Beginning to study
If you have no experience of higher education, deciding to become an undergraduate student can be a big step. Our Openings programme of short introductory courses has been specially designed to give you the chance to test the water before committing yourself.

Short courses such as 'Understanding environment' or the 'Blue Planet' science course, are for people who may already have study experience, but who don’t want to commit to a full undergraduate course straight away.

Short Courses
Introducing environment (Y161)
Environmental concerns often appear in the news, and it can be difficult to tell what matters, or what choice we have. Focusing upon scientific and technological aspects of the environment you will consider the effects of human activities, such as farming. Topics include the biology of ecosystems and food chains, biodiversity, ecological sustainability and fossil fuels. This short course will provide a brief survey of a very complicated subject.

Life in the oceans: exploring our blue planet (S180)
This short course is linked to the spectacular Blue Planet BBC series. What are the challenges of living in the oceans? Why do some parts of the ocean teem with life? How do marine and terrestrial ecosystems differ? How have our ideas about the deep ocean environment evolved? Find out with this fascinating course.

Science starts here (S154)
Are you interested in studying science and wonder whether distance learning is right for you? 'Science starts here' is specifically for people who have done little or no science or maths in the past. Through exploring the role that water plays in sustaining life - from the journey of a glass of water in the body to the effects of pollution, the course provides a gentle introduction to the basic maths and scientific vocabulary.

If you have an interest in Science and Nature, other Open University courses on offer include:

Level One
Working with our environment: technology for a sustainable future (T172)
If you are concerned about your impact on the environment and global environmental issues, then this course offers an introduction to the technical, human and social aspects of environmental issues. It considers the role of technology in both contributing to and tackling environmental issues.

Exploring science (S104)
This course explores a range of topics including the origin of life, genetics, evolution and biodiversity; sources of energy and global warming; earthquakes and volcanoes; food and drugs; and the structure of atoms and the origin of the universe. Important scientific concepts and skills are developed in the context of these topics.

Fossils and the history of life (S193)
This short course will give you a basic understanding of fossils and an overview of the history of life, how organisms become fossilised and help you to identify common fossils and how they fit into the story of evolution.

Digital photography: creating and sharing better images (T189)
Whether you're new to digital photography or want to improve your existing skills, this online course will develop your ability to create and share digital images. The course will teach you the key principles of capturing digital images and help you develop a portfolio to be proud of.

Practising science (SXR103 – Residential Course)
Practical hands on course – how is Science actually done? Spend a week carrying out your own experiments. This course follows on from S104, but focuses on Biology. In this residential school course, you will undertake interdisciplinary scientific investigations in laboratories and at a field location.

Second level courses
Biology: - uniformity and diversity (S204)
This course introduces a variety of topics across the whole field of modern biology, emphasising that it is a science firmly grounded in observation and experiment. It looks at the common features underlying the enormous diversity of life forms and applies these principles to plants, microbes and animals.

Environmental science (S216)
This wide-ranging course draws together biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics. This will help you to develop a holistic approach encompassing the processes, links, interactions and feedback mechanisms that operate within different environments. The course features two multimedia interactive field trips, in which you can explore an area visually, observe habitats, gather data and analyse your observations.

Environmental science in the field - a residential course (SXR 216)
During this residential course you visit a variety of sites where you apply your knowledge of biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics to study interactions and feedback in the environment, including landforms, soils, water and vegetation. These field studies are supported by laboratory sessions in which you analyse your observations and the data that you have gathered. The one-week school offers a choice of dates and sites from May to August.

Course Taster
Animals at the extreme: the desert environment
If you would like to try a sample of one of our courses, why not take a look at a unit which is the first in a series of three on Animals at the extreme. It is concerned with the integration of behaviour anatomy, physiology and biochemistry in diverse vertebrates that live in deserts.

Life in the trees
David Attenborough looks at life in the trees: examining how species have evolved to cope with arboreal living. You will learn how lemurs, anteaters, bears and many others have developed different methods to help movement and survival.

Madagascan diversity
Watch some video course material on Madagascan diversity of wildlife, here showing three different species of lemur.

Content last updated: 05/10/2007

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