Programme And Module Handbook
 
Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 13/09/2021
College College Life and Env Sci
School School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department Earth and Environ Sciences
Partner College and School
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title B.Sc. Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Full-time
Programme Code 514G
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 3 Year(s)
Accreditations This programme has no outside accreditations
Aims of the Programme Understanding Global Environmental Change, how we address its causes, how we live with and respond to its impacts, and how we find sustainable solutions to our use of Earth’s resources, is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity both today and in the future. This programme aims to prepare a new generation of environmentally aware students for graduate employment in a range of industries positioned to tackle these global grand challenges. In a globalised world that is increasingly affected by environmental change, it is of paramount importance that we are able to develop sustainable management of energy and natural resources, food security, biodiversity, ecology, and natural hazards. Tackling these themes requires a broad and interdisciplinary approach, based on a sound understanding of Earth and environmental processes, and of the intersection of human pressures and ecological systems. This programme seeks to meet this need by providing students with a broad foundation in Earth and Environmental Science and Biosciences, setting students up for informal learning pathways (Sustainable Earth; Sustainable climates; Sustainable ecosystems; Sustainable society) that include a variety of modules from across the University. These modules, ranging from topics in economics, law and international development, through to climate science and resource geology, will provide students with the necessary understanding and skills to address the challenges posed by global environmental change. Professional placement opportunities and the option of a year abroad will give students the opportunity to experience their subject in a wider context and help them develop professional skills alongside their academic studies. Fieldwork and site visits to see sustainable solutions in action will be an invaluable part of the programme and will be built into two core modules at Year 1 and 2. Graduates from this programme will draw upon a solid scientific knowledge of Earth processes, augmented by an understanding of the broader perspectives needed to find sustainable solutions to some of the most important problems facing our world today. Graduates are likely to progress into employment in (renewable) energy, (sustainable) resources, and environmental consultancy to name a few areas, but may also progress into specialist environmental and sustainability masters programmes in the UK and overseas.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
1. Interactions within the Earth System, from the basis of geological, environmental, ecological and biological processes
2. Methods of environmental observation, data recording and analysis
3. Earth structure and composition, processes governing the distribution of resources, of the use and sustainability of natural resources and the geoenvironmental implications of resource extraction
4. The interconnectivity of Earth processes, energy and resource use, climate, and human society
5. Sustainable approaches to energy and resource use that address issues around global environmental change, biodiversity and climate change
6. The intersection of societal pressures and natural processes, and the relationship between resource use, governance, and global change
7. Global development from the perspective of global environmental change and sustainable goals, including an understanding of legal, economic and ethical dimensions of sustainability
In this inherently cross-disciplinary programme, the combination of modules means that all learning and teaching methods relate to one or more of the programme outcomes, with many modules spanning several of the programme-level outcomes.

Many of the outcomes are particularly covered in specific core modules though lecture and practical formats (particularly 1 – 4) and field visits (2) as well as opportunities for placements and independent project work (2). The variety of optional modules ensures that all students have opportunities for advanced understanding of outcomes 1 – 7, and core discussion- and seminar-based modules ensure that the cross-disciplinary aspects of key topics of the programme (4 – 7) are understood by all students.
Each method of assessment is aimed at evaluating the level to which students have achieved one or more of the programme outcomes. Numbers in parentheses below are used to highlight methods considered to be particularly important in assessing the outcomes specified.

Unseen examinations (1-8), class tests and practical assessments (1-3), essays, reports and presentations (4-7), group work (4-7), independent research and project work (4-7).
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
1. To notice, establish and interpret the connections between diverse data types and topics
2. To analyse information quantitatively across varying scales of space and time
3. To plan, design and conduct investigations that seek to resolve problems, conducting these flexibly, critically, safely, and on time.
4. To work with and discuss interdisciplinary problems, and to be able to draw upon diverse information types and competing factors
5. To work effectively and efficiently, both individually and as one of a team.
6. To report and communicate results to a professional standard through a variety of media.
Specific skills are imparted by instruction, demonstration, and supervised and unsupervised practice. More general transferable skills develop from this context-based experience. Taught modules help develop all of these outcomes through both lecture and practical teaching, and the particular focus on discussion and seminars in some core modules specifically emphasises the inter-disciplinary outcomes (1, 3, 4). Directed independent study reinforce this (particularly 1-3), and project work and independent study, as well as placement opportunities, are increasingly important later in the programme (demonstrating 2-6).
Each method of assessment is aimed at evaluating the level to which students have achieved one or more of the programme outcomes. Assessment methods are chosen to develop and evaluate the skills appropriate to the learning outcomes of the programme. Where appropriate, assessments also provide opportunities to give feedback to students to help them refine their skills. Numbers in parentheses below are used to highlight methods considered to be particularly important in assessing the outcomes specified. Unseen examinations and class tests (1-2), practical, field work and project work (3), seminar based and group work (4-5), presentations (6), placements (5-6), independent project work (3,6).