Wildlife Biology (Honours) Munster Technological University

Overview

This is the only course of its kind in Ireland, and as a result has been very popular since it was first introduced. It’s also unusual in that there is an emphasis on the development of field and laboratory skills, with students spending at least one day a week at a field site in Kerry or elsewhere in Ireland.

The Wildlife Biology (Honours) course at Munster Technological University gives you an understanding of the very fabric of our planet through the study of chemistry, physics and earth sciences. A module in Irish wildlife gives an insight into the major groups that make up our native wildlife, giving you a strong base on which to build deeper and more focused study later. The course is delivered via an exciting blend of lectures and laboratory practicals, while regular field trips are a key feature of the course.

What are my career opportunities

Graduates have taken up employment opportunities with a varied range of employers, including ecological consultancies, environmental education providers, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and conservation non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Others have worked on contract for Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Marine Institute, and in self-employed roles. Additionally, your outdoor and aquatic skills, coupled with the tourism related content, prepare you for work in the tourism sector, particularly in the area of nature, wildlife and adventure tourism. The kind of work done by our graduates is also varied, and includes project ecologists on LIFE funded community based conservation projects, GIS technicians, ecologists (in consultancy), fisheries inspectors, research assistants, environmental educators in outdoor education centres and at eco-tourism ventures. Other potential roles include conservation rangers, heritage officers, biodiversity officers, researchers and ecologists with state and semi-state organisations (Coillte, Bord na Mona, Department of Agriculture, NPWS, etc). There is also considerable scope for self-employment in these areas.