Undergraduate Course: Global Change (GEGR08011)
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 | This course examines the dynamics of the Earth System, paying particular attention to the concepts of the systems, thresholds, feedbacks, sensitivity and fragility. We explore the importance of past events in understanding the present, and vice versa. |
| Course description |
This course examines the dynamics of ecosystems and the environment from local to global scales. In the course we focus on:
1. Understanding the drivers of environmental change from decades to millennia.
2. The responses of Polar, Temperate and Tropical regions to environmental change and their roles in further reinforcing change to both climate and ecosystems.
3. Human-environment interactions.
4. Methods and concepts that enable you to interpret environmental change.
We examine the concepts of systems, thresholds, feedbacks, sensitivity and fragility, and how this relates and aids our understanding of environmental change. We examine the importance of past events in understanding of environmental change and explore the importance of past events in understanding the present and future.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to 2nd year students only. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 120 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 18,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
170 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Degree Essay (50%)
24-Hour Take-Home Exam (50%)
Students are required to pass all summative assessments independently (40% or above) in order to pass the course.
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| Feedback |
Feedback is provided at multiple stages. Students submit tutorial assignments, and receive feedback on each piece of work they submit. Tutorial assignments cover written work, oral presentations and group work. There is a tutorial specifically on exam revision to familiarise students with the structure and style of the exam. Students receive detailed feedback on the degree essay. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the scope of environmental sensitivity and change and the diversity of scientific approaches to examining past, present and future environmental change.
- Be able to assess and analyse drivers of environmental change across Polar, Temperate and Tropical Regions.
- Discuss the merits and shortcomings of major concepts and theories and evidence presented in support of these.
- Develop reasoned arguments incorporating evidence and literature across an interdisciplinary research field.
- Take responsibility for learning via assigned reading, literature research and the preparation of class work and the degree essay.
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Reading List
| There is no text for this course- the content covered in the course is broad. The best, most appropriate, up to date and relevant information is to be found in the form of scientific papers and book chapters that will be provided throughout the course. Essential readings will be posted online the week before each lecture they are associated with. A list of additional but not essential readings will also be provided. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the scope and main areas of environmental sensitivity and change, and the scientific approaches to principle issues within the focus of the course.
Students will also be able to demonstrate an ability to acquire and apply specialist knowledge.
Finally, students will be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is open to 2nd year students only. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability. |
| Keywords | Global Change,Environmental Change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eva Panagiotakopulu
Tel: (0131 6)50 2531
Email: Eva.P@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Leigh Corstorphine
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: lcorstor@ed.ac.uk |
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