What will I learn? The aims of the Program...
The degree program has a strong interdisciplinary and practical focus, consisting of both coursework and fieldwork components. To facilitate engagement of part-time students and practitioners in remote areas, coursework components will be delivered using a combination of distance delivery methods (online and hard copy) and on-campus sessions in block mode. Some teaching units will be offered fully online.
The conservation industry is closely involved both in the development and presentation of new teaching units. In the final semester of the Masters program, students will have the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project provided by industry partners and undertaken in the field, supervised jointly by university academic staff and industry experts (Capstone Project).
The main aims of the proposed program are to:
- provide students with a sound knowledge base in individual discipline domains as well as real-world application skills
- provide students with an understanding of the multidisciplinary approach required in the management of living resources
- cooperate with wildlife management agencies to ensure that the curriculum meets the skill needs of the industry
- provide students with relevant industry placement opportunities
- explore innovative approaches in course design and delivery methods to cater for the needs of part-time students and students living in remote regions
- embrace the borderless university concept enabled by online delivery methods by initiating collaboration with other universities offering high quality teaching in wildlife management related disciplines.
The program aims to produce graduates who have the desire, drive, and dedication to become actively and passionately involved in managing wildlife resources and the habitats on which they depend.
Principal learning objectives
Successful completion of the program will enable students to:
- develop an understanding of concepts and issues relevant to wildlife and wildlife habitat management
- gain awareness of the cultural, legislative, economic and policy contexts within which wildlife managers operate
- apply current theory and practice to the analysis, design or implementation of wildlife management programs, and
- acquire professional-level skills in the application of wildlife and wildlife habitat management techniques.
Generic learning objectives
Upon successful completion of the program students will have:
- developed professional-level skills in sourcing information, analysing key points and synthesising an integrated report on the issue
- developed professional-level skills in both written and oral communication
- developed the ability to understand the wider implications of wildlife management, i.e. being able to integrate information from across disciplines
- developed the ability to work at a professional level in groups of people with disparate backgrounds (professional, social, ethnic, etc)
- developed professional networks with others in the student cohort.
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