Keele University Prospectus Undergraduate | 2016 | Page 50

NATURAL SCIENCES

Applied Environmental Science
and Physical Geography

POP

DU

Overview

A degree in Applied Environmental Science and
Physical Geography will provide you with a deep
insight into landscape and its relationship with
the living world. You will study the Earth’s varied
environments and the complex and fragile global
systems that connect them. You will learn about
the rapidly evolving science at the heart of global
environmental change and discover new ways of
understanding the natural world through the study
of topics including water resources, glaciers, natural
hazards, pollution and climate change. This will
equip you for future employment and for a lifelong
appreciation of the world around you.
We place strong emphasis on the development of
field based, practical and laboratory skills and you
will have the opportunity to study abroad. There
are also excellent opportunities within the degree
programme for you to undertake environmentally
focused work placements. The programme is
accredited by the Institution of Environmental
Sciences and graduates are well placed for a variety
of careers in resource management, planning,
environmental consultancy and conservation.

Course content
First year
During the first year you will acquire essential
academic skills and knowledge of the underlying
concepts and principles of each subject. You will
study various compulsory modules including
Fundamentals of Physical Geography, People and
the Environment, Environment Science Skills and
Introductory Environmental Chemistry.
Alternative modules include:

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Second year
In your second year you will develop a deeper critical
understanding of advanced topics such as genetic
crop modification, renewable energy, meteorology,
geomorphology and hydrology, and of the research,
analytical and investigative skills demanded of
today’s graduates.
The core modules are:
• Human Impacts on the Environment
• Integrated Environmental Field Studies
• Environmental Analytical Methods
• Practical Physical Geography
• Geographical Research Training
• Regional Land Systems
• Dynamic Geographies
You will also choose one elective module from
a range that includes a work placement module,
Health and the Environment, Geoscience
and Society and Sustainable Chemistry.
Residential field courses provide you with
real world, hands-on experience.
Third year
The final year gives you the opportunity to focus on
specific areas of interest, or the flexibility to maintain
a broad portfolio of coverage of environmental
issues. All students undertake an independent
research project tailored to your individual interests
and there are opportunities to develop projects in
collaboration with local and regional environmental
organisations.
You may choose specialist elective modules
from a list including:

The Practice of Physical Geography sets the
subject in a broader practical, vocational and
professional context.

• Global Environmen tal Change

Geographical Skills is a laboratory based course
with practical tuition in essential skills such as
surveying. Fieldwork is incorporated within the
programme to give you the opportunity to practice
newly learned skills.

• Water Resources

Ecology and the Environment explores the function
and interaction of plants and animals in populations
and communities, and considers the threats to
biodiversity and the role of conservation.

• Conservation Biology

Introductory Geology for the Environmental
Sciences highlights the role of geology in
environmental issues such as fracking, carbon
sequestration, developing sustainable water
resources and in contaminant transport (pollution).

We provide individual support and teach in a variety
of ways in order to help you to learn in the way that
suits you. You will have traditional lectures, small
group and individual tutorials, laboratory classes
and field study groups alongside independent study
and project work. Assessment is based on a flexible
combination of coursework and examinations.

• Coastal Environments
• Glaciers and Glacial Geomorphology
• Natural Hazards
• Applied Geographic Information Systems
• Inspirational Landscapes
• Clean Technology

Teaching and assessment