Course details

Summary

Want to help protect the planet? Find out about ecosystems, conservation issues, and the sustainable management of land, animals and plant life, as well as the management strategies that promote the conservation of biodiversity and address biosecurity.

Programme overview

As a biodiversity management student, you’ll explore how ecosystems function and support biological diversity, and how managers of biodiversity are responding to increasing concern over the effect of human activities on the world. Find out how society views and influences the natural environment, discover how social, cultural and policy frameworks influence management decisions and develop your knowledge and skill with plant identification. You’ll also develop an appreciation of the influence government agencies, non-statutory organisations and voluntary bodies have on biodiversity and biosecurity.

Highlights

• Developed in response to increasing global concerns over the human impact on our natural environment.
• Emphasis on practical application: possible work experience in applied settings, such as MPI, DOC, the Auckland Council or volunteer organisations.
• A chance to complete a research report in an area of your own interest in order to develop the skills you'll need for a career in your chosen field.
• A teaching team of highly qualified and respected scientists and industry consultants.

Career Options

• Biosecurity officer
• Conservation manager
• Ecology consultant
• Environmental officer
• Fisheries officer
• Geographic information systems (GIS) analyst
• MPI quarantine officer
• Regional parks manager

Entry criteria

For this programme, you will need the following:

• 42 credits at NCEA Level 3 or higher including: 14 credits in two different approved subjects; and 14 credits from up to two subjects (approved or non-approved)
• 8 credits at NCEA Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori (4 in reading, 4 in writing)
• 14 credits in NCEA Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau
• Or equivalent qualification

English Language requirements:

• Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance
• NZCEL (Academic) (Level 4)
• IELTS score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
• TOEFL (pBT) Paper-based test score of 550 (essay 5 TWE)
• TOEFL (iBT) Internet-based test score of 60 (writing 18)
• FCE or FCE for schools, or CAE, or CPE with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. OET at Grade C in all sub-tests
• Pearson Test of English (PToE) Academic with a score of 50 with no score lower than 42