M.Sc. Biodiversity and Environment Management at Tribhuvan University, M.Sc. Biodiversity and Environment Management Colleges in Nepal

M.Sc. Biodiversity And Environment Management

Affiliated to: Tribhuvan University

About Course

Course Title : M.Sc. Biodiversity And Environment Management
Category/Level : Masters
Course Duration (months) : 24 months
Cost Range (NPR) : NA
Affiliated to : Tribhuvan University

Course Description:

Being the world's highest mountain chain, the Himalaya is characterized by a complex geo-morphological structure, large valley glaciers, deep river gorges and rich biological resources. The exploitation of the biological resources in the Himalaya is far from sustainable. This is due to poverty and lack of in-depth knowledge of environmental management. There is a need to update scientific understanding of conservation of biological diversity and environmental management, and their impacts on ecosystem and environmental service of the Himalayas. However, there exists is no proper advance degree course to address the above issues in an interdisciplinary way. Thus, the Master's Degree in Science in Biodiversity and Environmental Management is designed to ensure long-term sustainability of biodiversity conservation and environment management by: (a) linking the course contents with national, regional and global priority and management perspectives, (b) designing of Himalayan resource mobilization strategies including sustainable use from livelihood options, and (c) training of students in leadership and management skills. Students who want to develop a professional career leading to Ph. D. and aiming to improve and manage the rapidly diminishing biological resources of the Himalayas, will greatly benefit from the proposed Master's Degree program.

Admission info

Admission Criteria
Eligibility for admission: To get admission in the Masters program it is required that the students have passed Two to Three years Bachelors degree plus M. Sc. degree or Four years Bachelors Degree in Biological Science from an accredited university preferably in first division. The students having above degree in any of the following subjects are eligible to apply: Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Agriculture, and Wildlife. Students should show an English language proficiency in any one, such as TOEFL (215/300 or 550/667) or IELTS (6.5-7/9) either at the time of admission or by June 2008 to meet criteria to join second semester in University of Bergen, Norway. Candidates having job should submit a letter certifying her/his leave for study.

Syllabus

Summary of the Course Structure

Semester 1 (at Tribhuvan University, Nepal; February 16 - June 15) 30 ECTS = 250 marks

Paper	Name of the course	ECTS
0	Introduction to the Programme	1
	Practical information, the objective of the Master Programme, and study techniques. Basic concepts in philosophy of science in relation to the master thesis
1	Biodiversity and Biogeography	8
1.1	Biodiversity: pattern, processes and values
1.2	Population, Community and Ecosystem dynamics
1.3	Biogeography and Distribution of Biodiversity
1.4	Agrobiodiversity & Food security
2	Conservation Biology	7
2.1	Threats to biodiversity
2.2	Conservation approaches and strategies
2.3	Conservation genetics
2.4	Conservation planning and technical tools
3	Mountain Environment and Human Ecology	7
3.1	Mountains Introduction
3.2	Mountain and Altitudinal Change in Environment
3.3	Mountain and Altitudinal Change in Resources Base
3.4	Mountain and Altitudinal Change in Human Land Use
3.5	Human and Human Ecology
4	Environment and Natural Resource Management	7
4.1	Natural resources and sustainable management
4.2	Environmental policies and laws
4.3	Ethnobiology and conservation of indigenous knowledge
4.5	Biodiversity, livelihood and (poverty reduction)/ Food security

Semester 2 (at University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Autumn) 30 ECTS = 250 marks

Paper		ECTS
Compulsory
BIO 303	Ordination and Gradient analyses	5
BIO 300	Introduction to thesis writing	10
GEO 308	Theory of science and research design	10
Optional
BIO 343	Alpine Ecology	5
BIO 341	Biodiversity	5

Semester 3 & 4 (at Tribhuvan University, Nepal) 60 ECTS = 500 marks

Paper		ECTS	Time period
	Dissertation	60
	Proposal writing		Feb.16-March 7
	Proposal presentation and approval		March 8-March 15
	Preparation for field work or laboratory work		March 16-April 7
	Field visit (not exceeding two months)		i. April-June ii. July-Sept
	Field report (First)		June
	Data analysis & Interpretation		June-September
	Data Presentation		October
	Thesis writing and defend		November