2017/18 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BSc Sustainability and Environmental Management

Total credits: 360

Entry requirements:

England and Wales
Normally 3 GCE A-levels at grades ABB, including two from biology, chemistry, economics, English, environmental science/studies, geology, geography, history, law, mathematics, physics, politics, sociology. Other subjects may be considered.

Scottish Highers
Normally ABBBB, including two from biology, chemistry, economics, English, environmental science/studies, geology, geography, history, law, mathematics, physics, politics, sociology. Other subjects may be considered.

International Baccalaureate
Normally 34 points overall, with 16 at the Higher Level, including two from biology, chemistry, economics, English, environmental science/studies, geology, geography, history, law, mathematics, physics, politics, sociology. Other subjects may be considered.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Earth and Environment

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of Earth and Environment

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

The relevant QAA Benchmark is Earth sciences, environmental sciences and environmental studies (2007) QAA 151 02/07, specifically in relation to environmental studies (appendix 3c)

Programme specification:

Sustainability is at the core of how governments, societies, researchers, and increasingly business, now think about the environment and our place in it. The environment is important to everyone, but our demand for natural resources and the waste that our lifestyles generate means that it is under increasing pressure. For this reason, there is demand for literate and numerate graduates who possess a thorough understanding of the environmental, economic and social implications of the decisions that we make and the strategies we use to find sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

BSc (Hons) Sustainability and Environmental Management is designed to sit at the interface between human activity and the environment. The programme draws on disciplines such as environmental science to develop knowledge and skills in the science that underpins our understanding of sustainability. At the same time, teaching in areas such as business, economics and policy means that students are able to understand and evaluate societies' role in and interaction with changes in the natural world. Teaching on the programme draws on the skills and expertise of one of the largest groups of environmental and social scientists in the country, the Sustainability Research Institute whose research is tackling some of the major sustainability challenges we face.

The programme is composed of four pathways that will equip students for particular sectors, although many of the skills they will develop will also cross sector boundaries. Students should choose one pathway to pursue in the second and third years of their degree, although some deviation from the pathway structure is permissible (e.g. additional skills modules) subject to programme leader approval. The Business and Sustainability pathway will equip students for positions in the private sector, for example, in corporate social and environmental responsibility roles. The Energy and the Built Environment pathway allows students to specialise in transport and energy, equipping them to work in policy and planning departments as well as with corporations within these sectors. The Natural Resources and Biodiversity and the Earth systems pathways build ecological and environmental science skills alongside the sustainable development knowledge required for roles within the consultancy sector. Students from across the programme will be well placed for jobs with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in environment and development.

Throughout the programme there are opportunities for students to develop key competencies and skills (e.g. interview skills, fieldwork and laboratory skills, presentation and writing abilities), as well as developing the ability to reflect on and appreciate the limitations of current knowledge and approaches to sustainability and environmental management. Teaching will be delivered through a variety of means, from lectures to fieldtrips. Fieldwork is an important aspect of teaching and so students will get the opportunity to put methods into practice during fieldtrips. Teaching across the modules also makes use of small group discussions/seminars to help students to engage in deep learning.

Please note that this BSc degree programme is accredited by the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), being the only Russel Group University accredited by this professional body.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules.

Students must pass SOEE1110, SOEE1381, SOEE1450, SOEE1460 and SOEE1482 (if they are studying this module) to progress to second year. Students who want to take the Business and Sustainability Pathway in second and third year must pass SOEE1390. Students who want to take the Sustainable Infrastructure Pathway in second and third year should pass TRAN1011. Students who want to take the Managing Ecological Resources Pathway in second and third year should pass SOEE1180. Students who want to take the Environmental Science and Management Pathway in second and third year must pass SOEE1280.

Optional modules:

Candidates WITHOUT A-Level Maths or AS Level Maths with a grade of A-C or equivalent will be required to study SOEE1482 'Mathematics for Environmental Social Science' as a compulsory module. If taken, SOEE1482 is Pass for Progression.

If you are not required to study SOEE1482, you may choose up to 10 credits of optional SOEE modules or up to 10 credits of Discovery modules, subject to timetabling constraints and approval from the programme leader.

Students who have completed A-Level Maths or with AS Level Maths at Grade A-C or equivalent should NOT enrol in SOEE1482.

Discovery modules:

Candidates who are not required to study SOEE1482 'Mathematics for Environmental Social Science' may choose up to 10 credits of optional SOEE modules or up to 10 credits of Discovery modules, subject to timetabling constraints and approval from the programme leader.

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Students must select one of the following Pathways, and study all of the modules from their chosen Pathway with the exception of the Natural Resources Pathway and Earth Systems Pathway, where there is more choice. Students may study SOEE2650 GIS for Geoscientists in place of one of their 10 credit Pathway modules OR substitute one 10 credit module from their Pathway with a Discovery Module or another optional SOEE module, subject to timetabling constraints and approval from the Programme Leader.

Business and Sustainability Pathway

Energy and the Built Environment Pathway

Natural Resources and Biodiversity Pathway

Students must select 40 out of the following 50 credits.

Earth Systems Pathway

Students WITHOUT A-Level Chemistry or AS Level Chemistry with a grade of A-C or equivalent will be required to study SOEE1131 Introductory Chemistry for Earth and Environmental Scientists to progress on this Pathway. Students who take SOEE1131 will only have to study three out of the other four modules.

Students who have completed A-Level Chemistry or with AS Level Chemistry at Grade A-C or equivalent should NOT enrol in SOEE1131.

Skills Module

Students may opt to study this module instead of a 10 credit module from their chosen pathway.

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Students must continue the Pathway studied in year two, and study all of the modules from their chosen Pathway, except for the Energy and Built Environment Pathway and Natural Resources and Biodiversity Pathway where there is more choice. Students may substitute one 10 credit module from their Pathway with a Discovery Module or another optional SOEE or SOEE Skills Module, subject to timetabling constraints and approval from the Programme Leader.

Business and Sustainability Pathway

Energy and the Built Environment Pathway

Students must enrol for SOEE3270 and SOEE3630 and select 20 credits from TRAN3031, TRAN3070 and TRAN3060

Natural Resources and Biodiversity Pathway

Students on this Pathway MUST take SOEE3286 Catchment Processes in Semester 1. In Semester 2, students have the choice between EITHER BLGY3247 Advanced Topics, OR SOEE3760 Terrestrial Biosphere AND LAW3135 Law and the Environment II.

Students enrolling for BLGY3247 in Semester 2 MUST have PASSED both SOEE1180 Environment and Ecology AND SOEE2690 Managing Biodiversity.

Earth Systems Pathway

Skills Modules

Students may opt to study either or both of these modules with approval from the programme leader.
Note that the fieldtrip for SOEE3690 takes place in the summer between years 2 and 3.

Last updated: 22/09/2017

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