The BSc degree in Earth and Environmental Science/International is a three-year full-time degree scheme; Part 1 (Year 1) is qualificatory, and marks from Part 2 (Years 2 and 3) classify the degree. Year 2 is spent at a foreign university. The intellectual content of modules becomes increasingly more demanding from Years 1 to 3. As students progress through the degree, we expect to see evidence of increased intellect, independence and scientific rigour in all assessed work.
Year 1
Compulsory Modules
ENV 101 Global Climate Change
ENV 102 Geological Processes
ENV 103 Dynamic Landscapes I
ENV 104 Hydrological Processes
ENV 105 Atmosphere, Weather and Climate I
ENV 111 Environmental Management
ENV 112 Natural Hazards
ENV 113 Earth's Internal Processes
ENV 114 Environmental Microbiology
ENV 115 Chemistry, Pollution and Human Health
For students without A2 Mathematics or equivalent
ENV 122 Numerical Skills ES I
ENV 124 Numerical Skills ES II
For students without A2 Chemistry or equivalent
ENV 123 Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Optional Modules
Students are free to make up the remainder of their 15 Part I modules from a wide variety on across the University, although many chose to study cognate disciplines.
Students must achieve certain grades in Part 1 (as set out in the Part 1 Handbook) in order to be eligible for a placement abroad.
Year 2 (6/16 units)
Normally 8 modules are taken at an overseas university (usually in North America, Australasia or Iceland). The departmental Study Abroad Adviser will assist students spending Year 2 abroad to select courses that cover similar material at a similar level to those at Lancaster.
Marks achieved abroad are translated into Lancaster classes using a standard conversion table, and taking third year performance into account, as described in section C.3.8 of the Undergraduate Examination Regulations (available at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/acadreg/calendar/ugreg.htm).
Progression to Year 3 is subject to satisfactory performance in Year 2; after re-sits students must have achieved a pass (at least 40%) in 3 of the 6 units of assessment.
Year 3 (10/16 units)
Compulsory Modules
ENV 300 Dissertation (2/16 units)
ENV 323 Geological Hazards (1/16 units each)
ENV 321 The Dynamic Earth
ENV 312 Hydrogeology
ENV 322 Environmental and Resource Geophysics
Optional Modules
4 from:
ENV 320 Volcanic Processes Field Course (1/16 units each)
ENV 341 Environmental Radioactivity
ENV 331 Aerosol, Clouds and Climate
ENV 342 Soil and Water Pollution
ENV 311 Modelling Hydrological Processes
GEOG 367 Coastal Processes
ENV 313 Water Supply and Control
ENV 345 Risk Assessment and Management
ENV 314 Chemical Oceanography
No more than 4 per term.
Work/Study Placement
None.
Awards
Students graduate with a BSc degree, Honours or Pass, in Earth and Environmental Science (International). Degrees are classified according to the university's standard regulations for 16-unit degree schemes.
12. Support for Learning
There are three broad areas of student support in the Department and University.
Pastoral support
- In Year 1 students have a college tutor, whose role is pastoral. The college tutor may also be consulted for pastoral concerns in subsequent years. The Directors of Study for Parts 1 and 2 and the Study Abroad Adviser deal with academic progress and general academic and pastoral advice, as does the Director of the Earth and Environmental Science degree. In Part 1, there is also a dedicated teaching technician to support students in their practical work. In Part 2 each student has a dissertation supervisor who fulfils similar functions to the Directors of Study, as well as providing specific academic guidance. Support and guidance continue to be provided to students while on their year abroad by the Study Abroad advisor, via email, the Virtual Learning Environment and, when necessary, telephone. All academic staff operate an "open door" policy, although students generally make appointments by e-mail.
- The Special Educational Needs Officer heads a team that provides in-department support to those with difficulties. This team includes the Part 1 teaching technician and Part 2 teaching office staff, ensuring frequent contact with students at all stages.
- The Counselling Service provides in-depth and if necessary continuing support for students with personal problems.
- Specialist academic advice for those with learning problems is available through study consultants in the Student Learning Development Centre.
General academic support
- E-mail is an increasingly important way of allowing staff and students to keep in contact, whether in Lancaster, overseas or working on a dissertation project. Students are expected to check their Lancaster email accounts on a daily basis.
- The Study Abroad Adviser remains in frequent contact with students whilst abroad.
- The university virtual learning environment (LUVLE), combined with the departmental website, is a growing resource for information provision. Students are directed to, and expected to use these resources.
- A bulletin board system discusses academic and other issues at a number of levels. This has been particularly successful for publicizing careers information, for example.
- We liaise with the Library over buying materials, and they automatically adjust the loan status of items or buy more copies when demand for an item exceeds a threshold.
- The university provides good access across campus to IT facilities including a suite of 20 high-specification machines in the Department with module-specific software and data.
- The Effective Learning Programme is a widely advertised series of drop-in workshops on study issues.
Specialist support for students and staff
- The departmental careers officer and Careers Service provide careers guidance. Careers events are held throughout the year, often featuring guest alumni.
- The International Office provides advice and help with non-academic aspects of studying abroad.
- We follow the University's guidelines for disabled students (Access at Lancaster: Disability Statement 2000). We have facilities and procedures that allow us to cope with the most severely disabled students in the lecture theatre, in the laboratory and in the field. We operate an inclusive policy, and will alter module contents to accommodate disabled students wishing to take particular modules.
- The Student Learning Development Centre supports non-native English speakers.
- All new inexperienced teaching staff are enrolled on Lancaster University's Certificate in Academic Practice, and more experienced staff attend individual sessions and act as mentors on this programme.
