Contact Information

If you encounter any difficulties accessing Online Courses Handbook information you should contact the student registry:

If you require further details in relation to academic content you should contact the appropriate academic department directly.

Breadcrumbs

International Master's Environmental Science and Technology

MSc (research) (Full Time)

Year:13/14
UCAS Code: 
Minimum Length:21 Month(s)
Maximum Length:21 Month(s)
Credit Points:300
Director of Studies:Professor KT Semple

Educational Aims: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

back to top

Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

The range of transferable skills that students are expected to gain includes:

IT literacy in mainstream word-processing, analysis and presentation software

Presenting information in verbal, electronic and hardcopy media

Numerical skills, including statistical analysis

Practical laboratory and field skills

The ability to critically analyse and interpret data.

The total credit weighting fro this SoS is 300 credits, with 180 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits in Year 2.The taught element of the course, which accounts for 90 credits , provides students with a basic understanding of the physics and chemistry of the natural environment and the ways in which man affects the natural environment. The atmosphere, hydrosphere and surface/near surface lithosphere are all studied, although the structure of the course allows students to focus on one or more of these compartments of the Earth system if they wish. The quantitative aspects of Earth system science are emphasised; the course offers more than a qualitative description of the environment. Transferable skills (scientific writing, statistical methods, computing, presentation skills, project management etc.) are also developed throughout the taught modules and the extended research project. On completion of the taught component of the course, the students undertake an extended research project which comprises 210 credits, of which 90 credits are attributed to LU and 120 at CAS. The projects are tailored to allow the students to develop particular areas of speciality relating to environmental science and technology. The framework of the project enables students to enhance environmental problem solving methodologies through the focussed application of appropriate scientific methodologies.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

back to top
Programme Outcomes

Students completing the MSc programme will be expected to have gained transferable skills, subject specific knowledge and scientific methodology to Masters level. In addition to these outcomes, which are considered in more detail below, the course nurtures working relationships between students and active researchers/practitioners both internally and externally.

Transferable skills outcomes

Transferable skills achieved through varied methods of delivery and assessment of the subject specific modules which include group presentations, reports and essays, and associated practical and analytical work. The individual research projects consolidate and extend transferable skills both through the execution of the research work and the writing of the associated thesis. The range of transferable skills that students are expected to gain includes:

                      - IT literacy in industry-standard word-processing, analysis and presentation software.

                     - Presenting information in verbal, electronic and hardcopy media.

                     - Numeracy, including mathematical and statistical modelling.

                     - Project management.

                     - Interpersonal skills in group settings.

                     - Self management and motivation.

 

Subject specific knowledge outcomes

Subject specific knowledge is developed through research informed teaching and associated reading. Initially this is achieved through the subject-specific modules that employ a range of delivery and assessment styles including lectures, practical workshops (including paper-based, computer-based, laboratory-based and site-based studies), and seminars. Students are expected to self-learn using reference material to further develop their perceptual models, and to field visits are provided illustrate the associated practicalities. More depth to subject-specific knowledge is added through the specialisation of students in their chosen research projects. The range of subject specific knowledge that students are expected to gain is reflected in the breadth of modules available in the taught programme. These cover a broad range of environmental science and environmental technology modules.

Scientific methodology outcomes

Students' scientific methodology is developed at all stages of the programme and in particular through their chosen research projects. Initially, scientific method is nurtured through the written and verbal feedback of staff to students during the taught elements of the programme, along with the exposure of students to the scientific literature. The research project affords the opportunity for closer staff-student interactions where a critique of scientific method occurs within a research active environment. The range of scientific disciplines that students are expected to gain include:

                      - Developing a robust scientific argument.

                     - Formulating and testing hypotheses.

                     - Assessing contrasting scientific theories.

                     - Identifying, abstracting and synthesising scientific information.

                     - Problem solving and decision making.

                     - Identifying, abstracting and synthesising scientific information

                     - The use of experimentation within a scientific problem solving                                   exercise.

                     - Handling complexity and uncertainty.

 
Lancaster University
Bailrigg
LancasterLA1 4YW United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1524 65201