Program Overview

With this BSc Environmental Management degree you will explore the scientific and socio-economic issues behind sound environmental management, while developing your professional and scientific skills.

Land is facing increasing conflicts related to its management for different purposes. These include food production, renewable energy, protection of soil and water resources, nature conservation, urban development and the provision of space for recreation and tourism. Taught by the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, our BSc Environmental Management degree enables you to build on your interests and to prepare for a career in this area.

During this degree you will learn about the technical, scientific and socioeconomic aspects of environmental issues, and develop methods for tackling them. The course focuses on the needs of employers and you will develop your professional skills alongside your scientific knowledge, using exercises such as mock consultancies. Additionally, you will carry out a short industry placement and have the chance to study abroad.

You will be able to tailor this course to suit your specific interests. You can follow either the Landscape and Countryside Management pathway or the Global Environmental Management pathway by selecting specific optional modules, or choose your own route by selecting modules from each. The Landscape and Countryside Management route has a stronger biological emphasis and covers topics such as land management, nature conservation and farming. The Global Environmental Management pathway covers more of the wider international aspects of the environment, including policy, human geography and environmental issues such as pollution and climate change.

There is a strong practical element to the course and you will usually carry out field trips once a week during the first two years. The University of Reading’s award-winning campus is home to over 1,000 different animal species and is extremely useful for learning fieldwork skills. It offers multiple habitats for study and allows you to step straight from the classroom to the field. Meanwhile, the University's large farms provide access to hedgerow and marshland environments, as well as the River Thames. Additionally, you will visit Pembrokeshire and Devon, where you will be able to examine habitats not found in Reading. During the final year you will carry out an independent project, and will normally be embedded within one of the School's research groups, working alongside leading academics. Our specialist areas include land management, biodiversity conservation, climate change and food security.

The University of Reading has been at the forefront of research into sustainability and the environment for many decades, and you will be based in a School ranked 12th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS World Ranking by Subject, 2020). Our staff are actively engaged in research and tailor their teaching to reflect the changing trends and emerging technologies within the sector. You will also benefit from our small class sizes.

Our BSc Environmental Management course is linked to environmental courses offered by other departments and you will be able to tap into their specialist knowledge.

Placement
You will carry out a one-week mini placement between your first and second years. This will involve working for a client, normally a local authority or environmental group in the Reading area, on a small project. This will provide you with valuable experience of professional work, as well as enabling you to develop your research, survey, data analysis and presentation skills. Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.

We also have links with a number of universities abroad, particularly in the USA, Malaysia, and African countries such as Uganda and Ghana. There will be opportunities for you to travel to them for study or to carry out research projects.

For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.