The following course outline is taken from the University of Reading:

Year 1

Compulsory Modules
Introductions to:

Agricultural & Food Systems
Crop Production
Livestock Production
Agriculture in Practice
economics Management

Optional Modules

Soil Use & Management
Environmental Science
The UK Food Chain
Countryside & Environment
Genetics & Molecular Biology
Digestion & Nutrition
Business Management & Marketing

Year 2

Compulsory Modules

Business Management
Financial Management
Machinery & Buildings
Farm Practicals, Projects & Reports
Animal Production
Arable Crop Protection
Statistics
A Field Course

Optional Modules

Organic Farming
Agricultural & Rural Policy
Grassland Management
Animal Health & Welfare
Animal Breeding
Taxation & Valuation

Final Year

Compulsory Modules
Human Resource Management
Practical Crop Production
(Wheat Growing Competition)
Dissertation

Optional Modules

Animal Welfare
Animal Growth & Meat Production
Business Management Case Studies
Crop Growth
Equine Management
Food & Agricultural Marketing
Milk Production
Soil Fertility
Wildlife

Practical Experience

Our farms in the Reading area total more than 800 hectares and are used considerably in teaching as are many local farming and other businesses. Our research activities range from production agriculture (e.g. Centre for Dairy Research) to environmental enhancement (e.g. Centre for Agri-Environmental Research) and maintain your teaching and learning at the international standards relevant to professional life in the twenty first century.

The mix of natural and social sciences, transferable skills (not just ICT), quantitative analysis, and regular experience of farming problems provides you with excellent employment prospects. A high proportion of Agriculture graduates go on to careers in the industry on (e.g. farm management) and off farm (e.g. agricultural supply, milk processing, food retailing, scientific research, advisory, consultancy).

Biochemistry - the molecular basis of life. This degree programme, which combines Chemistry with Biology, will give you an understanding of key topics such as bioinformatics, enzymology, metabolism, physiology, protein structure-function, recombinant-DNA technology and the biochemistry of disease.

A university course would typically cover the following areas of study before allowing you to specialise:

Biochemistry & Metabolism
Biodiversity
Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Introduction to Organic Chemistry
Concepts & Skills in Biology 1
Genetics & Molecular Biology
Practical Biochemistry

A Biochemistry programme will prepare you for various science-related careers, from research in industry or university, medicine and hospital-laboratory work to science sales and management, science communication and patenting.

The following outline is taken from the University of Nottingham:

Biology is a science for those with adventurous minds, extending from the complex ecology of the natural environment to the microscopic world of the cell, and the natural environment to the microscopic realm of genes and the biochemical machinery they control. The unifying principle linking these different levels of enquiry is Darwin's theory of evolution, which is having ever more important things to say about the diversity of life on earth and the nature and role of our species within it. Nottingham's Biology degree provides a comprehensive, modern treatment of microbial, plant and animal (including human) biology, with a strong element of student choice. It emphasises many of the specialisms which, by virtue of recent rapid advances in biotechnology, are strengthening the impact that biology has on society.

There is a strong demand for graduates trained in biology and genetics, and graduates from the School are well qualified for a variety of rewarding and interesting careers. Many of our students undertake further training; for example, by taught postgraduate courses, research degrees, graduate entry to medicine, or teacher training programmes.

Some students undertake employment in areas relevant to their degree subject, such as in conservation biology, research in pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, intellectual property rights law, or in hospital laboratory diagnosis. Others find employment in careers not directly related to their chosen field of study, but in which many of the skills acquired during their degree (for example, computing skills, data analysis, independent thinking and presentation skills) are great advantages. Such careers include accountancy, computing, finance, management and scientific administration.

Botany encompasses all aspects of plant biology, from molecular biology to ecosystems, from the smallest green unicellular organisms to the tallest forest trees. In a world which is likely to become increasingly dependent on plants for food and even for maintaining the composition of the air we breathe, the subject is bound to assume ever greater importance in future years.

A typical course structure, taken from the University of Reading, is outlined below:

In the first year of study you will take the biology core modules, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Biodiversity. These will be supplemented by Botany modules and additional modules which may be chosen from those offered by the School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, Chemistry, Geography, Geology and Soil Sciences. In addition to lectures, practicals, seminars and tutorials, there is ecological fieldwork in the Reading area. At the end of the first year there is a vacation course, normally held in the Lake District or Scotland.

In the second year of study, the degree continues to provide broad training across the subject, with topics in plant structure, diversity, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, biochemistry and physiology all on offer. You may continue with other appropriate science modules and take advantage of language courses offered in a University-wide programme.

For many students the highlight of the final year is the research project. In addition to project work, there is a wide choice of advanced courses representing the expertise of the academic members of staff. These include biodiversity informatics, molecular systematics and advanced topics in plant anatomy, conservation and physiological ecology. A third year Botany field trip takes place in Spain.

Career opportunities for botanists have never been better, with many employed in rapidly expanding areas such as plant genetics and biotechnology, and the applied areas of environment assessment, conservation and biodiversity.

Traditional careers such as the teaching profession always require a steady supply of botanists. At the moment the supply of botanists hardly meets the demand.

A Chemistry qualification is invaluable as a vast range of job opportunities are available for trained Chemists.

Chemistry underpins many features of our modern lifestyle:

• it allows new medicines and diagnostic methods to be created;
• it provides the means of monitoring the air, rivers and seas;
• it will allow the creation of new ranges of plastics and materials, to follow Nylon, Lycra, Polyester, Teflon, Goretex;
• it provides the means of converting oil into petrol, fibres, plastics;
• and in developing new catalysts it will allow efficient new fuel cells to be created.

The course outline given below is taken from the University of Manchester:

The new first year course is designed to facilitate the transition between school/college and undergraduate study, and is based on blended learning techniques, which include workshops, lectures, on-line learning, practicals, tutorials, self study, computer-based testing.

First year topics include bonding in molecules, organic reaction mechanisms, natural product chemistry, s, p and d block chemistry, thermodynamics, kintetic and quantum chemistry. If you have not studied some areas of modern Chemistry are essentially quantitative and cannot be appreciated without some background in Mathematics. The first semester includes a student-centred skills course covering basic mathematics using printed and web-based material. The content is carefully targeted to the requirements of the core-course and students work through it at their own pace. Finally, there is the opportunity to study a subsidiary subject from outside Schools - such as Life Sciences(Biochemistry), Earth Sciences(Geology) Materials Science, Mathematics, Physics or Computational Chemistry.

The second year continues developing the core and extends topics from first year, introducing new areas such as molecular spectroscopy, bonding and reactivity, surfaces and interfaces, d and f block chemistry, molecular symmetry, metal-ligand bonding, polymer science, structure determination, stereochemistry and heterocyclic chemistry plus additional courses involving Biological and Computational Chemistry.

In the final year you can choose from a wide range of courses made up of core, advanced Chemistry and subsidiary units. These include advanced courses in Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry as well as units that cut across the traditional divisions (e.g. Nuclear Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Forensic Analysis). In addition, many courses are available from other Schools such as Life Sciences(Biochemistry), Earth Sciences, Physics, Management, History of Science and Mathematics. Practical work in the third year takes the form of a Laboratory class and, a research project, which you will take in close association with individual members of staff and their graduate students.

The following outline is taken from the University of Leeds:

Ecology is the study of animals and plants, how they interact with one another and their environment, and how they are threatened by human activities. The Faculty of Biological Sciences has one of the largest ecology, evolution and biodiversity research groups in the country, which is at the forefront of the discipline. We offer a wide range of modules to cover all areas of theoretical and practical ecology, from behavioural ecology to conservation. We also provide you the opportunity to pursue truly interdisciplinary studies, with module options in Geography, Earth Sciences and the Environment. Increasingly, ecological research and management crosses the boundaries between traditional academic disciplines, and we're committed to giving our students the breadth of skills and perspective that they need.

At Leeds you can choose from a range of biological courses of study, and prospective Ecologists may find other degree programmes (e.g. the broadly-based Biology degree, or the rather more narrowly focussed BSc in Zoology) of interest to them as well. Leeds has one of the largest groups of biological scientists in the UK, and can offer you a wider spectrum of modules and degree programme than almost anywhere else in Britain. How are you to choose? Don't worry. Our programme structure is specifically designed to allow you the flexibility to move between degree programmes as you get to know the field, your interests and the Faculty better.

Career options

Many Ecology graduates undertake postgraduate study, either as PhD students leading to a research career in some aspect of ecological research, or as Masters students in areas such as Biodiversity and Conservation. Some students proceed directly into applied wildlife or habitat management careers with conservation organisations or other public or voluntary sector organisations. Other careers are more generally related to biological sciences training, such as science communication and publishing (including media and journalism), science administration or public education (in zoos or museums).

Your career options need not be limited to the biological or environmental sciences, however. Increasingly, employers look to performance in undergraduate studies as evidence of an ability to work hard and master complex information, rather than seeking degrees directly relevant to the job.

Consequently, Ecology and Environmental Biology graduates may pursue careers in sales and management in science-based companies and in non-sciences based areas such as Finance, Administration and Management Consultancy.

Environmental Science is a very wide-ranging and stimulating subject which examines how a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes interact to determine the form of the natural world. Increasingly, the environment is also becoming closely associated with government and intergovernmental policies and agreements, economics and law, and Environmental Science can therefore include elements of Social Science where these impact environmental processes. The subject has developed enormously in recent years, through growing appreciation that we do not properly understand how environmental processes operate, and are not therefore well placed to minimise the effects of human activity. Growing concern about preserving biodiversity, minimising pollution of air, land and water, controlling the effects of climate change suggest that environmental scientists will have an important future role in minimising environmental impacts.

This course will appeal to you if your interests extend outside the confines of one of the traditional academic disciplines and are interested in the application of science to applied, topical, issues that are central to themes such as sustainability, conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems.

A typical course might have the following structure:

In the first year you will study courses in Biological Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geography and Mathematics as well as a further course in Environmental Problems.

In the second year you will choose one of three pathways:

Biological Science pathway Earth Sciences and Engineering pathways Environmental Assessment and Management pathways.

Each pathway has associated core courses and a wide variety of optional units. Regardless of the pathway you select you will study courses covering Investigative Methods and Computing & Communication, as well as taking a second field course.

The pathways extend throughout your third year and you will spend a significant amount of time learning the skills required for, and carrying out, your personal research project.

Graduates of Environmental Science can enter employment in a wide range of occupations concerned either directly or indirectly with environmental issues as well as having the opportunity to pursue further study.

Geology is the study of the Earth, its history, materials, and processes. It is central to the Earth Sciences and has links with chemistry, physics, biology, geography, engineering, and archaeology. It ranges from the search for underground sources of water, oil, and gas, to investigation of the beginnings of life on the Earth and the origin of the planet 4,600 million years ago.

The course outline given below is taken from the University of Bristol:

• The first year is a broad introduction to the Earth Sciences: geological time, geochronology, structure of the Earth and global tectonics, mineralogy, igneous geology, metamorphism, economic geology and resources, sedimentology, palaeontology, Earth history and geological maps. You take units in Environmental Geoscience, and also study another science subject as a subsidiary unit. Fieldwork includes day-trips during term-time and a week during the Easter vacation (usually held in Arran).
• The second year continues study of the central aspects of geology to a more advanced level, as well as introducing a number of new topics such as geophysics and geochemistry. You will extend your knowledge of how to use the departmental computer network to the full, and you will get practice in developing your written and spoken communication skills. Fieldwork includes a class during the Easter vacation (usually S.E. Spain), and a week learning the techniques of geological field mapping during the summer vacation preceding the second year (usually held in either N. Wales or the Lake District).
• The third year comprises a selection of units covering a wide range of topics; one third of these are optional units, allowing you to specialise. Currently these include: evolution of the terrestrial planets, the continental crust and the biosphere, palaeobiology, engineering geology, applied geophysics, physical volcanology, and petroleum sedimentology. For five weeks during the summer vacation preceding the third year you carry out an independent geological field project abroad (usually Greece), and there is a field class at Easter (usually either Cyprus or Ireland).

Graduates find employment using their skills in industry, geotechnics, nature conservancy, environmental planning, museums, geological surveys and teaching, as well as in a wide range of non-geoscientific posts.

The following outline is taken from the University of Newcastle:

This course focuses on the biology of marine organisms, the ecology of marine ecosystems, and the physical and chemical interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere that are so important in the global climate.

Course content: At Stage 1 you study modules in marine biology that deal with marine ecosystems, marine field techniques and the exploitation and management of marine production. You also undertake field and laboratory work.

At Stage 2 you study these core areas in greater depth, while continuing with a range of other subjects that provide the key skills and knowledge needed by a marine biologist. Special emphasis is given to marine and coastal habitats, field and laboratory techniques, data analysis, use of information technology and an appreciation of emerging issues in marine science. In the vacation period, between Stages 2 and 3, you take part in a field course and prepare an independent report on environmental matters of international importance which may involve travel overseas. Stage 3 continues the theme of advanced and independent study and you are offered a choice of modules. Options reflect the research expertise of the staff at Newcastle and cover topics relating to marine organisms and their environment, marine ecology and world ocean systems. You carry out an individual research project under the supervision of a member of staff, which counts for one third of your time throughout the final year.

Careers

Graduates with an Honours degree in Marine Biology are well qualified to enter a wide range of employment opportunities. For those committed to a career as a research scientist, further study for a higher degree (usually PhD) in science or subjects allied to marine science is the normal route. A postgraduate qualification for entry into the teaching profession, to meet the current demand for science teachers, is also an option. Commercial sectors that actively recruit marine biology graduates include the chemical, aggregate and fishing and aquaculture industries. In the public sector, the conservation agencies, fisheries regulators and laboratories, and the Environment Agency are likely to be relevant. Environmental issues raised by an expanding human population, and their use of the seas and oceans ensure an increasing demand for life science graduates to contribute to the public understanding of science as journalists and information / liaison officers.

The Natural Sciences Tripos (NST) is the framework within which most science ‘subjects’ are taught at Cambridge. If you want to study any of the biological and physical sciences listed below, this is the course for you.

The Natural Sciences Tripos offers both physical and biological scientists a unique and demanding course that combines a broad first year with increasing specialisation in the second year and total specialisation in the third and, in some disciplines, fourth years.

The breadth of the Natural Sciences Tripos reflects the blurring of boundaries between the different sciences: biological problems are increasingly being solved using techniques which require an understanding of physics and chemistry, whilst many of the most pressing problems being addressed by chemists and materials scientists require a knowledge of biology.

When you enter Cambridge as a Natural Scientist you may think of yourself as broadly a ‘biological’ or ‘physical’ scientist, but you will not be labelled as a zoologist or a physicist (say), before you have studied a variety of subjects, some of which may be completely new to you. This is a huge advantage because it makes it possible for you to change your mind about which subject you want to specialise in. Even if you are quite sure about the field you wish to work in, the broad range of the first two years is extremely valuable in alerting you to the important issues in other branches of science. You will meet teachers and researchers in different science departments, before committing yourself to one department for your third (and maybe fourth) year.

The range of options within the Biological Sciences

Flexibility and diversity

In the first year all Natural Scientists study three courses from a choice of seven experimental sciences, which include three biological courses: Biology of Cells, Evolution and Behaviour, and Physiology of Organisms.
If you are interested in the biological sciences you could take a wide variety of combinations, for example:

• purely biological – all three biology courses
• biochemical/pharmacological – combining biology courses and Chemistry
• ecological/evolutionary – combining biology courses and Geology
• physical – combining Chemistry, Physics and Biology of Cells

You also take a course in mathematics: biological scientists usually take Quantitative Biology or Elementary Mathematics for Biologists.

In the second year, ten of the Part IB subjects are biological. Many options develop topics covered in the first year options. (For example, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology both build on Biology of Cells and provide an advanced foundation for specialist further study in biochemistry or other molecular biosciences.) Some options introduce different material, such as Pathology, the biology of disease, and Pharmacology, which considers the mechanisms of drug action. The other purely biological options in Part IB are Animal Biology, Ecology, Experimental Psychology, Neurobiology, Physiology, and Plant and Microbial Sciences. The flexibility of the Tripos also makes it possible to combine biological sciences with, for example, organic chemistry (Chemistry B) or History and Philosophy of Science.

In the third year, Part II of the NST, most students focus on a single subject offering advanced study, concentrating on specific areas of their subject and also undertaking a research project or a dissertation.

The biological subjects available are: Biochemistry; Genetics; Neuroscience; Pathology; Pharmacology; Physiology, Development and Neuroscience; Plant Science; Psychology; and Zoology. All the specialist Part II subjects offer opportunities for some sub-specialisation. Students can instead opt to take the broader Biological and Biomedical Sciences.

Some third-year (Part II) options in the biological sciences have a limit on the number of places available owing to the restrictions of laboratory space, particularly for doing project work. It is therefore not possible to guarantee that you will be able to follow your choice of course and some options have a competitive entry system. However, in a typical year over 80 per cent of students are able to study their first choice of subject.

The fourth-year option

The only biological subject offering a fourth year leading to an MSci degree is Biochemistry.

After Biological Sciences?

Almost half the graduates from the biology departments continue with further study and research, often going on to find employment in the pharmaceuticals or biotechnology sectors, for which Cambridge is a centre. Other graduates go on to a range of careers, including accountancy, banking, investment, management consultancy and law.

The range of options within the Physical Sciences

A progressively deeper understanding and specialisation

If you are interested in the more physical sciences then in the first year you might choose either:

• three from the following first year subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Materials and Mineral Sciences or Geology
• or two of these with a biological subject (Evolution and Behavious, Physiology of Organisms or Biology of Cells)

GCE A level Mathematics is essential for the physical sciences, and you must also take either Mathematics A or B in your first year.

If you think of yourself as a physicist, then you will probably choose Physics and Advanced Physics in the second year, with either another science subject or Mathematics, and specialise in the third and fourth years in Experimental and Theoretical Physics, or perhaps Astrophysics.

Potential chemists will probably take Chemistry A and B in the second year.

These can be combined with either a more biological subject, such as Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or with Physics, Mathematics, or Materials Science or even Experimental Psychology or History and Philosophy of Science.

Many physical scientists discover a real enthusiasm for the new subjects that they start in the first year, such as Geology or Materials and Mineral Sciences or even a biological subject such as Biology of Cells, and continue to develop these in their second and/or third year.

The fourth-year options

It is possible to take a fourth year in Astrophysics, Chemistry, Geological Sciences, Materials Science or Physics leading to an MSci degree.

Other routes into Physics

In the first year a number of students take Mathematics with Physics, or the 25% or 50% Computer Science course and then continue with Physics in the second, third and fourth years.

Chemical Engineering

If you wish to study Chemical Engineering from your second year, you may decide to take Natural Sciences in your first year.

After Physical Sciences?

About half our graduates continue with research, mostly by taking a PhD either in Cambridge or elsewhere; you will find that studying Natural Sciences prepares you well for the challenges of research, especially in emerging interdisciplinary areas. Those who do not choose to stay in research take up a wide range of careers, from banking or accountancy to the law, and from consultancy to media-related work. Physical Natural Sciences graduates are both numerate and used to dealing with large amounts of information – skills which are highly valued by employers.

The course outlined below is taken from the University of Newcastle:

Course outline: Through the study of zoology you address questions such as: why do bees dance? How do seals dive for such long periods? You may also choose to investigate animals and their habitats, or the threat of extinction for rare species. You also learn about the practical applications of the subject, including the design of effective conservation programmes and the use of animals as models in the investigation of medical-related problems.

Course content: This degree provides you with a thorough training in contemporary biology, as well as in a number of specialized areas - in particular, we emphasize animal behaviour, ecology, and conservation. This course shares a common Stage 1 with the Biology and Applied Biology degrees and therefore provides an excellent grounding in modern biology. Topics covered include the diversity of animals, ecology and cell biology. You also have the opportunity to study areas such as marine biology and psychology. Between Stages 2 and 3, students take part in two weeks of field study, learning about local vertebrates and invertebrates. At Stage 2, modules more focused on zoology include animal behaviour, physiology and development You may also study modules on conservation, population ecology, vertebrate biology, marine ecology, entomology and parasitology. At this Stage, we introduce you to the way that zoologist report their research findings in scientific journals.

Between Stages 2 and 3, all Zoology students attend a field course and, during the summer vacation, investigate a topic of particular interest at a location of their choice, such as a wildlife reserve or a marine station. This usually involves visiting an overseas institution. At Stage 3 you study areas of animal behaviour, ecology and conservation in greater depth. Other modules include ecological modelling, the evolution of behavior, ecosystem management, species conservation, ornithology, and animal ecophysiology. There is also an independent project, supervised by a member of staff in an area related to their specialist research.

Recent advances in Zoology are revealing the extent of genetic, functional and behavioural similarities between animals and humans. At the same time, our understanding of animal communities, ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation are also advancing rapidly through experimental, modelling and observational studies. As a consequence, Zoology graduates have an increasingly wide array of employment opportunities in both animal and human science-related employment. These include posts in industry, research and education and in a broad range of areas including journalism, law, bioethics, patenting, accountancy, environmental protection, conservation, management, and technical and medical professions.