Environmental Science
Environmental science is the multidisciplinary study of the natural environment and the complex ways in which human activity interacts with and transforms it. It draws on ecology, chemistry, geology, climatology, biology, and the social sciences to understand environmental systems, the causes and consequences of environmental change, and the approaches used to monitor, protect, and restore the natural world. It is a field of both intellectual depth and urgent practical relevance, as the environmental challenges facing societies in the twenty-first century demand people who can think rigorously across disciplinary boundaries.
At the University of the Highlands and Islands this part-time programme allows you to study on a flexible schedule, completing all course units over a longer period than a full-time student and taking fewer modules at a time, with the option to study one unit at a time if that suits your circumstances. The Highlands and Islands context is particularly rich for environmental science, offering access to some of the most significant natural landscapes in the UK, with their attendant questions about conservation, land management, coastal and marine ecology, and the impacts of climate change on upland and island environments. You will develop both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills that environmental monitoring and assessment require.
Graduates from environmental science programmes work in environmental consultancy, conservation and land management, environmental regulation and monitoring, local and national government, research, and the charity and voluntary sector. The growing importance of sustainability across business and the public sector means that environmental knowledge and analytical skills are increasingly valued in a wide range of professional contexts. Further study at postgraduate level in environmental science, ecology, conservation biology, or environmental management is a common next step for those wishing to specialise or pursue a research career.