- 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 in
different situations, ranging from scientific and
industry reports, to group
and individual oral presentations, and from blogs and
outreach articles, to
news 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 students
develop appropriate standards of numeracy, but also
includes options allowing
some to acquire much higher-level skills. In 3rd year,
students are given
specific training in Python programme and analysis of
large, complex data sets.
Those wishing to develop their mathematical and/or
computing skills to a higher
level can choose from a range of additional optional
courses across all years
of the programme. General skills in the use computer
packages for document
preparation, graphics and design, data analysis and
research are provided
throughout the Geology programme. Additional training
during 3rd and 4th year
involves the use of industry software, including GIS
packages, graphics
packages used for processing and displaying Earth
Science/Geographical data
sets, 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 addressed
through group exercises in all years of the Geology
programme, including
in-class presentations, group lab-sessions where
students use research
equipment, 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 developed
through interaction with the assessment process in all
years: students must
learn how to meet deadlines for submission of
continuous assessment material
and how to set aside appropriate time to prepare for
end of year examinations.
Explicit and implicit penalties and rewards provide
feedback. Time management
is integral to the student???s independent mapping
project. There is a progressive transfer over the four
years of the
Geology programme of responsibility for learning away
from formal instruction
to individual study, culminating in a student-led
mapping dissertation in 4th
year.
- Problem
Solving: Skills to recognise and articulate a
problem and then apply
appropriate conceptual frameworks and methods to solve
it. These skills are
developed 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 for
student-led independent, but academically directed,
project work in year 4.
- Innovation
and Creativity: Ability to take dispersed and
often disparate information and
from these construct or compose a coherent and
self-consistent position on a
given proposition.
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