- A broad
knowledge base in geology and related disciplines and
an ability to understand,
integrate, and extend it so that all fundamental
geological concepts are
accessible.
- Ability
to recognise and use subject-specific theories,
paradigms, concepts and
principles.
- Knowledge
of the structure and composition of the Earth, from
core to atmosphere.
understanding of processes within it, together with
those that influence its
surface but which originate within the atmosphere,
hydrosphere, cryosphere and
biosphere, or external to the Earth; and an
understanding of the cyclic fluxes
and interactions between these reservoirs.
- Knowledge
of the nomenclature and classification of rocks,
minerals, fossils and
geological structures, and understanding of how this
knowledge may be applied
to resolve geological problems.
- Knowledge
of the fundamentals of chemistry, physics, biology and
mathematics needed to
provide insight into these Earth processes (with
levels of expertise varying
according to choices of more generalist or more
specialist courses at honours
level).
- Competency
in both field and laboratory skills, and in data
analysis, interpretation and
presentation that permit the successful pursuit of
pure or applied problems in
geology.
- Appreciation
of the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature
of the Earth Sciences,
and the ability to integrate diverse datasets to
problem solve.
- Ability
to process and interpret large, complex, datasets, to
hypothesis set and test,
and to function as a numerate, literate scientist able
to prove insight and
guidance related to real-world problems and issues.
- Ability
to apply knowledge and understanding to address
familiar, unresolved and more
open-ended problems.
- Ability
to collect, analyse, synthesise, summarise and
inter-relate diverse processes and
facts, to formulate and test hypotheses and reach
conclusions.
- Profound
knowledge and understanding making intelligible Earth
Science research
frontiers in selected areas chosen by the student in
honours year(s).
- Understanding
of the limits of present knowledge and limitations of
present data on important
Earth Science issues and controversies.
These outcomes are ensured through a
combination of field,
lecture, laboratory and tutorial classes and a diverse
range of assessment
throughout all years of the Geology programme. Years 1
and 2 provide a
foundation to the broad area of Earth Science, during
which students can also
take a range of optional courses from across the
University. Year 3 provides
professional training in key aspects of modern Geology,
with the additional
choice of applied geology optional courses. Year 4
allows students to take a
range of optional courses from across the GeoSciences,
whilst they also conduct
a large, independent field-based research project.
Professional/subject-specific/practical
skills
- Ability
to identify and differentiate rocks, minerals,
fossils, other Earth materials and Earth structures
in the field, as hand specimens and using laboratory
techniques including microscopy and spectroscopic
analysis.
- Skill
to observe and record original field and laboratory
data and then apply these to evaluate and resolve
geological and geotechnical problems.
- Ability
to assemble and analyse incomplete and varied
observational data and develop testable hypotheses,
predictions or explanations from them.
- Skills
to recognise associations between geological
observations and then integrate them into their 3D
and 4D (space-time) frameworks.
- Ability
to devise and carry out an independent field-based
project, including the formulation and testing of
hypotheses whilst in the process of carrying out the
project.
- The
integration of field-based, experimental and
theoretical principles needed for the Earth
Sciences.
- Ability
to carry out accurate measurements using a range of
techniques and data acquisition systems.
- Basic
computer programming and numerical methods and
qualitative approaches and their application to
problem solving applied in the Earth Sciences.
- Communicate
research findings with clarity and logic both in
written and oral format.
DPS
Transferable skills
- Presentation
and Communication: Skills to communicate in
written, numerical, graphical and
verbal forms, in ways that are appropriate to
different audiences and indifferent situations,
ranging from scientific and industry reports, to group
and individual oral presentations, and from blogs and
outreach articles, tonews articles and essays.
- Numeracy
and IT: Skills to carry out quantitative
analysis of data, and determine the
reliability of the data. The curriculum is designed to
ensure that all studentsdevelop appropriate standards
of numeracy, but also includes options allowing
some to acquire much higher-level skills. In 3rd year,
students are givenspecific training in Python
programme and analysis of large, complex data sets.
Those wishing to develop their mathematical and/or
computing skills to a higherlevel can choose from a
range of additional optional courses across all years
of the programme. General skills in the use computer
packages for documentpreparation, graphics and design,
data analysis and research are provided
throughout the Geology programme. Additional training
during 3rd, 4th and 5thyear involves the use of
industry software, including GIS packages, graphics
packages used for processing and displaying Earth
Science/Geographical datasets, and software used in
exploration, geophysical, hydrogeology and site
management/exploration sectors.
- Teamwork:Ability
to contribute effectively to team objectives and
interact productively
with others both in project-related settings and in
meetings. This is addressedthrough group exercises in
all years of the Geology programme, including
in-class presentations, group lab-sessions where
students use researchequipment, mock-industry
presentations to panels of outside industry experts,
and group fieldwork mini-projects.
- Self-management
and Personal Development: Time management
skills, ability to develop
self-managed learning and self-evaluation. Time
management skills are developedthrough interaction
with the assessment process in all years: students
must
learn how to meet deadlines for submission of
continuous assessment materialand how to set aside
appropriate time to prepare for end of year
examinations.
Explicit and implicit penalties and rewards provide
feedback. Time managementis integral to the student???s
independent mapping project. There is a progressive
transfer over the five years of the
MEarthSci programme of responsibility for learning
away from formal instructionto individual study,
culminating firstly in a student-led mapping
dissertation
in 4th year, and finally a student-led independent
research project in 5thyear.
- Problem
Solving: Skills to recognise and articulate a
problem and then apply
appropriate conceptual frameworks and methods to solve
it. These skills aredeveloped during practical
sessions throughout the Geology programme. In 3rd
year, emphasis is placed on larger, integrated
problem-solving exercises,during which students are
taught how to process complex data sets using a
diverse range of skills and knowledge. This provides
the foundation forstudent-led independent, but
academically directed, project work in years 4 and
5.
- Innovation
and
Creativity: Ability to take dispersed and
often disparate information and
from these construct or compose a coherent and
self-consistent position on agiven proposition.
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