Course Aim

The Foundation Degree / Certificate of Higher Education courses are validated by the University of Ulster and are tailored to meet the needs of existing employees within the rural and environmental sectors. The courses aim to provide learners with a basic understanding of the key issues within rural and countryside management and the principles relating to them.

Course content

Students undertake core subjects and select optional subjects to allow a degree of specialisation. Six modules or 120 credit points are required to obtain a Certificate of Higher Education. Twelve modules or 240 credit points are required to obtain a Foundation Degree.

Foundation degree (FdSc) in Rural and Countryside Management

Students undertaking the Foundation Degree part-time, study alongside students on the full-time programme. The Course Manager can provide guidance on the sequence in which the modules can be studied to complete the FdSc / Certificate of Higher Education.

Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Rural and Countryside Management

Compulsory Modules

• Environmental science
• Habitat management
• Introduction to business management

Optional Modules

• Applied investigative project
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmental policy
• Investigative project
• Plant and soil science
• Rural development
• Work placement

Plus one from each of the FdSc module options

Option 1 (20 credits)

• Estate Skills
• Sustainable Enterprise Management

Option 2 (20 credits)

• Countryside Recreation and Management
• Improving Business Opportunities
• Urban Landscape Conservation

Option 3 (10 credits)

• Data Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation
• Environmental Education and Interpretation
• Marketing

Placement

The work placement module helps students to develop their interpersonal, business, scientific and technical skills and provides them with real-life opportunities to address the practical problems in the work environment.

Additional qualifications

During the course, students may have the opportunity to achieve additional, nationally recognised qualifications, to complement their course, which can give a competitive advantage in employment or career progression. These qualifications may include:

• European Computer Driving License (ECDL)
• Emergency First Aid
• Health & Safety
• Manual handling
• LANTRA Chainsaw Certificate
• Brushcutter/Strimmer
• Safe use of Pesticides – PA1& PA6

These programmes are classified as short competency-based courses and are widely recognised by the industry.

Entry Requirements

'A' Level

100 UCAS tariff points at ‘A’ level including an appropriate subject, (for example Biology, Geography or Chemistry) plus four passes at GCSEs at Grade C including English or equivalent.

Irish Leaving Certificate

100 UCAS points equivalent, including two Grade C1s at Higher level or equivalent and English and Mathematics to at least Grade B at Ordinary Level.

National Diploma

A National Diploma in an appropriate subject with at least one Merit for example Pass, Merit, Pass.

Prior Experiential Learning

Industrial experience and prior qualifications of applicants who have worked for a minimum of three years are taken into account. For some modules it may be possible to apply for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

Careers

Opportunities exist for students to secure employment after completing the Certificate in Higher Education as Warden and Rangers. Students can progress onto the Foundation Degree course, which may in turn lead onto Honours Degree courses. The Campus maintains very close links with the sector and students have significant opportunity to develop contacts with potential employers.

For further information visit the Careers Section and Career Profile

Year 1

Plant and Soil Science

This module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of key concepts in plant and soil science, covers topics like plant structure, physiological processes of plants, plant growth and the properties of soil.  The module will be delivered by lectures and tutorials backed up by field-based and laboratory practicals.

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Habitat Management

This module provides an introductory guide to selected habitats and historical features of our environment. The subject is explored through addressing the problems, options and solutions associated with habitat management.

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Introduction to Business Management

This module is intended to provide students with an understanding of the broad principles of key concepts in business management and accounts. The module will be delivered by lectures and tutorials backed up by appropriate case studies and worked examples.

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Module Option 1 (10 credits)

Estate Skills

Successful countryside management is dependent on the ability of the practitioner to accurately identify, evaluate and apply appropriate management. This module is designed to develop this ability by providing the opportunity to gain key practical skills to provide students with the confidence and competencies required to manage estates to a high standard either directly or through a third party.  Formal lectures will support a significant practical skills programme.

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Sustainable Enterprise Management

This module provides students with the skills and techniques associated with the management of environmental issues and the efficient operation of a facility. It will look at the key issues of water, waste and energy. It will provide an understanding of how an organisation’s activities will impact on the environment. How these activities might be altered in order to minimise their impact on the environment and how this can be can be done in a manner that ensures the continued profitability of the organisation. The module will be delivered by lectures backed up by tutorials, case studies and visits.

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Environmental Science

This module introduces candidates to the complexity of ecosystems and how they impinge on one another.  It should instil an awareness of environmental issues, including environmental pollution, the growing concern of the greenhouse effect and how anthropological activity affects such phenomena.  

This module is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge of how ecological systems are intrinsically linked.  It will instil an awareness of how human activities upset the balance of such systems and reinforce the value of all aspects of conservation biology.  The module will be delivered as a series of lectures, practical exercises and visits.  

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Rural Development

Rural development is a complex process involving interactions between economic, social and environmental forces and between the public, private and voluntary sectors, the outcomes of which influence the nature of rural society. This module provides an introduction to the concept of rural development, the underlying causes of rural problems and the measures, which can address these issues at local, national, and EU level. This module will also introduce the concept of rural community and assist students to gain an insight into how ‘others’ live and their values.

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Investigative Project

This module equips students with the understanding of the principles of investigative techniques and their application in an investigation leading to a professional report. It will involve working with rural groups building on integral skills gained in other modules, encourage industry led projects and allow selection of a topic supporting career aspirations.

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Year 2

Work Placement

Employers are looking for graduates who have proved their technical, management and interpersonal skills in a real work situation.  

This module is designed to give students work experience in a real life situation in order to help them develop the interpersonal and applied business, scientific and technical skills required for employment in the industry. Areas such as professionalism and customer needs are also covered. This module comprises an induction programme, seminars and briefings and a work placement.

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Applied Investigative Study

This module builds upon the learner’s understanding of the principles of investigative techniques and their application through the implementation of an original investigation and the presentation of a report based on the investigation. Learners will be encouraged to integrate skills gained in other modules and to relate the investigation of the project to an industry based topic.

This module aims to introduce students to desk and field research methods, statistical analysis and report writing and to apply these techniques in an investigation.  It will develop the individual student's initiative and confidence in making decisions, solving problems and report writing.

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Environmental Monitoring

This module outlines the relevance and importance of environmental monitoring to agriculture, the environment and industry. The application of a wide range of monitoring types and techniques are studied in detail both practically and theoretically throughout this module.

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Environmental Policy

This module imparts detailed knowledge on current environmental policy.  It gives the student an understanding of how international and EU policy is enforced at local level.  The aim is to encourage the students to analyse and evaluate current policy and consider possible areas for change and development of future policy.  The majority of the module is delivered through a series of lectures.  In order to complement the detailed nature of some of the lectures, there will be strong emphasis on field visits and case studies to see the actual policy and legislation in operation.  Outside speakers from relevant organisations will give the student a further insight into the whole area.

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Module Options 2 (20 credits)

Improving Business Opportunities

This module provides an insight into challenges facing small business developers in rural areas and the potential opportunities that exist in this area. Demonstrate the role of entrepreneurship and emphasises the need for effective planning, marketing and financing of business and examines the critical success factors for rural businesses.

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Countryside Recreation & Management

This module provides students with guidance on how to select sites for a recreational use, the various positive and negative affects associated with that use on the countryside, and how to manage any rural recreational activity safely and responsibly.  It will also develop and strengthen interpersonal and transferable skills.  The module will be delivered by lectures backed up by tutorials, case studies and visits.

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Urban Landscape Conservation

This module aims to give students an understanding of the complex factors and issues which affect urban landscapes and green spaces when they are managed for conservation and people. It will enable students to evaluate management and maintenance regimes in constrained situations and provide management proposals for a given site. This will mainly be delivered through an online study web and using appropriate case studies and field visits.

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Module Options 3 (10 credits)

Environmental Education & Interpretation

This module aims to develop students to provide them with a wide range of strategies for use in environmental education and interpretation, in relation to managing visiting groups and sites. This will be delivered by lectures, seminars, tutorials, appropriate case studies and field visits

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Marketing

This module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of, and ability to analyse key concepts in marketing and evaluate their contribution to business success. The module will be delivered by lectures backed up by tutorials.

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Data Analysis, Presentation & Interpretation

This module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of key concepts in information gathering and presentation, data collection, analysis and interpretation. The module will be delivered by lectures and seminars backed up by appropriate case studies and worked examples.  Analytical software packages will be utilised.

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