Ecology and Management of Natural Resources - bachelor

180 credits, taught in Norwegian. Contact: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA), www.umb.no/ina

Engelsk:One of the most important issues in the world today is to solve problems tied to the pressure on natural resources as a result of human activity. This eduction gives a basis for understanding these problems and how they can be solved. This programme gives basic knowledge of the relationship between animals, plants and the environment and their management.The programme is primarily meant to be a basis for further Master\'s degree studies in ecology or management of natural resources. It is also possible to continue in other related master degree programmes at UMB or at other Norwegian or foreign universities. However, a Bachelor\'s degree in ecology and management of natural resources will qualify for management positions in the outdoors, as a research technician, environmental consultant in municipalities and, with pedagogical education, teaching in elementary schools.

Admission requirements
Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Specific requirements in science.

Internationalisation, studies abroad and exhange agreements
Engelsk:The programme focuses on both Norwegian and international questions regarding the management of natural resources. Many of the courses have literature in English and some are given in English. The education is at an international level, which is partially guaranteed through student exchanges with our cooperating foreign universities. About 30% of the students in this program choose to take part of their education at a foreign university.It is possible to keep a semester almost free of mandatory courses. This semester is well suited for studies abroad. It is advisable to study abroad during the spring semester in the second academic year or in the autumn semester in the third academic year. The Department has much experience with fitting courses from foreign universities into our programme.

Engelsk:The department has a broad spectrum of subjects taught in English, either on permanent basis or upon request from the students. The department can therefore offer foreign students a normal academic year in English within the area of natural resource management and ecology.

Related studies
The Bachelor\'s degree programme Ecology and Management of Natural Resources is an interdisciplinary programme with courses from several of UMB\'s departments. The programme will therefore be related to some of UMB\'s bachelor programmes, including the programme in environment and natural resources and biology. The programme also has similarities to Bachelor\'s programmes in biology/ecology at universities and the study programmes in nature management/outdoor management at Nord-Trøndelag University College (HiNT), Hedmark University College (HH) and Telemark University College (HiT).

Learning goals
A candidate who has completed the education is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in competence, knowledge and skills: Competence: - Has a solid multidisciplinary foundation. - Is able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. - Understands the need for cooperation and conflict resolution across disciplines. Knowledge: - Has a good knowledge of different ecosystems, ecological processes and biological diversity. - Understands the effects of human activities on the natural environment. - Understands the structure of the Norwegian environmental sector. Skills: - Can evaluate how natural resources can be managed in a sustainable manner. - Can use basic knowledge in the social sciences and ecology to solve problems in the management of natural resources in Norway and internationally. - Knows how to combine knowledge from various disciplines, such as management of natural resources, law, environmental planning, and economy, to conduct multidisciplinary impact assessments.

Teaching and evaluation methods
Teaching and evaluation methods are varied and consist of lectures, student assignments, study groups, seminars, oral and written presentations of own work, laboratory work and field excursions.Students? work is most commonly assessed through written examinations, but the students will also be assessed by semester assignments, individual assignments, group assignments, study group assignments and reports from laboratory work, field courses and excursions.

Programme content
The duration of the programme is three years and contains common compulsory courses, restricted elective courses and completely elective courses. The first academic year includes compulsory introductory courses in natural resource management, ecology, zoology, botany, mathematics, Examen Philosophicum and chemistry. In the second academic year, students take statistics, economics, GIS in addition to intermediate courses in natural resource management, zoology and ecology. In the third academic year students take courses in vegetation mapping, law, spatial planning and environmental impact analysis. During the second or third year the students should also take at least one course in geology/earth sciences and in natural resource management. The second and third academic years have some flexibility and allow students to take courses within their area of interest.

Spesialisation requirements
The specialisation requirement is made up of the following courses: BOT100 Plant diversity, BOT270 Vegetation mapping, ECOL100 Basic ecology, ECOL200 General ecology, NATF100 Introductory nature management, NATF200 Nature conservation and management in Norway, ZOOL100 General zoology, ZOOL210 Vertebrates, ZOOL220 Entomology, MATH100 Introductory mathematics, STAT100 Statistics and LAD102 GIS ? practical introduction.

Student advising

Evaluation