2019/20 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue
BSc Geological Sciences
Programme code: | BS-GS | UCAS code: | F600 |
---|---|---|---|
Duration: | 3 Years | Method of Attendance: | Full Time |
Programme manager: | Dr Thomas Mueller | Contact address: | T.Mueller@leeds.ac.uk |
Total credits: 360
Entry requirements:
Normally three A-Levels at grades AAB, including two of: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography or Environmental studies (not both), Mathematics, Physics. Excludes General Studies.
- International Baccalaureate: Normally 32 points overall, with 16 at the Higher Level.
- Scottish Highers: Normally ABBBB.
- Other Qualifications (Access to HE Diploma, BTEC, etc): Please refer to our website or mail to admissions@see.leeds.ac.uk.
In order to transfer from a BSc programme to the Integrated Masters equivalent, students will normally be required to maintain a minimum average of 65 in their first year. Transfer is conditional upon securing a study abroad place.
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:
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies (ES3)
Programme specification:
The programme will allow students to:
- be educated across the full range of Geological Sciences, encouraging and enabling students to acquire a good background of geological knowledge;
- be trained in field and relevant laboratory techniques;
- develop investigative and communication skills;
- gain a good foundation for those who will embark on careers as professional geologists;
- access a course of sufficient breadth and intellectual training to suit the needs of those who will eventually work outside the subject area.
The degree programme is accredited by the Geological Society. Graduates from an accredited course gain fast-track progression towards obtaining Chartered Geologist status, which is the key professional qualification for a career in some commercial spheres of employment.
The programme fulfils national subject benchmark criteria in terms of:
- developing a multi-disciplinary and an interdisciplinary approach to Earth systems, an holistic view of the materials, structure, processes and interactions of the Earth's core, mantle, crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere;
- developing an understanding of major geoscience paradigms including uniformitarianism, geological time, plate tectonics, and evolution of life on Earth and an appreciation of relevant temporal and spatial scales;
- allowing students to become equipped with Earth science terminology and nomenclature, and the skills for the identification and classification of Earth materials;
- providing methods of acquiring, interpreting and analysing field and laboratory data with a critical understanding of the appropriate contexts for their use, including the collection and documentation of geological field data, for production and interpretation of geological maps;
- enabling students to develop an awareness of issues concerning the exploration, development, exploitation, sustainability and different value sets relating to Earth resources, to contribute to informed debate on aspects of Earth science including human impacts on the environment and the impacts of geohazards on human societies, and to appreciate the contribution of the subject of Earth science to the development of knowledge and its applicability to the world of work.
The strengths of the degree programme here in Leeds include:
a) a learning experience within an environment of active research;
b) strong theoretical and applied themes developed and interlinked;
c) emphasis on field skills and independent mapping or laboratory projects;
d) extensive communication, employment-related and team skills development;
e) opportunity to include an industrial placement year;
f) flexible part-time study option, the order in which modules are to be taken being by individual arrangement between the student and the programme convener.
Within the BSc Geological Sciences programme, candidates choose to follow one of four pathways. Each pathway specifies particular option modules as suggested choices. The pathways act as guided routes through the programme structure for candidates who might have a particular career in mind upon completion of their studies.
- The 'Geology Pathway' provides candidates with the opportunity to undertake a broad and balanced programme of study that provides wide coverage of the discipline leaving all career options open.
- The 'Petroleum Pathway' provides training in seismic interpretation, sedimentology, structural geology, and resource geology; it is recommended for candidates intending to pursue a career in the hydrocarbons industry.
- The 'Environmental Pathway' is focussed on aspects of engineering and environmental geology and hydrogeology; it is recommended for candidates intending to pursue a career with environmental and engineering companies or consultancies who are the major employers of UK based Earth scientists.
- The 'Minerals Pathway' provides training in ore geology, mineral exploration and resource development; it is real exploration and re source development; it is recommended for candidates intending to pursue a career in the extractive (quarrying and mining) industries and in exploration.
Regardless of which pathway is followed, successful completion of the programme (which is accredited by the Geological Society) will lead to the degree qualification of BSc Geological Sciences.
Year1 - View timetable
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
Compulsory modules:
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
SOEE1020 | Ice Age Environments | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1042 | Our Habitable Planet | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1475 | GIS and Data Analysis | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE1570 | Geology 1 | 30 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1580 | Geology 2 | 30 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE1590 | Geology Tutorials | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
NB
- Failure to attend any part of a compulsory field class is likely to impact critically on subsequent understanding and performance.
- Failure to attend a significant part or all of a field class will inevitably require that the student attends the class in the following year. This may prevent progression to the next level of study until the field class has been attended.
Optional modules:
Students with A level Maths, and/or AS level Maths (grade A-C) or equivalent do NOT need to register for SOEE1481. Students with less than a C grade at AS level MUST register for SOEE1481.
Students entering the programme of study without A Level Chemistry at grade C or above MUST register for SOEE1135.
These modules are Pass for Progression.
SOEE1135 | Foundation Chemistry | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1481 | Foundation Mathematics 1 Pre-requisite for: SOEE1486 | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Students should select up to 20 credits from the following optional modules.
Students with A Level Pure or Further Maths may be excluded from studying SOEE1302 depending on the units taken and grade and should seek advice from the Module and/or Programme Leader before enrolling for this module.
Students with A Level Maths at Grade C or above should NOT register for SOEE1486.
SOEE1034 | Natural Hazards | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1120 | Vertebrate Evolution | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE1281 | Atmosphere | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE1302 | Advanced Mathematics 1 Pre-requisite for: SOEE1312 and SOEE2431 | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1312 | Advanced Mathematics 2 | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE1486 | Foundation Mathematics 2 Pre-requisite for: SOEE1302 | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Discovery modules:
Students may study up to 10 credits of Discovery Modules.
Year2 - View timetable
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
Students should select 10 credits from the following optional modules.
Compulsory modules:
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules.
Students who are enrolled for SOEE2631 Introduction to Geophysics may be eligible to enrol for SOEE2630 Fundamentals of Geophysics instead. SOEE2630 is recommended for students who are intending to take SOEE3800 Production Geosciences in Level 3. SOEE2630, if taken, is also Pass for Progression.
SOEE2010 | Chemistry of the Earth | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE2050 | Deformation Processes | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2062 | Sedimentary Processes | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE2095 | Research and Career Skills | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE2145 | Palaeoecology, Palaeobiology and Evolution | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE2180 | Field, Map and GIS Skills | 20 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE2590 | Mineralogy and Petrology | 20 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE2600 | Sedimentary Basins and Hydrocarbon Resources | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2631 | Introduction to Geophysics | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
NB
- Failure to attend any part of a compulsory field class is likely to impact critically on subsequent understanding and performance.
- Failure to attend a significant part or all of a field class will inevitably require that the student attends the class in the following year. This may prevent progression to the next level of study until the field class has been attended.
Optional modules:
Students on the four-year MGeol programme can select any one module from below.
Students on the three-year BSc degree programme or four-year BSc Industrial or International degree programme are recommended to select their optional module according to the following guidance depending on their preferred pathway in Level 3:
- Students for the 'Geology Pathway' can select any one module from below.
- Students for the 'Petroleum Pathway' are recommended to take SOEE1302 if they have not taken it in year 1 of study, otherwise students are recommended to take either SOEE2490 or SOEE2500.
- Students for the 'Minerals Pathway' are recommended to take SOEE2580.
- Candidates for the 'Environment Pathway' are recommended to take SOEE2460.
Note : Students with A Level Pure or Further Maths may be excluded from studying SOEE1301 depending on the units taken and grade and should seek advice from the Module and/or Programme Leader before enrolling for this module.
SOEE1302 | Advanced Mathematics 1 | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE1312 | Advanced Mathematics 2 | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2110 | Introductory Oceanography | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE2460 | Contaminated Land Studies: Integrating Business Skills and Science in Consultancy | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2490 | Formation Evaluation | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE2500 | Petroleum Reservoir Engineering | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2580 | Gemstones | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE2620 | Explosive Volcanism: Processes, deposits and resources | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
- Students who have taken SOEE1302 or SOEE1312 in their first year are not permitted to repeat these modules in their second year.
Year3 - View timetable
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
Compulsory modules:
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
SOEE3073 | Independent Field Projects (GS) | 40 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3470 | Plate Tectonics and Geodynamics | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3480 | Past Global Environmental Systems | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3490 | Mountain Belt Processes | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Optional modules:
Students should select up to 40 credits from the following options.
Students MUST select at least ONE of the following fieldtrip modules.
- Students on the 'Geology Pathway' can select any of the modules below
- Students on the 'Petroleum Pathway' MUST select SOEE3560
- Students on the 'Minerals Pathway' should select SOEE3660, though SOEE3040 is acceptable
- Students on the 'Environment Pathway' are recommended to select SOEE3720
SOEE3040 | Easter Field Class (Geological Science) | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3560 | Field Class: Petroleum Reservoir Architectures | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3660 | Geology and Mineral Exploration in Northern Ireland | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3720 | Environmental Geology in Northern Ireland | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
'Geology Pathway'
Students on the 'Geology Pathway' can select any modules from below.
Students who select SOEE2490 cannot take SOEE3521 or SOEE3600.
Students who select SOEE3110 Earth Systems Science cannot also take SOEE3171 Volcanic Processes.
Students should note that SOEE3521 Geology into Schools is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
SOEE2490 | Formation Evaluation | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3060 | Advanced Sedimentology and its Applications | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3092 | Applied Micropalaeontology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3102 | Isotope Geochemistry | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3110 | Earth System Science: Biogeochemical Cycles | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3135 | Engineering Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3171 | Volcanic Processes | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3190 | Earth Observations from Space | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3282 | Groundwater | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3450 | Structural Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3460 | High-Temperature Processes in the Earth | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE3521 | Earth and Environmental Sciences into Schools | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE3600 | Ore Deposits and their Exploitation | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3630 | Strategic Energy Issues | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3800 | Production Geosciences | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
'Petroleum Pathway'
Students on the 'Petroleum Pathway' should select SOEE3060, SOEE3450 and SOEE3800 and, if they still have sufficient credits available, should select either SOEE2490 or SOEE3630.
SOEE2490 | Formation Evaluation | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3060 | Advanced Sedimentology and its Applications | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3450 | Structural Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3630 | Strategic Energy Issues | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3800 | Production Geosciences | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
'Minerals Pathway'
Students on the 'Minerals Pathway' should select SOEE3600, SOEE3450 and one or two modules from SOEE3460, SOEE3102 and SOEE3135.
SOEE3102 | Isotope Geochemistry | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3135 | Engineering Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3450 | Structural Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3460 | High-Temperature Processes in the Earth | 10 credits | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
SOEE3600 | Ore Deposits and their Exploitation | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
'Environment Pathway'
Students on the 'Environment Pathway' should select SOEE3110, SOEE3135 and SOEE3282 and, if they still have sufficient credits available, should select SOEE3450.
SOEE3110 | Earth System Science: Biogeochemical Cycles | 10 credits | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
SOEE3135 | Engineering Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3282 | Groundwater | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
SOEE3450 | Structural Geology | 10 credits | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 29/05/2019
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