Ecosystem Science and Environmental Changes

- Field of study: Ecosystem Sciences and Environmental Change
- Form of study: FULL-TIME/EXTERNAL
- Level of study: 1st, bachelor, professionally oriented
- Length of study: 3 years
- Language of instruction: English, Slovak
During your studies, you will learn to understand how ecosystems work, how humans affect them, and how these changes can be measured, evaluated, and addressed in practice. You won't just sit over scripts. You will be exposed to terrain, data, maps, analyses, and real-world environmental problems.
Your skills and knowledge:
Ecology and environmental sciences
You will gain a solid foundation in ecology, nature conservation, environmental management, and assessment of the impacts of human activity on the environment. You will learn to understand the relationships between organisms, the landscape, and humans.
Field and laboratory research
You will work in the field and in the laboratory: environmental monitoring, sampling and analysis, toxicological aspects, and assessment of soil, water, and ecosystem quality.
Data, statistics, and GIS
You will learn to process environmental data, work with statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing.
Environmental crises and sustainability
You will understand environmental crises, climate change, renewable energy sources and the principles of sustainable development. You will learn to think systemically, not sloganically.
Education and communication
You will gain didactic and communication skills: how to explain environmental topics to the public, students and experts, how to prepare environmental education programs and activities.
Scientific work and projects
You will learn to formulate research questions, design projects, process results, write professional texts and present outputs.
You will also gain a broader perspective on environmental problems:
You will not only be a technical expert. You will understand environmental policies, legal and ethical contexts, the social context and the impact of decisions on the country and people.
After completing this study program, you can apply yourself in the field of environmental protection, environmental management, education and public administration. The study will prepare you to work with real environmental data, field research and communication of environmental topics to the public.
You will be able to function in practice and in research-oriented teams, especially where it is necessary to assess the state of the environment, propose solutions and work with the impacts of human activity on ecosystems.
Some of the professions that are open to you:
Landscape ecologist / geoecologist
Analysis and assessment of the landscape, ecosystems and their changes, work in the field and with data (GIS, monitoring).
Environmental protection specialist
Resolving issues of nature, air, water and soil protection in public administration, local government or the private sector.
Air and watercourse protection specialist
Monitoring air and water quality, risk assessment, proposal of measures to improve the state of the environment.
Waste Management Specialist
Working with waste systems, circular economy and environmental strategies in municipalities, cities and companies.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Specialist
Cooperation in assessing the environmental impacts of buildings and projects, preparation of professional documents and analyses.
Environmental Education and Training Methodologist / Pedagogical Assistant
Working in the field of environmental education, awareness and communication of sustainability in schools, leisure centres or non-governmental organisations.
Landscape and garden architect (after completing the qualification)
Involvement in the design of landscape solutions with a focus on ecological and sustainable principles.
Requirements for applicants, selection method and recommended personality requirements
Number of students admitted to the study program: 20
The basic condition for admission to bachelor's studies is obtaining complete secondary education or complete secondary vocational education (Section 56, paragraph 1 of Act No. 131/2002 Coll. on higher education and on amendments and supplements to certain acts). The admission procedure takes place without an entrance exam. For the admission of an applicant to the bachelor's study program, data on the course of studies at secondary school will be decisive. More information here.
Do you have questions about the study programme? Ask its main supervisor
Assoc. RNDr. Miroslav Horník, PhD.
: miroslav.hornik@ucm.sk