The Overall Aim of these programmes is to provide professional training in the science of ornithology appropriate for careers and voluntary employment in ornithology and nature conservation.
The Specific Aims are:
To gain a critical and systematic understanding of current problems and issues, current research and scholarship, that are necessary to evaluate key elements in developing a global perspective of the diversity of birds: their behaviour, physiology and anatomical adaptations, and of their distribution, populations and movements, and how these have been influenced by human activities.
To gain a critical and systematic understanding of the ways in which theoretical concepts in evolution and ecology are inter-related and how they impact upon the understanding of bird biology and underpin key ideas and practices in conservation.
To gain the skills and knowledge necessary to identify, analyse and research a current problem or conservation issue in ornithology and to apply those research outcomes in complex and unpredictable circumstances in the development of good practice.
Teaching is through Lectures, Seminars, Field Exercises and Group Discussions
Assessment: there are no set examinations. Student progress and understanding is assessed through written assignments, the critical analysis of case studies, and data interpretation exercises. For those studying for the MSc there will be a major investigative project and a report.
Outcomes: What you will gain? By the end of the course you can expect to have knowledge and understanding of a wide range of topics in ornithology including:
Birds as an ancient vertebrate order with a global distribution whose species exhibit a range of behavioural, physiological and anatomical adaptations that enable them to live in a wide variety of environmental conditions.
The distributions, populations and movements of birds and how these have altered through historical times, particularly in relation to human activity.
The two major themes of ecology and evolution and how they impact upon understanding the behaviour of birds and underpin current ideas in conservation
The way in which data collected at the local level assists conservation activities on a regional, national and global basis.
You should also gain a number of Skills & Other Attributes including:
An ability to identify, critically evaluate and use scientific literature and other relevant data sources appropriately.
An ability to communicate scientific ideas through written media, posters, and oral presentation (with PowerPoint).
An ability to apply the knowledge gained to either voluntary or paid work in the field of avian conservation.
Use appropriate statistical techniques to analyse biological data.
Develop a hypothesis and test it using sound principles of experimental design.
The Course Modules
The programmes are built around the following modular structure
Year 1: Leading to the award of a Graduate Certificate or a Post Graduate Certificate (depending upon your level of entry and study).
| Module title | Credit | Delivery |
| 1. Introduction to Ornithology | 10 | Three one-day (Saturday) meetings 9.30am – 5.00pm, Edgbaston Campus (October – December) |
| 2. Ringing Techniques and their Applications | 10 | One weekend meeting (Friday evening – Sunday 4.00pm) Autumn/Winter; based in Birmingham with visit to field site in Worcestershire |
| 3. Global Perspectives in Ornithology | 20 | Six one-day (Saturday) meetings 9.30am – 5.00pm, Edgbaston Campus (January – June |
| 4. Recording Bird Populations and Distribution | 20 | One week residential meeting (Sunday 9.00am – Friday 1.00pm) based at the British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford Norfolk. May |
Year 2: If you have completed year 1 then completion of these modules will lead to the award of a Graduate Diploma or a Post Graduate Diploma (depending upon your level of entry and study).
| Module title | Credit | Delivery |
| 5. Techniques in Ornithology | 10 | Three one-day (Saturday) meetings 9.30am – 5.00pm, Edgbaston Campus (October – December) |
| 6. Collection and Analysis of Data | 10 | One weekend meeting (Friday evening – Sunday 4.00pm) Autumn/Winter; based in Birmingham with visit to field site in Worcestershire |
| 7. Evolutionary and Ecological Perspectives in Ornithology | 20 | Six one-day (Saturday) meetings 9.30am – 5.00pm, Edgbaston Campus (January – June |
| 8. Evaluating Data for Conservation Action | 20 | One week residential meeting (Sunday 9.00am – Friday 1.00pm) based at the British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford Norfolk. May |
Year 3:
To gain the MSc you will need to study for a further year during which you will carry out and present the results of an original study in the form of a report or dissertation (15,000 words maximum length). In the dissertation you will demonstrate the ability to employ research methods (and knowledge that you have acquired from the earlier modules) to investigate a current problem in ornithology, or a conservation issue relevant to ornithology, and place it in its broad theoretical context. This work counts as a 60-credit module.
In carrying out this module you can expect to have gained knowledge and understanding of how to plan a research project, record and evaluate data, and discuss the findings in the context of the aims of the investigation and the relevant literature. You will also have gained the skills and other attributes that enable you to conduct independent research
The work for this module will be enabled through personal supervision of your project, through individual tutorials and small group discussions. There will also be study skills and dissertation preparation workshops.
Need more details about the courses? Please contact Linda Marsh at: l.marsh@bham.ac.uk, tel: 01743 355137
If you have any comments about this webpage please contact Graham Martin
