BSc (Hons) Environmental Science

• Year 1

• In your first year, you'll establish solid foundations across a range of scientific, legal and economic subject areas in order to explore environmental challenges and enable you to propose solutions. Field and laboratory work are key, and our residential field course promotes team building and provides you with an opportunity to gain experience with scientific equipment and data interpretation. Your personal tutor will support and guide you throughout the course.

  Core modules

  • The Physical Environment (ENVS1002)

    Introduction to the earth's lithosphere and hydrosphere and investigation of geochemical cycles.

  • The Biosphere (ENVS1003)

    This module will describe, illustrate and explain principles, processes and concepts relevant to understanding life on Earth and human impacts upon it.

  • Environmental Pollution (ENVS1007)

    Introduction to chemical properties and environmental behaviour of priority pollutants and training in the skills of scientific research by way of planning, field, laboratory work and data interpretation.

  • Environmental Management and Protection (ENVS1008)

    Introductory aspects of environmental sustainability. Critical evaluation of social, environmental and economic aspects of the environmental issues faced by our planet and how they may be solved by using regulation, the law, corporate social responsibility, specific European Union directives, impact assessments and environmental management systems.

  • Sustainability Science (ENVS1009)

    Students are introduced to environmental systems and sustainability at a variety of scales. Training in the skills of environmental investigations is delivered through field and laboratory work. Personal and professional development are supported through tutorials and workshops focusing on transferable skills and professionalism.

  • Global Environmental Challenges (ENVS1010)

    Students will consider contemporary global sustainability challenges in the context of social, economic and environmental systems. Within this inter-disciplinary framework, students explore and formulate solutions to a range of complex problems and consider the role of environmental sector professional operating across a variety of scales.

• Year 2

• Year 2 covers the themes of economics and resources, global sustainable development and environmental law and policy. Your research skills will be developed through a residential field course in the UK or overseas. Our optional diving module will qualify you for underwater work with the HSE SCUBA certification. You'll also have the opportunity to study the following topics: biodiversity and conservation; climate change; marine conservation; environmental management.

  Core modules

  • Environmental Field and Research Skills (ENVS2001)

    A range of professional skills, including report writing, GIS, statistics and field and laboratory techniques are developed. Generic principles of scientific research are explored and subsequently applied to a range of environmental settings.

  • Environmental Expedition (ENVS2002)

    Students engage in the full cycle of a scientific project: literature research, hypothesis development, experiment planning, field-laboratory work, health & safety issues, data analysis and presentation. Personal development planning and professional skills are advanced in preparation for and during a residential field course through contact with professionals in the environmental sector.

  • Environmental Management and Sustainability (ENVS2003)

    The module covers areas of knowledge essential for all environmental science graduates: ecological economics, life supporting resources and environmental law.

  • Environmental Issues and Communication (ENVS2004)

    Through immersion in contemporary environmental issues, this module develops the knowledge and skills necessary to locate, analyse, evaluate and communicate scientific information in a range of contexts and to a range of audiences. Students develop their professional skills, as well as the skills to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and decision makers, from scientific experts to the general public.

  • Placement Preparation (GEES2000)

    This module explores the role of placements, work experience and volunteering for enhancing employability whilst at university and as a future graduate. It considers placement options (types, durations) and supports students in developing applications and preparing for interviews.

  Optional modules

  • Weather and Climate (ENVS2005)

    Understanding weather and climate is essential for developing in-depth knowledge on how climate is changing today and will change in the future. This module will develop intellectual and practical skills in critical analysis of weather and climate data. In addition, an examination of the scientific evidence for current and predicted effects of weather and climate will be addressed.

  • Natural Ecosystems and Their Conservation (ENVS2006)

    This module introduces students to natural ecosystems, including (but not limited to) biological adaptation, diversity, conservation, restoration and management.

  • Geographical Information Systems (GGX2203A)

    Module provides grounding in theory and practical techniques of GIS. Lectures are on theory, methods and spatial literacy. Practical work covers stages of handling geospatial data, construction of GIS models and automation, provides exposure to a range of techniques in spatial analysis and visualisation, and gives context and experience to spatial literacy concepts. Knowledge and skills are developed in project work.

  • Managing Human Impacts in the Marine Environment (OS205)

    This module will introduce how human activities (such as fisheries, energy supply and mineral extraction) can impact the marine environment, including through pollution and biodiversity loss. The concepts of marine management and conservation will be introduced and methods of preventing and managing anthropogenic impacts will be introduced and evaluated and their role in marine conservation discussed.

  • Scientific Diving (OS207)

    This module allows suitably qualified students (HSE SCUBA or equivalent) to develop industry and research-relevant skills in measurement and monitoring in the underwater environment using professional SCUBA and related techniques. These will then be applied in a multi-disciplinary context to the planning, execution, analysis and reporting of a field-based sampling activity.

  • Pollution: Measurement and Mitigation (ENVS2008)

    This module introduces students to the science, measurement and regulation of environmental pollution including contaminant sources, pathways and impacts.

• Optional placement year

• You can take an optional placement year before completing your degree, an invaluable opportunity to gain workplace experience from research institutes, companies and government organisations. Previous placements have included the Marine Biological Association (marine ecology, surveying and conservation), Pell Frischmann (environmental consultancy), the National Trust (landscape and habitat conservation), Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (species inventories), and the Eden Project (ecological studies).

  Core modules

  • Placement (GEES3000)

    This module is a placement position, where a student undertakes a programme of work within a host company or organisation. The placement occurs within a yearlong period, meeting minimum duration requirements. Students experience applying their degree, experience professional practice, develop enhanced subject-related knowledge and skills, and undergo personal-professional development.

• Final year

• In the final year, you will develop an understanding of concepts and practice of environmental impact assessment. You’ll learn how to debate and evaluate contemporary environmental issues, and your research project will see you working alongside world-leading scientists in state-of-the-art facilities. A choice of modules across four pathways allows you to pursue interests within the areas of climate change, environmental management and sustainability, biodiversity and conservation, and marine conservation.

  Core modules

  • The Environmental Professional (ENVS3012)

    A series of real-world scenarios, which typical professionals in the environmental sector are exposed to, will be considered in an objective, scientific and interdisciplinary manner, taking into account a range of stakeholders. The material and professional development will be supported with guest speakers, seminar and workshops.

  • Global Environmental Solutions (ENVS3013)

    In this module students will take an interdisciplinary solution-based approach to contemporary global environmental issues employing both ecological economics principles and environmental law.

  Optional modules

  • Research Project (ENVS3001)

    An independent research project in a specific aspect of environmental science.

  • Research Project with English Language Support (ENVS3003)

    An independent research project in a specific aspect of environmental science. Students will attend English language support sessions that apply scientific language in a research context and that aid adaptation to a different culture/ethos of research and plagiarism. Available to non-UK direct entrant Stage 4 students.

  • Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation (ENVS3011)

    The module introduces climate change adaptation and mitigation. Biotic and technological mitigation will be explored and evaluated in the context of different geographical settings.

  • Big Data & Spatial Analytics (GGX3204)

    This module provides an overview of advanced spatial analysis concepts and facilitates practice of data processing and management skills. Data manipulation through programming is introduced and the concept of big data is presented. Themes and practice around the acquisition, processing, analysis, visualisation and application of big data are explored, drawing on examples from across the natural and social sciences.

  • Marine Conservation Policy and Planning (OS307)

    This module explores issues surrounding the maintenance of a healthy marine environment. It will develop an understanding of marine governance, including policy frameworks and agencies responsible for implementing marine conservation strategy. Topics include the range of measures and approaches for successful marine conservation and the importance of taking holistic approaches to management, including policy and planning

  • Marine Pollution and Environmental Change (OS309)

    This module will consider the sources, transport, sinks and impacts of a wide range of pollutant types (including nutrients, trace elements, sediments, anthropogenic pollutants and carbon dioxide). Practical field techniques will be introduced and used to assess the environmental condition of estuarine waters. Emphasis will be placed on critical evaluating the links between human activities and marine water quality.

  • Biological Conservation (ENVS3015)

    This module examines the pursuit of biological conservation. Drawing on a wide range of case study material, in temperate and tropical, terrestrial and aqueous environments, the module examines the drivers and rationales for biological conservation, and the role of stakeholders, policies, legislation and practices in achieving it.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc (Hons) Environmental Science programme specification_4704