BSc Geophysics

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate a sound knowledge of the advanced mathematics used to describe, model, and quantify geophysical processes;
- demonstrate a broad understanding of the mechanisms that govern the dynamics of plate tectonics and how continents deform (from the micro to continental scale), and the most common monitoring methods (satellite geodesy, GPS, and InSAR);
- perform simple geophysical surveys, such as gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, resistivity, and seismic reflection and refraction, with guidance;
- demonstrate a detailed understanding of the most common geophysical techniques used to study the near-surface structure of the earth and explore for earth resources, such as gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, resistivity and seismic reflection and refraction surveys;
- demonstrate a good knowledge of a specialist field of geophysics, such as, formation and extraction of earth resources, natural hazards etc
- write computer programs to solve standard numerical and geophysical problems;
- evaluate the appropriateness of different methods of enquiry;
- perform simple error analysis and propagation.

Transferable (key) skills

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

- the ability to communicate knowledge and arguments in written and oral form;
- the ability to work effectively both individually and as a member of a team.

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 discipline;
- the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion.