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Overview
The Terrestrial Ecosystems module at The Open University UK will introduce you to key ecosystem concepts, and develop your understanding of the stability and resilience of ecosystems to disturbances such as disease and pollution. You’ll learn how ecosystem function depends on exchanges of water, energy and nutrients; and gain practical experience with current research techniques, including real-time monitoring and computer modelling. Finally, you’ll gain experience in writing professional-style reports on ecological systems.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutorThroughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:
- Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
- Guiding you to additional learning resources.
- Providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content.
- Facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.
Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part.
Programme Structure
The module is composed of four blocks that take you progressively from basic systems and processes up to the complexity of the global scale. An introductory block defines what the term ‘ecosystem’ means and presents a range of examples, describing their biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
The second block addresses the cycling of energy, water, carbon and inorganic nutrients through these systems. You’ll reflect on how these flows control the type and number of organisms inhabiting the system, and how the presence of living organisms in turn affects the cycling of energy and matter.
The third block explores the stability and resilience of ecosystems to both natural and human-induced disturbances such as fire, disease and environmental change.
The final block looks at our planet as a whole to investigate the interdependence of the sub-systems within it.
Key information
Duration
- Part-time
- 8 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before
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Language
English
Credits
30 alternative credits
Delivered
Online
Disciplines
Hydrology & Water Management Biodiversity & Conservation Ecology View 11 other Short Courses in Ecology in United KingdomAcademic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Other requirements
General requirements
We recommend you’ve passed one of the following:
- Environmental science (S206 or SXF206), or the discontinued module S216
- Questions in science (S111), Science:concepts and practice (S112), Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116), or one of the discontinued modules S103 or S104; plus an OU level 2 science module
You’ll need to be familiar with basic mathematics and statistics concepts from OU level 2 environment modules, including the basics of probability, statistical distributions and hypothesis testing. You’ll also need to be familiar with basic concepts from OU level 1 biology, notably photosynthesis and respiration. You’ll need no specific knowledge of modelling.
Tuition Fee
To always see correct tuition fees
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International
1868 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1868 GBP for the full programme during 8 months. -
National
1868 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1868 GBP for the full programme during 8 months.
Funding
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