Master programme in Animal Ecology

During this master's programme You will learn how to analyse and understand evolutionary processes at the levels of genes, individuals and populations. You use modern field- and laboratory methods in studies of ecological and evolutionary issues applied to animals in basic research as well as applied conservation-related research. Your teachers will be active researchers, many world-leading within their fields, including animal migration, molecular ecology, life history trade-offs, disease resistance in natural populations and host-parasite interactions.

The programme comprises two years of full-time studies (120 credits), with at least 90 credits at advanced level in biology. Teaching is carried out in the form of courses, primarily in modules worth 15 credits and a degree project for one or two semesters.

Recommended course of study

Year 1

Autumn

• Population and Community Ecology, 15 credits (BIOR69)
• Evolutionary Animal Ecology, 15 credits (BIOR81)/Animal Ecology, 15 credits (BIOR91) from autumn 2022

Spring

• Molecular Ecology and Evolution, 15 credits (BIOR25) or Conservation Biology, 15 credits (BIOR83)
• Ornithology, 15 credits (BIOR51) or optional course.

Year 2

Autumn

• optional course or start of Master's Degree project
• Sensory Biology, 15 credits (BIOR20) or Processing and- Analysis of Biological Data, 7,5 credits (BIOS14) and Modelling Biological Systems, 7,5 credits (BIOS13)

Spring

• Master's Degree project

Degree requirements

Courses corresponding to 120 credits, of which should encompass:

• Compulsory Courses, 30 credits
  • Population and Community Ecology, 15 credits (BIOR69)
  • Evolutionary Animal Ecology, 15 credits (BIOR81)/Animal Ecology BIOR91 15 cr from 2022)
• Elective Courses, at least 30 credits
  • Bioinformatics and Sequence Analysis, BINP11 7.5 credits
  • Conservation Biology, BIOR83 15 credits
  • Evolutionary Biology - Patterns and Processes, BIOR89 15 hp (from 2022)
  • Evolutionary Biology - Methods and Applications, BIOR90 15 hp  (from 2023)
  • Modelling Biological Systems, BIOS13 7.5 credits
  • Molecular Ecology and Evolution, BIOR25 15 credits
  • Ornithology, BIOR51 15 credits
  • Processing and Analysis of Biological Data, BIOS14 7.5 credits
  • Sensory Biology, BIOR20 15 credit
• Optional Courses, 0-30 credits
• Master´s degree project in biology, 30/45/60 credits

Degree title

Master of Science (Two Years)
Major: Biology with specialisation in Animal Ecology

Prerequisites and application at Lund University central education web pages.