Environmental Courses

Learn about the welfare of animals.

This course is designed for anyone wishing to work in, or already working in, the animal care industry.

• Gain an insight into Animal Sentience and Psychology.
• Learn how to Manage Animal Welfare.
• Understand the nature and operations of Animal Protection Services, Animal Rescue Services and Animal Health Services.
• Learn about animal welfare issues associated with a variety of animals including Wildlife, Pets, Farm Animals, Working Animals and Animals used in Sport.

Study the Science of Plants at Home

This online or correspondence course contains the basis of plant science, and is an introduction to plant physiology and taxonomy, covering general botany including morphology and anatomy. Lessons cover: taxonomic classification of plants; cells and tissues; specific vegetative parts of a plant; flowers and fruit; seed and the developing embryo; photosynthesis and growing plants; respiration; the role of water; movement of water and assimilates through a plant; the effects of growth movements.

Develop your knowledge of healthy living and working environments.

• Learn how a healthier building environment can contribute to improved health for those who live and work there.
• Understand concepts of how the surrounding area contributes to the quality of a buildings interior.
• Learn to improve human well-being by changing surroundings in a home or work environment.
• Learn about how common chemical elements such as cleaning materials, and decorative finishes can had an adverse effect on an individuals health, and how you can takes steps to improve this.
• Learn about the macro-external environment - how elements surrounding a building, such as gardens, can have a beneficial effect on the occupants.

Learn to Understand Climate

Climate and climate effects shape every aspect of life on planet Earth.

This course will provide you with a solid understanding of the principles of climate science, how atmosphere and circulation patterns influence our weather and how climate science can help us tackle the challenges of climate change. Gain a global understanding of weather dynamics and the role that modelling and prediction can play in helping human kind to manage extreme weather events.

Learn more about Climate Science and deepen your understanding of this truly global and incredibly important part of the natural world.

Learn the Science that Informs us about Weather

Understand how we determine likely rainfall and temperature conditions; air conditions andmore.

Want to Work in Conservation?

Develop a foundation for managing conservation of different environments. This course reviews basic ecology principles and environmental problems such as pollution and land degradation in depth, before considering varying aspects of plant and animal conservation in land and aquatic environments.

I am finding it interesting and educational - it covers the primary facts and then encourages you to learn the details through the assignments and contacting numerous organisations involved in environmental issues.
Jasmine Dungey - Conservation and Environmental Management course.

Learn about the dynamic and changing face of planet Earth

Investigate complex and amazing interactions between the Earth's many different components.

By studying Earth Science you will gain an understanding of the many processes that have sculpted the Earth you see to day and a deeper appreciation of the many environmental challenges that we currently face.

Gain an ability to identify and describe the Earth, its structure and explain processes that affect change in the structure and composition of the earth. Learn about rocks and minerals, volcanoes, air movements, meteorology, global weather patterns, the oceans, surface chances (eg. earthquakes and volcanoes), geological time and the complex interactions between all of these elements of earth science.  

Learn to Prepare Environmental Assessments of All Kinds.

In this course you will learn about the various types of environmental assessments, the role of the environmental scientist, and the legal framework that surrounds the assessment process.

You will learn the theory and skills necessary to design, conduct and report on environmental assessments, and then put those skills into practice by conducting a real-life research project.

EXPLORE THE NATURE and SCOPE of ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

If you haven't studied the Environment before, this is an excellent place to begin.

• Gain a foundation knowledge of the Environment
• Learn how living and non living things interact and are co-dependent upon each other for a sustainable world
• Learn to live a more sustainable and green lifestyle

An excellent introduction to environmental studies, providing a broad based grounding in environmental and conservation issues, and a foundation course for higher learning.

Study Environmental Waste Management and learn more about domestic waste, industrial waste, nuclear waste and environmentally friendly methods of dealing with waste.

Expand your Knowledge and Help Clean Up!

Learn how waste is disposed of through natural processes and how to harness those processes to better manage waste disposal. The course covers such things as water quality and treatment, recycling, domestic and industrial waste and even the management of more toxic waste.

Learn to better manage forage resources for both livestock and other animals.

• For farm animals
• For wildlife
• For sustainable ecosystems

To manage forage resources, you need to have a good understanding of both the plants growing in an area, and the animals that graze on those plants. It requires an appreciation of plant and animal ecology and the impacts which man can have on that ecology.

Are you interested in a career as an ecologist?

This course provides an excellent introduction to the study of ecology. It looks at living organisms, the niches they occupy and the relationships that occur between and within species. It covers the general principles of ecology in a way that is easy to understand and can be applied anywhere on our planet.

Student Comment: "I love the course and the course material even though a bit of it seems to be a lot more in depth than I anticipated. I love it just the same as I'm learning lots. I just wish I had more time to do a lot more." Kim Stinton - Australia, studying Introduction to Ecology as part of an Advanced Certificate in Wildlife Management.

Want to Work with Animals and Nature?

This course has been specifically designed for people working or wishing to work in nature parks and reserves, in managerial or technical positions. Learn about natural environments, and the management of zoos, wildlife parks and nature reserves. Develop an understanding of the natural environment and basic ecological principles, and learn a variety of skills ranging from basic gardening and nature park design, to erosion control, weed control and tree surgery.

The course covers many of the fundamental tasks which people who work in such parks undertake, including weed control, soil management, land rehabilitation, and landscape construction.

Study Park Management for Wildlife Parks, Zoos, National Parks, Wilderness Parks

• Learn  about managing the environment, animals and plants
• Learn about provision of visitor services
• Expand your potential for a career in park management
• Study on CD, with printed notes, or online (your choice) 

Learn ways to prevent plants from being extinct

PLANT ECOLOGY DISTANCE LEARNING OR ONLINE

Learn all of the major aspects of plant ecology here!

This is an important foundation study for anyone working with plants.

Through this course you develop an   understanding of the nature and principles of plant ecology, and apply that understanding to the cultivation of plants. With that understanding, biologists can better advise on how to maintain stable natural environments; garden designers are better able to select and combine plants to create functional environments, and farmers can better manage the long term sustainability of their farms

Gain an understanding of Electricity and sources of Alternative Energy.

Learn to become less reliant on the electricity and gas companies and save money through alternative energy sources.

• Develop your knowledge of electricity, batteries, and how to become energy self sufficient.
• Understand different methods of generating, storing and using electricity, from hydro and solar to wind generators.
• Explore ways to better manage energy consumption, and how to convert a building’s energy supply to an alternative system.
• Learn more about energy and its uses in this fascinating and informative course.

Learn about the life that lives below the soil surface - bacteria and fungi, to earthworms and insects that all have a part to play in the growth of plant roots that share that sub soil environment.

A remarkable diversity of life forms found in soil are beneficial, and some even critical, to the plant growth that happens above.

Do you work in  the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes or degraded site? Or would you like to?

This course covers the fundamentals you require to advance or start your career in this field.

The significance of caring for the environment has been receiving more and more attention in recent times as we come to understand the importance of limited resources and the effects of human activities on the environment. The desertification, erosion and general degradation of once fertile lands is prompting us to investigate why and how these processes have occurred. It has also lead to research into how we can reverse and stop further damage to our environment.

Natural forests are amongst the most stable and productive ecosystems. We need to plant and conserve forests for their conservation value, to help maintain healthy air, soil and water and for their potential to provide food, forage, fuel, timber and even medicines.

Student Comment: 'I definitely learned a lot from [the course) but it was also beneficial in affirming [and raising my confidence] in what I already knew.' Katrina Merrifield, Masters Conservation Science, NZ, Trees for Rehabilitation course.

This course is designed for people working or wanting to work with environmental rehabilitation and contaminated sites recovery. It develops an understanding of environmental systems and the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes. You will learn about seed collection, storage and germination, propagation, plant selection, establishment techniques, and controlling pest and disease after planting.

Learn about water resources

Study use and application of water conservation measures in different contexts. Improve your capacity to design, implement and assess water management plans and procedures.

Water is the most important substance required to sustain life. All living organisms need water. Many need air, and many others can survive without air, replacing it with other gases, but almost none of them can survive without water. Waste is important; and its proper management is critical to everyone's future!