Master in Applied Ecology

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The program is unique as it combines ecological theory and scientific methods with matters of administrative law.

The program focuses on the sustainable use of resources through the proper implementation of various measures. We examine the effects of human intervention in nature and the measures we can take to reduce any negative influence. We put an emphasis on ecological and scientific methods through the use of new technology and statistical methods.

At Evenstad, you will meet an international environment where both employees and fellow students share your enthusiasm for a common academic field.

The proximity to nature, and a lively campus in which all activities revolve around the forest and natural resource management, give you a unique opportunity to combine theory and practice, education and leisure.

Teaching is conducted in English.

Why study a Master's degree in Applied Ecology?

The Master in Applied Ecology aims to provide the opportunity for students to:

• Learn to conceive, plan and carry to completion a substantial piece of original research under the supervision of a professional;
• Become familiar with contemporary knowledge and thinking in the field of applied ecology;
• Learn to communicate and participate in discussions on current controversial issues in ecology and the application of the science.

What kind of expertise will I gain?

• Ecological topics at scales from individuals to global systems;
• Human impacts due to harvesting, the introduction of alien species, habitat destruction and fragmentation, population control, pollution, and climatic changes;
• The application of ecological methodologies such as study design, statistical modeling, ecological technologies and analysis of wildlife and habitat monitoring.

Courses

Courses for Research and Management

Compulsory courses

• Concepts in ecology
• Study design and statistical modeling
• Human impacts on ecological systems
• The human dimension in ecosystem management
• Topics in applied ecology
• Master thesis in applied ecology

Elective courses

• Population monitoring using radiotracking
• Chemical and physical capture of Scandinavian Mammals
• Advanced statistical modeling
• Multivariate statistics in community ecology
• Analysis of spatial animal data (optional)
• Population monitoring using Capture Mark Recapture
• Population monitoring using Distance sampling
• Literature study in applied ecology (optional)
• GIS
• Forest inventory and modeling
• International Forest Policy and Economics
• Applied Wildlife Ecology
• Wildlife Population Health

Courses for Forestry

Compulsory courses

• Concepts in ecology
• Study design and statistical modeling
• The human dimension in ecosystem management
• Forest inventory and modeling
• International Forest Policy and Economics
• Master thesis in applied ecology
• GIS

Elective courses

• Population monitoring using radiotracking
• Chemical and physical capture of Scandinavian Mammals
• Human impacts on ecological systems
• Advanced statistical modeling
• The human dimension in ecosystem management
• Multivariate statistics in community ecology
• Analysis of spatial animal data
• Topics in applied ecology
• Population monitoring using Capture Mark Recapture
• Population monitoring using Distance sampling
• Literature study in applied ecology
• Applied Wildlife Ecology
• Wildlife Population Health

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Learning outcome

The learning outcome is a result of the master thesis, participation in the educational component and participation in an active research environment.

By completing the master program in Applied Ecology the candidate will obtain the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidate

• Is acquainted with advanced topics in applied ecology;
• Has in-depth knowledge of ecological topics at scales from individuals to global systems has a profound understanding of human impacts on organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems and the importance of ecosystems to human wellbeing;
• Is able to critically acquire information and be critical of the sources referred to.

Skills

The candidate

• Is able to conceive, plan and carry to completion a limited piece of research under the supervision of a professional in the field;
• Is able to apply relevant scientific methods of study design, statistical modeling, scientific technologies to solve scientific or management problems.

Competence

The candidate

• Is able to design and carry out management and minor research projects in the field of applied ecology;
• Is able to communicate applied ecological research through national or international publishing channels, and to policymakers, stakeholders and the general public;
• Is able to present and debate important topics in the field of applied ecology in regional and national forums;
• Is ready to participate in discussions on current controversial issues in ecology and the application of the science.

Admission requirements

To enter the program, students are required to confirm the achievement of either:

• A Norwegian bachelor degree or an education recognized as being equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor degree with an average weighted (ECTS credits) mark of at least C;
• An education recognized as three years of higher education in Norway;
• Education approved as equivalent to the above-mentioned degrees according to university law § 3-4.

The degree from higher education has to include the equivalent of at least 80 ECTS credits of the following subjects:

• Minimum 4 ECTS-credit equivalents in statistics or similar topics;
• Minimum 76 ECTS-credit equivalents in ecology, forestry, biology, zoology, botany, evolution, wildlife biology, environmental sciences, additional statistics or other relevant topics.

In cases where all or parts of the program were approved with the use of the marks Pass / Fail, the applicants are admitted after individual assessment.

The study may be limited to a certain number of students decided yearly. In this case, the ranking of students will follow the average weighted (ECTS credits) marks from their degree in higher education.

English Language requirements

Applicants must document their proficiency in English at a certain level.

The English language requirements apply to all except applicants native to UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia or the nordic countries, who do not require to document any language proficiency.

Exchange programs

The master's in applied ecology is taught in English. This to allow for international applicants, and to create an international student environment that will improve the quality of the study, not least through discussions of various ‘schools’ in ecology and human attitudes. We will encourage and make allowances for students who wish to study abroad for part of their degree. Such an international stay is recommended to take place during the second and/or third semester of the study depending on the courses the student may achieve abroad. In addition, we will accept qualified external supervisors of the master thesis from international universities and university colleges. Hence, an international stay may be used to carry out part of the master thesis.

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences has several international agreements of collaboration. Specific to the Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences, and Biotechnology, there are active student exchange programs with many partners in Nordic and Baltic countries through the network Nordnatur, in most European countries through Erasmus agreements, and in North-America, Africa (Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa) and Asia (Nepal, India) through bilateral agreements.