Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2055: Ecology, Environment and Conservation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

You will learn about contemporary philosophical issues in ecological science, its relationship with conservation biology, and non-anthropocentric values. You will learn to think critically both about your engagement with the natural environment, and that of scientists and policy-makers, and express those conclusions with care precision. Reading and engaging with the philosophy of ecology, environment and conservation biology will develop your capacities for philosophical analysis and reasoning.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate an understanding of contemporary debates concerning ecology, conservation biology and environmental ethics. 2. critically engage with an ecological case study.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. analyse and critique arguments and positions. 4. synthesize theoretical and empirical information.
Personal and Key Skills	5. critically integrate different disciplinary approaches. 6. demonstrate clear, concise writing and analysis.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics :

What is the nature of ecology as a science? Questions include: are there laws in ecology? Are ecological theories falsifiable? How do ecological models work?
What is the relationship between ecology and conservation? Questions include: do ecological communities exist? What is biodiversity? Can we prioritize conservation efforts?
What is the nature of environmental value? Questions include: does economic value suffice for conservation? Is the value of nature anthropocentric or does nature have intrinsic value?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
21.5	128.5	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour lectures. Lectures cover more ground than is possible in tutorials, and are designed to establish a context in which to think about the themes and texts discussed in tutorials.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	6	6 x 1 hour fortnightly tutorials. A specific reading is assigned, and you are provided with a list of questions to be discussed.
Guided Independent study	45	Preparation for lectures and tutorial participation including reading and planning.
Guided Independent study	83.5	Independent research for assignments.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).