Undergraduate Course: Geomorphology (GEGR08002)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will discuss the present use and historical development of major concepts in geomorphology; uniformitarianism and catastrophism, magnitude and frequency of geomorphic events, ideas of landform equilibrium and evolution, the importance of temporal and spatial scale. Methods and strategies adopted in landform explanation and the endogenic and exogenic factors affecting landform development will also be covered.
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| Course description |
This course focuses on many aspects of Geomorphology; including erosion, fluvial systems, the morphology and behaviour of glaciers and ice sheets, global morphology and its relationship to tectonic processes, and landscape development through time. Megafloods and their importance on landscape evolution on Earth will also be compared to geomorphological features and processes on Mars in the final lecture.
This course is open to all university students but priority for places is given to students on the Geography degree programmes, other Geoscience degrees and Sustainable Development.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
157 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Students are required to pass both the degree coursework and the exam in order to pass the course.
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
65 %,
Coursework
35 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Class assessment: 4 tutorial assignments of 600 words each and 4 practical assignments.
Degree assessment: 2000 word essay = 35%, One two-hour exam (Multiple choice + problems and essay) = 65%. Resubmitted essay or resit examination where necessary.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Geomorphology | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Geomorphology | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of the scope and main areas of Geomorphology
- classify and describe landforms in a variety of environmental settings
- demonstrate a knowledge of systems theory as applied to geomorphology, specifically with regards to the concepts of feedback, thresholds, and equilibrium
- demonstrate a broad understanding of the theories of Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism, and appreciation and knowledge of the history of geomorphological research
- demonstrate an ability to analyze geomorphological systems in terms of resisting and driving forces
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Reading List
A variety of reading is recommended throughout the course including textbooks and academic papers. The following two textbooks are suggested as a starting point:
1. Summerfield, M.A. (1991) Global Geomorphology. Longman, London.
2. Anderson, R.S. and Anderson, S.P. (2010) Geomorphology : The Mechanics and Chemistry of Landscapes. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the scope and main areas of Geomorphology, including an awareness of spatial and temporal scales, and the importance of surface processes in the creation of landforms.
Students will also be able to demonstrate an ability to use and evaluate data with numerical, statistical and cartographical methods.
Finally, students will be able to effectively synthesize and communicate scientific findings both orally and in writing. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Attendance at four compulsory practicals is required (either Tue 9.00-10.50, Wed 10.00-12.00 or Thur 11.10-13.00) and five tutorials (Monday to Friday mornings - times vary) are also held |
| Keywords | GEGR08002,geomorphology,physical,glaciers,tectonics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Anthony Newton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2546
Email: Anthony.Newton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Philip Horey
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: philip.horey@ed.ac.uk |
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