Conservation Biology and Special Educational Needs (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

Liverpool Hope University

This is a four year degree taught at our Hope Park campus. The Foundation Year aims to develop your skills so that after a year, you will be equipped with the necessary skills needed for studying the full BA Hons degree programme.

Conservation Biology

Conservation biology is concerned with the protection and management of nature and the Earth’s biodiversity. It involves an evaluation of human and other factors that affect all living organisms with the aim of protecting and conserving species, their habitats and ecosystems. It is an interdisciplinary subject that draws on natural sciences to devise satisfactory processes and approaches by which to sustain and protect plant and animal biodiversity in the UK and abroad.

This course mainly focuses on conservation in terrestrial environments. It develops knowledge of key areas such as the principles and practices of ecology, habitat management, nature conservation and the functioning of natural systems, particularly with regard to different points of view including scientific, ethical and philosophical perspectives. Opportunities are provided to apply knowledge and understanding of conservation biology during field courses within the UK and abroad giving first-hand experience of a range of ecosystems.

Special Educational Needs

Studying Special Educational Needs at Liverpool Hope University will enable you to understand the relationship between disability and education and will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to educate others about the nature of disability. The degree incorporates insights from education, as well as drawing on work in the arts, humanities and health care, to ensure you gain a broad and balanced understanding of the principal features of education in a wide range of contexts.

A central aspect of the course is an understanding of medical and social constructions of Special Educational Needs and Disability, the legal requirements regarding provision for SEN/Disability and a critical understanding of past and contemporary practices. You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the global perspectives on special education and disability, and issues relating to children and families, as well as having the ability to critically engage with professional expertise.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) is an interdisciplinary subject underpinned by the work of the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies (CCDS). You will become a professional who is knowledgeable and skilled in this field. You will enter your professional life recognising the importance of compassion and understanding of your work with, and on behalf of, those who are disabled and/or identified as having a special educational need.