GEOLOGY | 9
First Year
The first year of the Geology programmes lays the foundations for detailed
study of higher concepts in years 2 and 3. You don’t have to have any previous
geological knowledge as the courses will begin from basics.
Combined Honours BSc Geology Single Honours BSc Geology
Combined Honours BSc Geology students take core geology
modules during the first year: Single Honours BSc Geology students also take the
following modules:
• Minerals, Rocks and Fossils • The Earth System
• Earth Structure and History • Geology Data Visualisation, Analysis
and Interpretation
These cover broad themes such as Earth as a planet, geological
processes such as plate tectonics, and how these processes
relate to geological features such as volcanoes, earthquakes
and tsunamis. These geological processes and features are
compared to those on the other planets.
Stratigraphic principles and the geological evolution of Europe
are taught along with an introduction to geological structures and
the interpretation of geological maps.
An understanding of the formation and classification of minerals,
igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks
is taught by examining them in hand specimen and up close
using a petrological microscope. An introduction to the rock
cycle and rock formation processes as well as palaeontological
principles is given by providing theoretical background
knowledge, alongside the practical examination of geological
materials and the major fossil groups including trilobites,
graptolites, ammonites, corals and brachiopods.
The Earth System examines the interactions between the
solid Earth, the oceans, the atmosphere, the biosphere and
the societal system in terms of explaining past, present and
possible future changes on Earth (e.g. climate change, mass
extinctions, etc.).
Geology Data Visualisation, Analysis and Interpretation provides
an introduction to geophysical, remote sensing, geographical/
geological information system techniques for the handling of a
wide variety of geoscience data types.
In addition, Single Honours BSc Geology students currently
have a free choice of one of the free-standing elective modules
offered within the University.
The petrological, stratigraphic, structural geology, and geological
observation and mapping principles in the taught cause are
reinforced via several embedded day, two-day and week-long
field courses held at a variety of destinations across England
and Wales.
keele.ac.uk/gge