MNatSc, BSc Natural Sciences

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

In addition to the outcomes achieved in Year 1, on completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate a broad understanding of core concepts, terminology, information, practical competencies and techniques which are standard features in a range of aspects of two disciplines in the natural sciences that provide an appropriate foundation for advanced study in these disciplines;
- develop a broad range of mathematical and data analysis skills appropriate to the disciplines studied.
- apply core practical skills (laboratory, computational, fieldwork) appropriate to the disciplines studied.
- apply generic and subject specific intellectual qualities to standard situations outside the context in which they were originally studied;
- appreciate and appropriately employ the main methods of enquiry in the subject and critically evaluate the appropriateness of different methods of enquiry;
- use a range of techniques to initiate and undertake the analysis of data and information;
- adjust to professional and disciplinary boundaries;
- effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms.
- awareness and understanding of interdisciplinary topics in modern scientific research.
- ability to search scientific literature for relevant information and communicate scientific ideas and concepts to a general audience and communicate effectively between traditional scientific disciplines.
- identify and set personal objectives for academic and career development
- recognise, evaluate and reflect on the transferable and subject specific skills relevant to their next steps decisions and understand the benefits of interdisciplinary training.
- ability to work efficiently as part of a team.
- ability to understand and engage in arguments about ethical issues related to careers and research in the natural sciences.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to practise as defined in the modules specified for the programme:

- qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment related to the subject areas studied;
- skills necessary for the exercising of personal responsibility;
- reflective writing and decision making.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will include:

- demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects/competencies of the discipline/profession to complex, albeit standard, situations and simple, albeit novel or atypical, instances;
- work that is often descriptive in nature but drawing on a wide variety of material;
- demonstrating basic professional competencies relevant to the natural sciences;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion.