway covers more of the wider international aspects of the environment, such as policy, human geography and environmental issues such as pollution and climate change.

There is a strong practical element to the course and students will usually carry out field trips once a week during the first two years. Additionally, They will visit Pembrokeshire and Devon, where they will be able to examine habitats not found in Reading. During the final year students will carry out an independent project, and will normally be embedded within one of the School's research groups, working alongside leading academics. Specialist areas include land management, biodiversity conservation, climate change and food security.

Students will carry out a one-week mini placement between their second and third years. This will involve working for a client, normally a local authority or environmental group in the Reading area, on a small project.