MSci Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Sciences) – available with placement year
The MSci in Biological Sciences (Wildlife Health Science) is an undergraduate integrated Master’s degree, the aim of which is to give you a thorough foundation in biosciences, with further specialisation into aspects of biology required by wild animal professionals.
The overall aim of this course is to produce graduates with high levels of understanding about animal health that are able to apply that to wildlife health situations. The course follows the same path as the BSc Biological Sciences (WHS) for the first three years, diverging with a fourth year designed to offer a higher level of research training. This degree is delivered together with the Zoological Society of London.
Course overview
In the first year, you will learn about normal animal physiology including all major body systems and biological processes. In the second year, you will explore disease processes, pathogen biology and an introduction to wild animal biology, as well as carrying out a short wild animal biology focused research project.
In the third year, in addition to two core wildlife related modules, you will be able to tailor the direction of your course, choosing from a programme of advanced study chosen from a range of optional modules. You will also carry out a longer wildlife health research project, supervised by a member of academic staff, during which you will continue to develop your practical, analytical and reasoning skills as well as communication, teamwork and professional development skills.
Following on from the in-depth teaching about the health and welfare of wild animals in your third year, you will receive training in research methodologies relevant to the study of wildlife in your fourth year. The research projects in your second, third and fourth years are all relevant to wildlife health and this focus aims to make sure that you are ‘work ready’ for a career in a wildlife setting, either in an academic role or in industry.
Work Placements and Research Projects
It is possible to undertake a work placement between the second and third year of study (Certificate in Work- Based Learning and Research). This gives you an insight into the working environment and could be wildlife health related. It is important to note that you will be responsible for finding and securing a placement, although you will be given guidance and support before and during the placement.
Stuart Patterson, Lecturer in Wild Animal Health
Whether your interest is in emerging infectious diseases that could cause the next pandemic, protecting livestock health for food security, or in conserving endangered species, a good understanding of wildlife health is essential.
Wildlife health professionals need both advanced knowledge and skills in the health sciences, and a contextual understanding of how these are applied in wild settings. We have created this course to give anyone interested in a career in wildlife health, be that applied or research the best possible student.
Laura Chua, MSci Wildlife Health Sciences
The 91°µÍø equips us well with the skills and practice that will definitely be needed in our careers. I intend to pursue research in wildlife conservation, so not only are the practicals a great stepping stone to develop the required skills, the research projects, presentations and write-ups are essential towards my goals after graduation.
The 91°µÍø provides numerous opportunities for students looking to network and gain work experience. I’ve already been working with ZSL London Zoo on behavioural research studies. Studying at the 91°µÍø is truly a remarkable experience with everyone with the same passion working towards a common goal alongside you.
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Our biosciences courses follow a ‘pathway’ approach. This means that in your first year, you study a broad range of modules providing you with a fundamental understanding of biosciences.
As you progress through your course, additional study options become available to you, culminating in a final year research project that provides you with the opportunity to choose, with a supervisor, the subject of your choice for further study.
Research
This MSci includes a large research project in the fourth year of the course. Throughout this research experience, you will be challenged by, and stimulated to challenge, the currently accepted wisdom in biological sciences. It is important to note that you will be responsible for developing your hypothesis for your fourth year project.
Please note that these are indicative modules and may be subject to change.
You can also choose from several optional modules at King’s College London during your third year.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Gain understanding of cellular structure and function, placing particular emphasis on cellular architecture, cell communication and the processing of signals received by each individual cell, and how cells are affected by the structure and function of the specialised extracellular matrix environment. This will be combined with an introduction to homeostasis at the cellular, extracellular, tissue and organ levels of the body.
Appreciate how different characteristics are inherited leading to a fuller understanding of the mechanisms underlying all biological processes in health and disease. This module will provide a comprehensive overview of genetics from molecules to populations, and how genetics can be applied to increase our understanding of diseases and in the design of new therapies to treat them.
An introduction to the principles of developmental biology in humans and other vertebrates. By the end of the module, you will understand the concepts of how a single cell forms an embryo and how genes control this process.
Locomotion is one of the primary behaviours of daily living in humans and animals, and healthy locomotor function is essential to well-being. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the principles of movement across the range of organisational levels: from the whole organism interacting with its environment, to integrated systems, tissues, and cells. This module will provide a framework to recognise healthy and impaired locomotor function, and highlight interactions among different body systems in the whole organism. You will explore how many fundamental structures and mechanisms are shared between different body systems, and how the different systems interact and influence one another.
Explore the reproductive physiology in humans and other mammals from fertilisation to an adult capable of reproduction, and study the basic concepts in immunology by defining the components of the immune system, and how they work in concert to eradicate pathogens.
A comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of physiology using a systems-based approach. Units on fundamentals of cellular biochemistry and metabolic processes, digestive physiology, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, neurology and renal physiology, will provide a good overview of how biological processes at the cellular, tissue and organ level contribute to function of the organism as a whole.
Develop your critical and analytical thinking whilst consolidating the biological principles learned in Year One. You will work in small groups to answer scientific questions in different areas of current research strength within the various departments of the 91°µÍø.
You will undertake an in-depth independent library-based project focused on an active area of research, under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Through independent analysis of the scientific literature, you will review why the scientific question that you are focusing on is important, describe the methods by which it is being investigated, and provide an analysis, with appropriate conclusions, drawn from published data.
Year 2
Optional modules
This module is divided into three units: Genetics, Protein Malfunction, Cell Cycle.
This module is divided into three units: Ageing, Degeneration, Immunopathology.
Students will gain insight into how pathogens enter the host and establish infectious. Students will study examples of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections and will focus on principles and general concepts, with some illustrative examples.
This module will provide an introduction epidemiology. Students will analyse various strategies that can be used to prevent spread of the different pathogens (including prions). You will appreciate how the understanding of the epidemiology of pathogens leads to better control strategies.
Explore the important topics in conservation as well as reviewing the basic anatomy and physiology of the non-captive animals. Topics will include anatomy and physiology of non-domestic animals, principles of decision making in conservation, and assessment of currently running conservation projects.
Undertake a pathway-specific research project. These projects involve a topic selected by an 91°µÍø supervisor in light of the areas of expertise and cutting-edge research found within the college. However, you are welcome to propose specific topics for investigation to a supervisor in that area of expertise.Optional modules
An overview of the different ways in which disease processes can be visualised at the molecular, cellular, tissue and whole animal level. It is organised into three week-long blocks covering the principles of pathology, the imaging techniques used in vitro to study cells and tissues, and the techniques used in vivo to study whole animals. The module will be of interest if you plan to develop a career in biomedical or comparative research using whole animal models and/or in vitro modelling systems.
An introduction to the concepts of animal behaviour, welfare science and ethics. You will learn how to scientifically measure behaviour and welfare, how ethical frameworks can help you decide how animals should be treated, why animals behave as they do, the physiology of stress and pain, and more. Practical sessions will include quantifying animal behaviour, applied farm animal behaviour (stockmanship), and husbandry of common livestock species.
An introduction to One Health principles and current disease challenges, and the application of a One Health perspective to disease prevention and control. You will explore the relationships between animal, human and ecosystem health using examples of infectious and non-communicable diseases to illustrate One Health principles within an evolutionary and ecological context.
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Undertake an investigative hypothesis driven project or dissertation that covers your own research interests in wild animal health, and at the end of the year present the results in the form of a written report and as an oral presentation. These projects involve a topic selected by an 91°µÍø supervisor in light of the areas of expertise and cutting-edge research found within the college. However, you are welcome to propose specific topics for investigation to a supervisor in that area of expertise
Where anthropogenic threats endanger free-living populations of animals, people increasingly see a need to intervene for the conservation or welfare of these populations. However, given the need to understand complex ecological systems, the disease risks of manipulating them and the potential stress of intervention methods, such activities require detailed planning, highly skilled input and scientific evaluation to ensure lessons are learned. Using real examples this module will help you to develop a conceptual understanding of intervention methods.
Morbidity and mortality in free-living populations of wild animals are difficult to detect and monitor given ecosystem processes and the bias of convenience sampling strategies. In this module, you will learn about the complex methods required to detect and monitor changes in endemic diseases, detect emergent diseases, and interpret the findings in a scientific manner.Optional modules
Build upon the knowledge you have gained in the first year in Reproduction. You will concentrate on the veterinary applications of research and highlight how it makes a real impact on animal health and welfare. You will learn cellular and molecular aspects of reproductive biology from gonadal development and function to ovulation, fertilization and embryo and germ cells development, and establishment and maintenance of pregnancy and placental immunology in animals.
In addition to their importance as pathogens, microbes have many beneficial uses. This module will give students the opportunity to explore the beneficial biotechnological use of microbes in the food industry, and in human and animal health. The module will explore the use of microbes as factories, microbes and food, microbes in research and microbes and health. The module will highlight the historical and state of the art applications of microbes as useful organisms, and you will have hands-on opportunities to explore how microbes can be used for the production of biopharmaceuticals.
Failures in the skeletal system, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, provide one of the major challenges to human and animal welfare. Research activities in skeletal pathobiology are commonly directed at understanding the development, growth, ageing and functional maintenance of the skeletal system as well as the evolution of bone and joint pathologies. This module will introduce you to a broad range of skeletal tissues, and explore the anatomy, physiology and functional failure and on occasion include comparative aspects of the skeletal system across species.
Conduct theoretical and applied training in animal behaviour science and animal cognition. You will focus on wild animals, but relevance to domesticated animals will be made clear and examples will be given. You will cover mammals and birds in depth, but will also build your understanding of reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. This module includes a dog training demonstration and a visit to a professional animal behaviour conference.
An exciting, hands-on introduction to the field of comparative animal locomotion at all levels. If we can understand how brains, muscles, and skeletons work together to produce locomotion, in the full context of other animals and the natural environment, then we will not only have solved one of the great mysteries of the natural world, but we stand to improve the lives of all animals, including humans, through treatment of neurological and musculoskeletal disease.
Animal locomotion is an integrative, dynamic field of study and it is currently at an extraordinary juncture. You will need a willingness to think conceptually about how animals move, and examples will be drawn across the animal kingdom so you can appreciate the breath-taking diversity of movement strategies.
The nervous system is by far the most complex tissue in any animal. By understanding the molecular and cellular basis of nervous system development, we aim to understand how changes in these processes result in developmental defects – both morphological and function. For example, significant change in the morphology of the brain can be seen in conditions such as holoprosencephaly whereas functional changes are seen in autism and schizophrenia. This module will give insight into the latest research in nervous system development, and will give you the opportunity to develop your understanding of how researchers employ animal models in this research and inform you of the latest applications of developmental biology research, including the use of stem cells and molecular editing techniques.
The increasing problem of obesity in the human and pet population has resulted in a dramatic increase in research efforts to understand and influence metabolism, and treat associated side effects. We will seek to integrate the basic science of endocrinology into more translational topics relating to the diseases and syndromes associated with disorders of endocrinology and metabolism. The module will focus specifically on clinical abnormalities affecting blood glucose regulation and feeding, growth and metabolism, endocrine-related cancers, and reproductive disorders including those affecting sex differentiation and intersex.
Study major human and veterinary parasitic tropical diseases from the viewpoints of immunology, epidemiology, pathology, treatment and control. This module will cover major human tropical diseases caused by protozoan and helminth parasites. Major veterinary tropical parasitic diseases that cause significant production losses and/or are significant zoonoses will be covered. For each disease, interesting aspects of research conducted on these organisms will be highlighted.
Undertake theoretical and methodological training in animal welfare science, which is broadly equivalent to the biology of sensations, motivation and emotions. This module will cover a range of behavioural, physiological and other indicators of diverse welfare states, illustrated with examples including wild, farm, companion, and laboratory animals. As part of this module, you will take small group tours of appropriate animals in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals to observe behavioural indicators of pain and sickness and the efforts made to alleviate suffering.
Year 4
Compulsory modules
Training in research methodology, analytical skills and academic writing so that you are well prepared for your extended research project and future research you may be involved in within academia, industry or a graduate career.
A large hypothesis driven, laboratory or field-based research project with a focus on wild animal health sciences, which will be undertaken within the 91°µÍø. Formative assessment of your project will be via participation in laboratory meetings, journal clubs, supervisory meetings and tutorials, and self-assessment and self-reflection of skills. Summative assessment will be via a final project report as well as an oral defence and a Supervisor’s assessment.
Teaching
You will be exposed to a wide range of learning experiences in all four years of the course that include lectures, seminars, workshops, and a variety of directed and self-directed learning activities that will include practical exercises and self-assessment tools.
Problem solving exercises, case studies, reflection and role modelling will improve your reasoning skills whilst your practical skills will be developed through demonstration, observation, prosecution, feedback, and experimentation. Other key employability skills will be taught through group work, structured learning, practi