Course details

Summary

In the Bachelor of Science (Ecology) at Massey you’ll learn how to make sense of the natural world, how plants, animals and microbes interact with each other and their environment, how complex ecological systems function and how we can repair them when damaged.

What is it Like?

From molecules to forests ecology is a broad discipline that teaches you how to make sense of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

We now have a great deal of information about the natural world available to us; the problem is how to make sense of that information. Ecology attempts to do this.

The Bachelor of Science (Ecology) at Massey offers some of the best courses on ecology in New Zealand - making it the number one choice if you want a broad knowledge in the discipline.

World-leading academics

Learn about the latest research findings from the cutting-edge research lead by our ecology staff. Take Dr Mike Joy and his research on river water quality or Professor Diane Brunton and her discoveries on bellbird song dialects.

Our ecology staff is world-leading and their cutting edge research feature heavily in the teaching - so you can expect to learn about the latest research findings in lectures.

Topics

Some of the courses taught in the ecology major include:

• Flora and fauna of New Zealand
• Ecology and conservation
• Biological evolution
• Limnology
• Applied ecology
• Resource management
• Plant ecology
• Community and ecosystem ecology
• Biodiversity
• Entomology
• Behavioural ecology

Careers

Many of our graduates work with the Department of Conservation or the Ministry for the Environment. There are great opportunities for graduates in ecology to work with managed ecosystems. The interactions between scientists interested in managed and natural ecosystems is a particular focus at Massey University.

Many of our graduates go on to positions with central and local government or their agencies (such as regional and district councils), Crown Research Institutes, environmental or conservation organisations, school teaching, or technical and advisory work.

A postgraduate qualification in ecology will allow you to approach many environmental research and management issues from a strong theoretical and practical base. You might work:

• With an interdisciplinary team in a private environmental consulting firm
• In a government laboratory
• Working with a regional council monitoring water quality
• With a Fish and Game Council concerned with the impacts of water quality on trout
• Other possible career areas include forestry, fisheries, eco-tourism and education.

Entry criteria

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

It is strongly recommended (but not compulsory) that students beginning their study of Ecology should have a sound background in and biology at NCEA Level 3. Chemistry to the same level is also recommended.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170