Study Conservation and Environmental Management via Online Learning
ACS Student comments:
I am finding it interesting and educational - it covers the primary facts and then encourages you to learn the details through the assignments and contacting numerous organisations involved in environmental issues. Jasmine Dungey, Aust - Conservation and Environmental Management course.
" I have never found the staff at any other learning institution as supportive as the staff at ACS. This gives one a lot of peace of mind and confidence to go on - at every squeak from my side, you guys have always been there, immediately to sort me out. The feedback on my lessons has always been really good and meaningful and an important source of my learning. Thanks!..."
"A course packed with learning about the environment and conservation"
Viewed from some distant observation platform, such as the moon, which is 384,000 kilometres away from earth, the earth looks exceptionally beautiful. However, a traveller from some distant planet would know that the crew of space ship earth is already far too large, and expanding at an alarming rate. The breathing system and the water supplies are becoming polluted. Waste materials of every kind are causing pollution, and threatening the operation of nature itself. The threat to the existence of life on the planet is steadily growing. Therefore each member of the crew must realise that the elements of the earth are exhaustible and they will not last forever. Therefore, it is necessary for each and every person to take an active part in conservation and the reduction of waste.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are 8 lessons as follows:
1. An Introduction To Ecology
•Spaceship Earth
•Conservation; Use of Resources, ecological value, economic value, genetic diversity
•Overkill
•Urbanisation
•Basic Ecology
•The Ecosystem
•Constituents for the Ecosystem
•Ecological Concepts
•The Web of Life; climate, producers, consumers, decomposers The Food Web
•Habitat and Niche
•Humans in the Environment
•Energy Flow
•Imbalances
•The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
•Climate Change
•El Nino
•International Efforts to Counter Climate Change; IPCC, UNFCC, Kyoto Protocol, Copenhagen Summit, Worldwatch Institute, etc
•Terminology
2. A Perspective On Environmental Problems
•History of Conservation
•Natural Resources; Renewable, Non Renewable
•Goals of Conservation
•History from Industrial Revolution to WWII
•WW2 and Post War Period
•International Conservation
•Deforestation
•Loss of Agricultural Land
•Loss of Biodiversity Endagered Water Supplies
•Exhaustion of Non Renewable Resources
•Political and Economic Issues of Conservation
•Environmental Damage in Free Economies
•Pollution in Planned Economies Supply of Resources
•Limits to Growth
3. Pollution and Industry Effects On The Environment
•Nature and Scope of Pollution
•Industrial Pollution
•Types of Pollutants
•Effects of Pollution
•Nuclear Pollution
•Sick Building Syndrome
•Asbestos Fibre
•Urbanisation
•Energy Alternatives
•Deforestation
•Nuclear Energy, Hydro Power, Solar Energy, Wind, Waste Power
4. Water and Soil
•Introduction
•Dams
•River Catchments
•Wetlands
•Water Pollution
•Recycling
•Desalination
•Water Environments
•The Hydrological Cycle; Infiltration, Rainfall, Evaporation, Effective Rainfall, etc
•Water and Plant Growth
•Keeping Water Clean
•Sewerage Treatment
•Soil; pH, texture, structure
•Land and Soil Degradation;
•Loss of soil fertility
•Erosion
•Salinity
•Soil compaction
•Soil acidification
•Build up of dangerous chemicals
5. Vegetation Conservation and Management
•Value of Trees
•Commercial Value of Trees
•Rainforests
•Forest Systems and Biomass
•Forest Conservation
•Trees and the Environment
•Environmental consequences of Deforestation
•Afforestation
•Classification of Forests
•Desertification
•Acid Rain
•Environmental Weeds
•Strategies for Preservation of Native Grasslands
6. Animal Conservation & Management
•The Human Animal
•Urbanisation
•Wildlife
•Threatened Species
•Invasive Species
•Wildlife Management; approaches, preservation, conservation, goals
•Wildlife Habitats
•Water Management for Wildlife
•Wildlife Surveys
7. Marine Conservation and Management
•Estuaries
•Fisheries; stock management, assessment, biomass, stock management methods
•Conservation of Sandy Shores
8. The Future
•Tourism and the Environment
•Ecotourism
•Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)
•Framework for ESD
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
What you will do in this Course
Here are some examples of what you may do:
- Describe ecological processes and associated sustainable management techniques.
- Investigate a specific environmental problem and provide possible solutions.
- Evaluate the relationship between industry and pollution.
- Discuss principles of water and soil management.
- Select a specific type of plant that is endangered or an environmental problem and submit a case study.
- Explain animal conservation strategies, including protection legislation, breeding programs and habitat conservation.
- Discuss a specific issue that applies to marine conservation.
- Develop profiles of three different conservation and/or environment lobby group organisations and procedures used in promoting their cause.
SAMPLE COURSE NOTES
Ecological Concepts
Knowing the basic components of an ecosystem leads to learning of the basic ecological concepts. Different authors might list concepts in different ways, however, the following are basic, universally accepted and essential to any ecosystem:
• The sun is the source of all energy. All energy in any organisms originally came from the sun. Other energies in the environment also originated from the sun (eg. wind, tides, water cycle, light, etc). The sun warms the earth, and provides energy for photosynthesis in plants. The synthesis of carbon compounds through photosynthesis converts sunlight energy into chemical energy that directly, or indirectly, provides food for almost all other organisms.
• Everything is connected to everything else. All living things interact with other things (both living and not living) in their environment. The climate affects the living things in an area. The plants influence the insect population and the insects eat the fish ... and on it goes.
• Everything must fit how and where it lives. 'Adaption' is the key word of this concept! (ie: Unless a species adapts to a situation, it will not survive). A principle related to this concept is the 'Dam Law'. The Dam Law states.... 'die, adapt or move'.
• Everything is going somewhere and becoming something else. We can never really throw it away. An ecosystem is dynamic; in a constant state of change. In death there is no waste matter ... it is continually recycled among biotic or abiotic components. Rocks are worn down into soil, soil is used by plants, changed, moved and leached by the forces of the environment etc.
• All action has a consequence. For every action there is a reaction. For every event there is a consequence. There is a delicate balance of nature between producers and consumers which allows both to exist. If this interrelationship becomes and remains unbalanced, one and/or both members of the interrelationship will die.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
Career Tips
Qualifications are essential for furthering your career in Conservation and Environmental Management, however there are many other things you can do to get ahead. These include:
* experience tips - unpaid or paid, experience is highly valued by future employers.
* networking tips - become a member of relevant environmental networking groups and join website groups related to your field.
* membership - become a member of relevant groups in your field eg. the Mammal Society or Bird Observer Clubs. This is another way to demonstrate your commitment to your career.
