[AmyShark]

Hi everyone

I'm looking to do a distance learning course in an animal related subject- I'm debating between Marine Zoology, Zoology or Wildlife Management. I can't find mant providers for courses like these, I was hoping the Open University would offer some but they don't anymore! I've found courses by Compass Education and ACS Distance Education that look interesting although I can't find any independent research on them online and want to know I'm getting involved with a reputable company!
Has anyone done a course with either of these or have information that may be useful?

Thanks very much

Amy

[vichillman]

Hi Amy,

Welcome to the forum. What level of course are you looking at doing? I completed a masters in wildlife biology and conservation via distance learning from Edinburgh Napier University and I can definately recommend them I know they do a range of courses. Quite a few universities are starting to offer the distance learning option as it provides much more flexibility to those that want to continue working whilst studying, but I'm not sure at what level they start.

You could try looking at the following websites:

http://www.animal-job.co.uk

http://www.acsedu.co.uk

Hope this helps.

Vic

[Hawk_Eye]

Hi Amy. I'm currently studying with the OU (mathematics and statistics) and rate them quite highly. They do do a biology degree and environmental science degree which could be useful plus it's a lot cheaper than a standard uni. Just remembered that there is a company, actually two companies - just looked them up in the magazine - that are constantly advertised in the magazine. They are: Frontier http://www.frontier.ac.uk/ and Compass http://www.neotericdesign.co.uk/compass/ Not sure what they're like or their reputation but worth a look.

[Hawk_Eye]

Just reread your post and see that you already knew about Compass I really need to learn to read posts questions and my open uni assessment questions - 95% on my last Maths assessment but have lost marks in the past for not reading the question fully

[cabbage]

Hi Amy

I'm currently doing the Open University Environmental Studies/Science (don't have to decide which yet ) degree which Hawk Eye mentioned. I'm enjoying it so far but have to say its not very animal/wildlife based I'm afraid.

If you're looking for something a bit more basic then the OU offers a number of short courses on animal related subjects. In the past I've done S182 Life of Mammals and S188 Life in the oceans: exploring our Blue Planet, both of which are based around the BBC natural history series of the same names (as a bonus you get several 'free' dvds from the series ). They're only 10 week courses (though you can do them over a longer period) with an online exam at the end and while they are science courses they are pitched at people with limited science backgrounds - though I've got a wee bit of a science background and I still thoroughly enjoyed them. They are mainly science primer courses, teaching you the basics of scientific terms and investigation techniques with lots of wildlife facts and info.

I'm currently doing S159 neighbourhood nature which is based around the iSpot website and is about giving you the tools and techniques to find, identify and survey the wildlife in your local area building up to a project where you undertake a survey of a species/group of your choice. I technically started in November but have been ill so am only really getting around to starting it now.

These short courses are pretty basic but are actually a lot of fun and you do learn something every time, I use them to fill time between my main OU courses and have enjoyed them all.

[Hawk_Eye]

Another thing with these short courses is that they add on extra credits to your qualification as well.

[cabbage]

Another thing with these short courses is that they add on extra credits to your qualification as well.

Absolutely I managed to avoid having to do any full level one courses on my first degree by combining course credits and half a dozen short courses, it made a big difference to the amount of time it took to get a degree.

The main course I'm doing just now is U216 Environment: change, contest and response. As I said earlier there's not a huge amount of wildlife stuff in it but we have just had a large section on species extinction with some stuff about tiger conservation and the fate of the passenger pigeon. Its interesting stuff.