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Countryside and Environmental Management

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Why Study Countryside and Environmental Management ?

SAC's Countryside and Environmental Management course provides a broad introduction into the field of countryside management, conservation, environmental protection, sustainability, and environmental management. The course can be studied full-time, part-time or by flexible learning.

SAC offers the Countryside and Environmental Management course in two versions: Countryside Management (CM) and Environmental Management (EM). Both ‘streams’ take a common suite of modules (8 of the total of 12 modules), which cover subjects relevant to all students, including environmental awareness, ecology, biodiversity, land use, earth sciences and IT skills. Countryside Management students then take a further 4 modules in areas such as identification skills, access and visitor management. The Environmental Management students take 4 modules that cover subjects such as planning, pollution and waste management, and introductory economics.

A course leaflet can be downloaded from the right of this page.

About The Course

This vocational course aims to equip students with a broad environmental understanding of the world we live in. Understanding and monitoring change, particularly in an age concerned with climate change, has elevated the importance of ecology, conservation, planning and waste management in maintaining a healthy environment which is capable of absorbing the excesses of human activity, whilst still responsibly accommodating growth, recreation, and biodiversity.

The course runs in two streams (please note that the Countryside stream is not available at SAC's Edinburgh campus).

The Environmental stream focuses on providing students with a firm set of values and environmental principles to guide their appreciation of environmental issues.

The Countryside stream introduces understanding of the countryside, land use, ecological management, and issues associated with informal recreation.

Both streams are designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level jobs in the sector. Completion of the HNC also allows students to progress into Year 2 of a range of countryside and environmental courses at SAC, such as countryside managment, environmental management and sustainability, and rural resource management.

 

Awards Available

Click on a course title for further details

HNC Countryside and Environmental Management

UCAS Codes

Study In Aberdeen: SAC SO1 057F X HNC/CEM

Study In Ayr: SAC SO1 057F Y HNC/CEM

Study In Edinburgh: SAC SO1 057F Z HNC/CEM

Length Of Course

The HNC takes 1 year full-time.  Part-time study is possible.  The HNC can be studied part-time on campus or by flexible learning.

The HNC Countryside and Environmental Management runs with a choice of two specialist streams - Countryside Management or Environmental Management. The Environmental Management stream runs at all campuses, the Countryside Management stream runs at the Ayr and Aberdeen campuses.

Minimum Entry Requirements

2 Highers (CC) or 1 A Level pass.  Entry also with an Access to Science qualification.  Relevant experience will also be considered.

Progression Routes

Those completing the HNC can progress into Year 2 of the following courses: 

From the Countryside Management stream: BSc/HND Countryside Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management

From the Environmental Management stream: BSc/HND Rural Resource Management, BSc Environmental Protection, BSc Sustainable Environmental Management, HND Environmental Management and Sustainability.

Course Content

Further information is available in SAC's undergraduate prospectus and in our course leaflet, which can be downloaded from this page. Please contact us for further information.

Students take a range of core subjects, covering biodiversity, conservation, ecology, environmental awareness, and land use, as well as transferable skills such as Use of IT. During the popular "Environmental Awareness" module, for example, students will examine their individual and collective impact on the environment due to the lifestyle they lead. Understanding the link between leaving on electrical appliances, driving erratically, or producing large quantities of waste and global warming are examples of this. Water use, global euiality and the effect of global economics are also introduced to increase personal awareness and help understand the position of others.

Students on the Environmental stream will add to these studies with modules which include Rural Development, Economics, and Science subjects, while students on the Countryside stream will take modules related to countryside activities, leadership, and identification of species.

 

Career Opportunities

This course is already being viewed as appropriate professional development for environmental related job holders, and will lead to a wide variety of careers.

The main purpose of the course is to provide a good grounding in environmental subjects to inform future studies and to provide an introduction to the academic and practical study of the environment and conservation.

Course Contacts

Aberdeen Course Contact

Mr John MacDonald
Lecturer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Cruickshank Building, Craibstone Estate,
Aberdeen
AB21 9TR
TelWork 01224 711098
Fax 01224 714591

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Aberdeen Campus General Contact

Ms Suzanne Hay
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711189

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Ayr Course Contact

Mr David Rackham
Programme Leader
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, Riverside Campus, University Avenue,
Ayr
KA8 0SX
TelWork 01292 886159
Fax 01292 886199

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Ayr Campus General Contact

Mrs Jill Thomson
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Ayr, Riverside Campus, University Avenue,
Ayr
KA8 0SX
TelWork 01292 886196

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Edinburgh Course Contact

Dr Alistair Hamilton
Programme and Team Leader
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work King's Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4417

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Edinburgh Campus General Contact

Miss Claire Morrison
Student Recruitment Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work King's Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4391

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Student Experiences

Student quotes about the Countryside and Environmental Management course:

"I appreciated the supportive learning environment at SAC and valued the opportunities for hands-on experience."

"I have always lived in rural areas and been involved in agriculture and forestry, but the diverse range of subjects offered on the course attracted people of all ages, and included both people like me and those from more urban backgrounds, from around the UK and beyond."

"I continue to look back at my time at SAC with fond memories of a studious and enjoyable environment, made easy by the friendly and helpful staff, and the extensive range of industry related modules."

...And from those who studied the course by Flexible Learning:

"Flexible study definitely pushes your time management to the limit, but the pay-off is more than worth it: a broad-ranging, emerging-field qualification from an industry-respected institution, delivered by excellent and adaptable lecturers.  Distance learning fosters a strong network of classmates, so while the learning may be physically "remote", you are never on your own.  A fantastic experience that I'd highly recommend. A massive thank you for a fabulous 2 years. It's been a joy and a privilege to learn with you." Laura Stevenson

"I would personally like to thank everyone for a fabulous 2 years. I have enjoyed every single minute." Karren Bradbury

"You have given me a positive, enriching learning experience and plenty of laughs along the way." Nicola Milne

"I thought distance learning would be a way of filling up those long, dark winter nights.. and it did! The study weekends allowed me to meet other students from many different working backgrounds and share our thoughts and ideas. My course has opened up a path of possibilities that I can't wait to explore and it has given me, without sounding too clichéd, a thirst for knowledge again." Rosemary Welensky