Course Aim

The Foundation Degree (FdSc) is validated by the University of Ulster and aims to produce motivated graduates who can apply modern scientific and management principles in responsible management or advisory posts within the land based industries. Such posts will require people with the ability to assess the implications of current environmental and rural policy and manage the key areas of rural development and the environment in a sustainable manner.

Course content

Students will undertake core subjects and select optional modules in the final year.

Year 1

• Environmental science
• Estate skills / Sustainable enterprise management*
• Habitat management
• Introduction to business management
• Investigative project
• Plant and soil science
• Rural development

Year 2

• Applied investigative project
• Environmental monitoring
• Environmental policy
• Work placement

Plus one from each of the module options

Option 1 (20 credits)

• Countryside recreation and management
• Improving business opportunities
• Urban landscape conversation*

Option 2 (10 credits)

• Data analysis, presentation and interpretation
• Marketing
• Environmental education and interpretation

* Modules only offered in part-time provision

Placement

Work placement allows the students to develop technical and industrial expertise. Students can complete the work placement locally or abroad and in the past Greenmount students have traveled to Germany, USA, Falkland Islands, Canada and Australia. A period of compulsory work based learning amounting to at least 40 credit points at level 2 will take place in Year 2. This module is designed to give students work experience in a real life situation in order to help them develop the inter-personal, applied business, scientific and technical skills required for employment in the sector.

For further information on work placement opportunities, view the following editorial from RCM students

• Ulster Wildlife Trust – Ecos Centre
• Paul Wallwin's Kiwi experience
• Work placement in the land of the Vikings
• A tale of two placements

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).

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 include:

• European Computer Driving Licence (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.

Scholarships

A number of scholarships of £1,000 are available to students studying on the Higher Education programmes at Greenmount Campus.  

Careers

Opportunities exist for students to secure employment after completing the Foundation Degree as Warden, Rangers, and Countryside Officers or, after completing further study, gain employment as Property managers, Environmental Officers, Lecturers or Advisers. The course has been devised to meet industry needs with particular attention paid to initiative and the ability to adapt to differing employment situations. The College maintains very close links with the sector and students have significant opportunity to develop contacts with potential employers.

View the Career Profiles

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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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 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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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.

• Ulster Wildlife Trust - Ecos Centre

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Applied Investigative Project

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 1 (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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Module Options 2 (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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