Management of the Marine Environment & Sustainable Development

Life sciences are currently undergoing rapid development at a time when organisations, governments and companies are converting to sustainable development models. Their role for the future has never been so important.

To tackle this new state of affairs, both scientific and international, SKEMA Bachelors provides training which enables students to take advanced studies in the fields of the environment, genetics, oceanography, ecology, biotechnologies. Doing this, students combine a profession with a passion.

The Bachelor in Management of the Marine Environment and Sustainable Development provides training in biology, oceanography, and environmental sciences as well as a degree in environmental management by taking advantage of our exceptionally rich marine environment and surrounding countryside. Students are involved with a variety of applied projects (inventories, conservation), and foundation courses in biology and chemistry complement courses in oceanography, and the ecological environment.

This bachelor has majors in Biology, Oceanography, Environmental Science, and Environmental Management with the following FOUR TRACKS (all majors are not available for all tracks, look at the "contents" section at the bottom of the page for the detail) :

* SKEMA US track: 2 years in Sophia Antipolis, 1 year on SKEMA Raleigh campus, 1 year in North Carolina State University
* International SKEMA track: 2 years in Sophia Antipolis, 1 year on SKEMA Raleigh campus, 1 year on SKEMA Suzhou campus
* Exchange track: 3 and a half years in Sophia, 6 months either in SKEMA Raleigh campus or a partner university
* International Partners track: 2 years in Sophia Antipolis, 2 years in a partner university

Description of the four majors:

Biology

This major trains biologists specialised in the marine environment: development biology, physiology, cell biology of marine creatures. It offers complete training in pure biology with specific courses in marine biology. From the beginning of the course, students take classes in oceanography, marine biology and ecology. These subjects are developed further in courses abroad where they apply their knowledge, studying in the field through courses on marine mammals, fish and algae. This major opens the way for students to become researchers or to find employment in the area of applied biology. Research has wide fields of application and may be directed towards particular species such as seahorses or whales, or a category of species such as zooplankton or mammals etc. These in turn may be studied at cellular level (genetics etc.), at the level of organs (physiology), or of the creature as a whole (adaptability, development etc.). Other areas of research deal with whole populations (reproduction, migration) or even ecosystems (the dynamics of coral reefs) or behaviour (ethology). Another possibility for employment lies in the area of aquaculture, tracking the growth and nutrition of different species. Further employment possibilities after this degree can be found in marine parks or museum management and in the fishing industry, oil companies or marine energy production companies.

Oceanography

This major is aimed at students who want a career in research in oceanography or oceanology, the study of the marine environment in general or in applied positions such as management of coastal areas, climate change or conservation of biodiversity in the marine environment. Initial studies in various disciplines (maths, biology, physics, chemistry) are completed with specialised courses in oceanography etc. for the first two years.

The following options for specialisation are available in our partner universities: physics (sea currents, meteorology), marine chemistry (pollution), marine geology (study of the ocean floor, oil reserves) or the biology of organisms. Students then complete their studies with a PhD which will enable them to do research on themes such as the impact of currents on plankton or oceanic atmospheric interactions and the impacts of climate change. Some students might prefer to go on to do a more applied master such as Coastal Area Management, anti-pollution measures or the protection of marine ecosystems. SKEMA Bachelors’ partners have research teams which are recognised worldwide.

Environmental Science

This major deals with the interaction of human beings and their environment, developing solutions to challenges which emerge from the relationship. Environmental science is far more multi-disciplinary than biology, chemistry and mathematics and includes ecology, meteorology and oceanography. These are complemented by a group of applied courses devoted to specific techniques applied to the environment – geo-referential information systems, impact studies and natural risk analysis. After courses in theory, students go on to practise what they have learned by applying it to concrete cases and laboratory experiments. Students are able to offer their expertise to a large number of public and private sector organisations working on local or international projects. There are two distinct branches to the diploma: fundamental sciences or applied sciences.

Students who opt for fundamental sciences take a higher level of specialisation in biology, physics or another option such as geology, mathematics etc. They are likely to be more inclined towards employment related to research, modelling or studies where the human factor is central to environmental processes. Students who opt for applied sciences will receive further specialisation in an area of applied environmental science such as waste management, renewable energy, natural resources, planning, etc. This can lead to employment in environmental consultancy, audit and the sustainable development departments of companies or national and international organisations. The transfer system means that students may choose any of these options.

Environmental Management

This major is aimed at those who wish to work in the domain of the environment without limiting themselves to a purely scientific career. The course was set up in response to the demand from the employment market and, as such, trains students for jobs currently being developed. It gives a dual profile to graduates who still not only have learned environmental sciences but also management skills and an approach to issues of sustainable development. The exchange programme is a complete training course over 4 years. It is aimed at students wishing to work in the domain of the environment from a managerial, legal or political aspect. This course proposes a semester abroad and leads to careers in public or private organisations involved in environmental issues. It enables students to grasp current, but above all the future implications of sustainable development applied to territorial development projects, analysis of environmental impacts etc.