2020/21 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BSc Geological Sciences

Total credits: 360

Entry requirements:

Admissions to this degree programme are now closed; students should apply to the successor programme at Leeds, BSc. Geology.

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:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-earth-sciences-environmental-sciences-and-environmental-studies.pdf

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 and transfer onto the BSc Geological Sciences (Industrial) degree variant
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.

The pathway structure of previous years has been relaxed in the light of Covid-19 adaptations. The degree offers a wide array of core modules and option choices at level 3 which support a wide array of different potential career options. 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:

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:

Discovery modules:

Discovery modules:

Year2 - View timetable

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

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, if taken, is also Pass for Progression.

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:

Discovery modules:

Year3 - View timetable

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

Compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Students MUST select ONE of the following fieldtrip modules.

Students should select 40 credits from the following options.

Students may only take one, ten credit module at level 2 (SOEE2490 or SOEE2500) in their third year choices.

Year5 - View timetable

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

Last updated: 28/05/2021 09:04:11

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