Educational aims
This degree contributes a distinctive social sciences approach to environmental issues and in doing so offers a good grounding in geography as a discipline. You will learn a range of skills and theoretical approaches that are invaluable to making critical informed decisions and judgements about various aspects of environmental change.
You will also develop your understanding of the scientific knowledge and techniques required to understand the fundamental natural environmental patterns and processes. You will gain an appreciation of the scope of environmental science knowledge, an awareness of its relevance to society and an insight into its range of applications, including conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
By studying this degree you will develop good analytical and reasoning skills, good communication skills and the proficient use of ICT. This portfolio of skills can be applied to further learning and the world of work.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this degree you will have knowledge and understanding of:
- contribution of geographical and environmental sciences concepts and theories to an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues and concerns
- spatial and temporal dimensions of environmental issues including the distributed causes and uneven consequences of environmental change
- societal challenges of responding to the uncertainties of and different perspectives on environmental change
- terms, classification systems, concepts and principles that inform the study of geography and environmental science.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this degree you will be able to:
- interpret analyse, and critically evaluate evidence of and arguments about environmental issues from a range of relevant sources, and appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of those sources
- select and apply appropriate methods and techniques to review, consolidate, and extend knowledge and understanding of geographical and environmental issues
- use and apply knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to geography and environmental sciences to address familiar and unfamiliar situations
- use conceptual models to understand, develop and apply scientific principles.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this degree you will be able to:
- recognise and critically evaluate personal views and engage the views of others with respect
- initiate, design, conduct and report on practical or other investigations in a responsible, safe and ethical manner taking proper account of risk assessment and health and safety regulations
- demonstrate the skills of autonomous learning and reflect on the process of learning to evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.
Key skills
On completion of this degree you will be able to:
- accurately and effectively communicate information about environmental issues to a variety of audiences using written, visual and numerical forms as appropriate
- select, access, and exploit a wide range of digital practices (including tools and resources) to find, use, create and communicate data relevant to environmental issues
- locate and respond to a variety of data and information sources (e.g. textual, numerical, graphical and computer-based), including reviews and primary sources
- prepare, process, interpret and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques
- use appropriate methods of acquiring, interpreting and analysing scientific data and information.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Assessment is designed to include a range of formative and summative tasks appropriate to the Stage, including written assignments, oral presentations, group work, online activities, examinations, independent study and project work.
The University operates a tuition policy across all undergraduate qualifications, with the number of tuition hours being considerably higher in the key introductory module and gradually declining through Stages 1, 2 and 3 as you become a more independent learner.