Biodiversity and Conservation – (M.Sc.)

Biological diversity on Earth is under threat and the rapid extinction of species and populations is one of the really major problems that mankind is facing today. The Master’s programme in Biodiversity and Conservation is for students who want to understand the processes that have given rise to the enormous biodiversity on Earth and the factors that are causing this biodiversity to decrease and be lost. This is the programme for anyone who wants to work with issues of preservation and nature conservation. The biological principles behind various conservation programmes are studied and integrated with ethical and economic analysis of values. The programme has been designed to give a large basis of knowledge with close coupling to both modern research and practical work outside of the university. Internationally renowned scientists provide supervision. The are good opportunities to tailor your education to the profile you want. A final degree project in biodiversity and conservation is compulsory, as are the courses in Biological Statistics and Experimental Design and Science in Biological Research and Investigation. These courses are taken in parallel with the degree project. The following courses are compulsory elements of the programme: Biodiversity: Patterns and Processes, and either Conservation Ecology or Population and Conservation Genetics. Other courses that may be chosen include, for example, Evolutionary Ecology, Applied Marine Conservation Biology, Plant Ecology, Systematics, Molecular Systematics, Molecular Ecology, and Landscape Ecology. It is also possible to include courses in, for example, GIS and Environmental Law. The programme provides preparation for students who plan to continue to research education with a focus on conservation biology within, for example, ecology, ethology, population genetics or systematics. It is also a suitable background for work in nature conservation outside of the university, at, for example, authorities that work with these issues. The programme is also suitable for work within research administration, scientific journalism, teaching, or information work.