Conservation Biology & Eco-tourism

(This specialty is only available at the affiliated college in Smolyan)

The specialty “Conservation Biology & Eco-tourism” is an innovative specialty, available only at the Plovdiv University's affiliated college in Smolyan.
The education for the educational degree bachelor at the specialty “Conservation Biology & Eco-tourism” is in accordance with the goals formulated for the Strategy for developing the Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, based on interdisciplinary approaches, including obligational and eligible disciplines, lectured by highly qualified lecturers from the fields of biological sciencies and tourism. The study programs developed for the different disciplines,and the practical terrain work train the students in the various methods for exploration of the biological diversity, as well as in the strategies for preservation of vegetative and animal species in nature. During their education, students form skills for experimentation, observation and analysis in laboratory and terrain conditions, critical thinking and teamwork.

The specialty's curriculum includes fundamental and profiled biological disciplines, as well as disciplines, training students in management and marketing in the sphere of tourism, guiding and tour-operator activities. This along with the available material base and the natural resource of the Smolyan region are prerequisite for high-quality and serious preparation for the future biologists with competences in the fields of conservation biology and ecological tourism.

Graduates from the specialty “Conservation Biology & Eco-tourism” gain the professional qualification “biologist, specialist in organizing and management in the sphere of ecological tourism”, along with competencies in biology, and specific theoretical and practical skills in the sphere of ecological tourism. With such qualification the future graduates could find their professional realization as biologists at universities, scientific institutes, health care institutions, state institutions and non-government organizations as well as in tourist associations, tour-operator agencies and others.