Environmental Geoscience BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

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The Environmental Geoscience BSc program at the University of Liverpool equips students with comprehensive knowledge and skills in environmental challenges, emphasizing practical fieldwork and data analysis. Through a blend of lectures, workshops, and field experiences, graduates develop expertise in problem-solving, coding, report writing, and communication, preparing them for careers in environmental protection, research, and industry.

Program Outline

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Environmental Geoscience BSc (Hons) - University of Liverpool

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Degree Overview:

This program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address environmental challenges, particularly those related to climate change and sustainability. The program emphasizes a practical approach, focusing on applying knowledge to real-world situations. Graduates will possess a broad understanding of environmental science and a diverse skillset encompassing problem-solving, numeracy, coding, fieldwork, data acquisition, and report writing and communication.

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Outline:

The Environmental Geoscience BSc (Hons) program is a three-year full-time program. It is structured into three academic years, each with a set of compulsory and optional modules.

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Year One:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Experiments in Physical Geography (ENVS120): This module uses laboratory experiments to provide hands-on experience with fundamental physical, biological, and chemical processes in physical geography, focusing on human-environment interactions.
• Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils (ENVS118): This module introduces sedimentology and palaeontology, covering the origin of sediment, sedimentary processes, structures, and the formation of sedimentary rocks.
It also explores the importance of sedimentary rocks for various resources and the study of fossils for understanding evolution and environmental change.
• Introduction to Field Geology (ENVS109): This field module provides practical training in field techniques and experience working with different rock types and tectonic structures to solve geological problems.
• Introduction to Structural Geology and Geological Maps (ENVS156): This module introduces structural geology and geological mapping, covering geological structures at various scales, stress and strain analysis, and the interpretation of geological maps.
• Study Skills and GIS (Earth Science) (ENVS101): This module introduces key skills for success in Earth Science, including academic integrity, exam skills, employability, 2D/3D visualization, GIS, and basic computer skills.
• Optional Modules:
• Environmental Chemistry (ENVS153): This module introduces fundamental chemical properties and concepts relevant to environmental sciences, covering atomic structure, elements, molecules, bonding, and chemical reactions.
• Theory and Laboratory Experiments in Earth Surfaces Processes (ENVS165): This module explores fundamental physical and chemical processes in physical geography through lectures and laboratory-based problem-solving.
• Essential Mathematical Skills (ENVS117): This module provides a foundation in mathematics for students without a strong background, covering pure mathematics, mechanics, and statistics.
• Climate, Atmosphere and Oceans (ENVS111): This module explores the climate system, focusing on the structure and circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and their interactions.
• Introduction to Climate Change and Mitigation (ENVS189): This module introduces the concept of Earth System interactions, the causes and consequences of climate change, and mitigation measures.

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Year Two:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Applied Geophysics (ENVS216): This module introduces the principles and applications of various geophysical methods used for exploration purposes, including seismic, electrical, gravity, and magnetic methods.
• Environmental Geophysics (ENVS258): This module builds on the theory of applied geophysics by introducing practical experience, data analysis, and interpretation of field data.
• Geomorphology: Ice, Sea and Air (ENVS252): This module explores the geomorphic systems of ice, sea, and air, focusing on the processes that shape terrestrial landforms and the impact of these systems on environmental change.
• Research Skills (Earth Science) (ENVS200): This module develops research skills essential for completing the Year 3 dissertation project, covering IT skills, data visualization, referencing, project planning, and risk assessment.
• Field Mapping Techniques (ENVS293): This residential field class provides practical training in mapping techniques, including notebook construction, geological and geomorphological mapping, and the creation of cross-sections for 3D visualization.
• Optional Modules:
• Catchment Hydrology (ENVS217): This module focuses on water above and below the land surface, its circulation, and distribution within drainage catchments, covering the hydrological cycle and its governing factors.
• Changing Environments (ENVS214): This module examines global environmental changes impacting the Earth, focusing on freshwater and coastal wetlands, lakes, and the reconstruction of past climatic and environmental conditions.
• Earth and Environmental Data Science (ENVS229): This module introduces fundamentals of Earth and environmental data science, covering methods for collating and analyzing Earth Science data and using programming to simulate Earth processes.

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Year Three:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Field Project and Dissertation (ENVS354): This module involves an independent research project, allowing students to plan and undertake a field or lab-based project in an area of their choosing.
• The Living, Evolving Earth (ENVS320): This module explores long-term evolutionary patterns and the links between the evolution of life, climate, and environmental change, covering evolutionary theory, key events in the history of life, and the interpretation of the fossil record.
• Applied Geology and Geohazards of the Canary Islands (ENVS375): This module combines lectures, seminars, and a field class to explore the geology and geohazards of the Canary Islands, focusing on the application of geological and geohazard analysis in a specific context.
• Geophysics Field School (ENVS362): This module provides practical training in exploration and environmental geophysics, including seismic, gravity, magnetic, and electrical methods, through field-based or online exercises.
• Applied Environmental Geoscience (ENVS331): This module uses practical tasks analyzing real-world datasets to consolidate and apply fundamental geoscience skills relevant to applied environmental geoscience, focusing on data analysis, visualization, and professional report preparation.
• Optional Modules:
• GeoEnergy (ENVS337): This module provides a background to the GeoEnergy sector, focusing on fluid flow through geological structures and rock units, and the development of technologies for a carbon-neutral world.
• Mineral Resources (ENVS326): This module explores the formation, distribution, and sustainability of mineral deposits, emphasizing geochemistry, quantitative methods, and the role of economics and politics in mineral exploration.
• Climate Change - A Critical Review (ENVS389): This module examines the impacts of climate change on humans and ecosystems, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of climate modeling approaches and the global carbon cycle.
• Simulating Environmental Systems (ENVS397): This module teaches students to write and use numerical models of environmental systems, including geomorphic, geophysical, oceanographic, and ecological models.
• Human-Environmental Interactions (ENVS315): This module explores the intersections of human-environment interactions and environmental humanities, emphasizing interdisciplinarity and examining research areas such as health studies, data sciences, and climatology.
• Applied Earthquake and Volcano Seismology (ENVS388): This module introduces the fundamentals of applied seismology, focusing on the analysis and interpretation of seismic data to constrain geological processes and evaluate earthquake and volcanic hazards.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the module and may include:

• Written exams
• Practical laboratory and computer examinations
• Coursework submissions (essays, scientific papers, briefing notes, lab/field notebooks, reports, portfolios)
• Oral and poster presentations
• Contributions to group projects
• Problem-solving exercises
Assessment tasks are designed to mirror those that graduates are likely to undertake in their professional careers, emphasizing authentic tasks and formats.

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Teaching:

Teaching is delivered through a combination of:

• Lectures
• Practical work
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Fieldwork
The program emphasizes learning through doing, with a significant focus on fieldwork. Students typically receive 15-20 hours of formal teaching per week and complete 50-100 days of residential fieldwork throughout the program.

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Careers:

The skills gained through this program are applicable to a wide range of careers, including:

• Environmental protection and consultancy
• Planning and conservation
• Geotechnical, mineral, and energy resource industries
• Scientific research
• Academia

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Other:

• The program is delivered by the Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences.
• The University of Liverpool has a partnership with the Marine Biological Association, providing students access to specialist staff, laboratories, and equipment.
• The program has close links with the National Oceanography Centre.
• Students can choose to study a language as part of or alongside their degree.
• The program is available to study as part of the XJTLU 2+2 program.

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UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year £9,250 Year in industry fee £1,850 Year abroad fee £1,385

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International fees

Full-time place, per year £26,400 Year abroad fee £13,200 Fees shown are for the academic year 2024/25. Please note that the Year Abroad fee also applies to the Year in China.