Master's degree in Conservation Techniques for Biodiversity and Ecology

Basic Information

What knowledge will I acquire with this Master?

The proposal of the Master's Degree in Biological Diversity Characterization and Conservation Techniques is fundamentally aimed at providing the necessary tools and techniques for the development of research and professional activities in the field of Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation.

Regarding the contents, it has 4 modules: a module of METHODOLOGICAL BASES (scientific writing, field sampling, experimental design, modeling, spatial analysis), another second of BIODIVERSITY (of aquatic invertebrates, lichens, bryophytes, birds and other taxonomic groups, which also includes a subject on Phylogeny and Systematics), a third module on ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES (community assembly, plant-animal interactions, micro-macro evolution, biology of global change, genetic restitution of populations, ecotoxicology), and a fourth module to train students for work in COMPANIES (restoration of ecosystems, entrepreneurship, economics of ecosystems).

Is this degree official according to the regulations required by the European Higher Education Area?

Yes (final verification report is attached), starting the first course in the academic year 2010-11. As an OFFICIAL degree, it is valid throughout the European Higher Education Area, and can be validated in countries outside this area.

Final verification report turned out FAVORABLE

Favorable report first modification

Favorable report second modification

Favorable report third modification

Is it necessary to pass an access test?

It is not necessary.

What is the minimum number of credits for which I can enroll?

You can see it in the rules of permanence in this link

Recommended income profile

Students who have possession of an official Spanish university degree or another issued by a higher education institution of the European Higher Education Area that authorizes access to Master's degrees in the country that issued the degree.

Objectives

The Master's Degree in Conservation Techniques for Biodiversity and Ecology aims to provide students with the methodologies and tools necessary for the development of research and professional activity in the field of characterization and conservation of Biodiversity and Ecology. These methodologies are grouped into several categories: general methodologies for scientific and technical report writing, sampling and monitoring systems, and advanced design of experiments; methodologies for statistical and mathematical analysis of data, in particular for spatial analysis and modelling; molecular biology and genetic techniques applied to conservation; methods of analysis and development of models in populations and communities; methodologies and tools for the characterization of environmental quality and the determination and mitigation of stress on individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems; scientific knowledge on natural capital and ecosystem services; foundations of ecological restoration; and initiation to business entrepreneurship. In this way, the student is provided with a postgraduate academic specialization of excellent scientific and technical quality that allows him to stand out in the professional field of Ecology and Biodiversity conservation.

Competences

COMP01 - Critically assess the degree of threat of species of organisms and the conservation status of communities and ecosystems in multidisciplinary environments related to their area of study TYPE: Competencies

COMP02 - Organize and plan a monitoring plan for the conservation status of populations, species and biological communities in multidisciplinary environments related to their study area TYPE: Competencies

COMP03 - Critically interpret scientific bibliography in multidisciplinary environments related to your area of study TYPE: Competencies

COMP04 - Apply appropriate statistical analyzes to evaluate hypotheses framed in the characterization of biodiversity and its conservation in multidisciplinary environments related to their area of study TYPE: Competencies

COMP05 - Communicate your knowledge and conclusions in a clear way to specialized and non-specialized audiences, both in formats of oral presentations and scientific articles or technical reports in multidisciplinary environments related to your area of study TYPE: Competencies

COMP06 - Critically contextualize knowledge by establishing interrelationships with social, economic and environmental, local and/or global problems. TYPE: Competencies

CON02 - Know the sampling techniques of organisms, populations and communities that are applied in both terrestrial and aquatic systems TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON03 - Know advanced statistical analyzes applied to biodiversity and conservation studies TYPE: Knowledge or

Contents CON04 - Know the search procedures for rigorous general and specialized bibliography within your field of study TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON05 - Identify the role of environmental factors and interactions between organisms on processes at the level of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems with special emphasis on the effects of global change factors TYPE: Knowledge or content

CON06 - Know advanced methods in biodiversity studies such as genetic tools, bioinformatics, species delimitation based on phylogenetic reconstruction TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON07 - Know the genetic effects and processes of molecular and character evolution on the evolution and conservation of species and populations TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON08 - Know the distinctive characteristics of groups of organisms from the main orders and families of living beings TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON09 - Know the bioindicators and biomarkers of environmental quality TYPE: Knowledge or contents

CON10 - Know the valuation and conservation strategies of groups of organisms, communities, ecosystems and ecosystem services with special emphasis on global change. TYPE: Knowledge or content

CON11 - Know entrepreneurship activities in the field of biological diversity and conservation TYPE: Knowledge or content

CON12 - Know the operating processes of a company or administration in the field of biodiversity management and conservation TYPE: Knowledge or content

CONO1 - Know the experimental and observational designs used in biodiversity and conservation studies TYPE: Knowledge or content

HA1 - Be able to write research results in the form of scientific articles or technical reports of high scientific quality TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA2 - Implement sampling methods appropriate to different types of study system TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA3 - Design your own scientific studies in a solvent manner and will be able to critically evaluate experimental designs of other studies TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA4 - Calculate indices and procedures related to genetic, population and community diversity and apply advanced statistical techniques for the analysis of ecological data TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA5 - Be able to relate the effects of climate change with the response of organisms and ecosystems. TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA6 - Be able to use biomarkers of environmental pollution. TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA7 - Be able to propose studies to evaluate the state of conservation and ecosystem services as well as apply environmental management and restoration techniques of different groups of organisms, communities and ecosystems TYPE: Skills or abilities

HA8 - Satisfactorily carry out teamwork in a context of characterization and conservation of biological diversity TYPE: Skills or abilities

Admission and enrollment

Admission:

The requirements for access to the proposed title are according to article 18, of Royal Decree 822/2021, of September 28:

Possession of an official Spanish Graduate or Graduate university degree or equivalent is a condition for accessing a Master's Degree, or, where appropriate, having another University Master's degree, or titles of the same level as the Spanish Bachelor's or Master's degree issued by universities and higher education institutions in an EHEA country that in that country allow access to Master's degrees.
In the same way, people in possession of titles from educational systems that are not part of the EHEA, which are equivalent to a Bachelor's degree, will be able to access a Master's Degree in the Spanish university system, without the need for homologation of the title, but verification by of the university of the level of training that they imply, as long as in the country where said title was issued it allows access to university postgraduate level studies. In no case will access through this route imply the homologation of the previous degree held by the person concerned or its recognition for other purposes than that of carrying out the Master's degree.

Candidate selection:

GENERAL ACCESS CRITERIA:

The specific qualifications that will facilitate access to the Master are the following:

Degree in Biology
Degree in Environmental Sciences
Degree in Experimental Sciences
Degree in Marine Sciences
Degree in Environmental Engineering
Degree in Forest Engineering
Degree in Agronomy
Other degrees or official titles that include subjects of Ecology, Botany and/or Zoology in their study plan.

CONDITIONS OR SPECIAL ACCESS TESTS:

If necessary, assessment of the student's curriculum, taking into account their professional experience, their projection in relation to the objectives of the master's degree, as well as their academic record.

In the event that the demand exceeds the supply of places, the following admission criteria will be used: Final grade of the academic record of the access qualification

Possibility of personal interview with the applicant

Offer of places: 30 places. If the minimum number of students envisaged is not reached in a course, the University may choose not to open the teaching group.

See admission and enrollment

Training itinerary

Master's Teaching Guides

ACCESS THE COURSE GUIDES OF THE DEGREE

Training Itinerary

Custom code	RAW MATERIAL	TYPE	SEMESTER	ECTS
637301	Introduction to scientific writing	OB	1S	3
637302	Sampling techniques and obtaining field data	OB	1S	6
637303	Advanced experimental design and data analysis	OB	1S	6
637304	Spatial analysis techniques applied to conservation	OB	1S	3
637305	Environmental pollution and biodiversity	OB	1S	3
637306	Assembly of plant communities	OB	1S	3
637307	Biodiversity and insect conservation	OP	1S/3S	3
637308	Biodiversity and conservation of fungi, lichens and bryophytes	OP	1S/3S	3
637309	Phylogeny and systematics	OP	1S/3S	3
637310	Biodiversity and conservation of fish, amphibians and reptiles	OP	1S/3S	3
637311	Entrepreneurs in Biological Diversity and Conservation	OP	1S/3S	3
637312	Ecosystem Economics: Natural Capital, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services	OP	1S/3S	3
637313	Ecological restoration	OP	1S/3S	3
637314	Predictive models of species distribution	OB	2S	3
637315	Mathematical Ecology	OB	2S	3
637316	Plant-animal interactions	OB	2S	3
637317	Evolution of functional traits: macro- and microevolutionary processes	OB	2S	3
637318	Global Change Biology	OB	2S	3
637319	Genetic restitution of populations	OB	2S	3
637320	Biodiversity and bird conservation	OP	2S	3
637321	Biodiversity and conservation of mammals	OP	2S	3
637322	Edaphic biodiversity	OP	2S	3
637323	External academic practices	OP	2S/3S/4S	12
637324	Master's thesis	OB	ANNUAL	18

Material resources

External Internships

The External Practices subject is a curricular subject whose main objective is to promote a comprehensive training of the student through the practical application of the knowledge acquired during the Master's degree, which facilitates direct contact with the professional activity and the opportunity to join the professional world with a minimum of experience. All practices are designed so that the students who participate in them acquire professional experience in real situations and conditions, applying the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are acquired in the training processes throughout the degree. The internships represent a decisive opportunity for the personal development and professional future of the students.

Internships are activities carried out by the student in companies, institutions and organizations; that is, in centers outside the university premises, which aim to enrich and complement their university education, while providing them with a deeper knowledge about the skills they will need in the future.

Mobility programs

University Master's degrees, due to their duration and characteristics, in general do not specifically contemplate the mobility of their students. However, the Rey Juan Carlos University has different mobility programs for both students and University workers (PDI and PAS) and has procedures for collecting and analyzing information on these mobility programs.

URJC Mobility

Regulation

STUDENTS

COEXISTENCE REGIME

Coexistence Regulations of the Rey Juan Carlos University for the Development of Law 3/2022, of February 24, on University Coexistence, approved by Agreement of March 30, 2023, of the Governing Council of the University

SCHOOL INSURANCE

School Insurance

ASSOCIATIONS

Regulation student associations

Quality guarantee

External monitoring report

RUCT link

BOCM Link

Internal quality assurance system

Manual of the Internal Quality Assurance System

Composition of the commission

Results report

Once the monitoring of the Master's Degree has been carried out, the most relevant quantitative information on the results obtained in the monitoring of said Degree is displayed, differentiated by academic year.

Report by course:

General information collection plan

Within the quality assurance system of the Rey Juan Carlos University, the following surveys are planned:

- Student profile

- Teacher evaluation

- Degree of satisfaction:

Of the students
of the graduates
From the Faculty
Administration and Services Staff

- Labor insertion

- External internships:

Satisfaction of interns
External tutor satisfaction
Employer satisfaction

Survey results:

Improvement actions

The Quality Assurance System of the Rey Juan Carlos University establishes that the degree's Quality Assurance Commission will annually analyze the information derived from the degree's indicators and prepare a report that will include improvement plans if the results so indicate.

Improvement actions 2022 / 2023
Improvement actions 2021 / 2022
Improvement actions 2020 / 2021
Improvement actions 2019 / 2020
Improvement actions 2018 / 2019
Improvement actions 2017 / 2018
Improvement actions 2016 / 2017
Improvement actions 2015 / 2016
Improvement actions 2014 / 2015
Improvement actions 2013 / 2014
Improvement actions 2011 / 2012:
- Improvement actions specific to the title 2011 / 2012
- Follow-up of the improvement actions of the previous course
Improvement actions 2010 / 2011:
- Common improvement actions 2010 / 2011

Renewal of accreditation

The renewal of the accreditation represents the culmination of the implementation process of the official Bachelor's and Master's degrees registered in the Register of Universities, Centers and Degrees (RUCT). The renewal of the accreditation of official bachelor's and master's degrees is organized in three phases: self-assessment report, external visit and final assessment.

In the first phase, the university describes and assesses the status of the degree with respect to the established criteria and guidelines. The result is the Self-Assessment Report (IA) that is presented. The second and third phases are carried out by a group of evaluators external to the evaluated title.”