Geography, Geology and the Environment

Overview

Our Environmental programmes were ranked joint 2nd nationally for overall student satisfaction in the 2012 National Student Survey and our course occupy a top 5 position in the Guardian Good University Guide. Our Environment and Sustainability degree was shortlisted for a prestigious National 'Green Gown' Award

The study of environmental problems and solutions is a growing academic field as societies around the world face increasing environmental threats posed by such problems as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion and pollution.  In order to tackle contemporary environmental problems effectively, it is essential that societies have well trained people who are able to analyse the scientific, social, economic and political aspects of these complex problems.

The Environment and Sustainability degree at Keele University aims to produce graduates who are able to cross the traditional science-social science divide and who are prepared to work in a range of sectors.  Graduates will have a broad and deep understanding of environmental problems and be conversant with strategies for moving towards sustainability in many different contexts. 

Keele University has an international reputation for its research and teaching on environmental issues. The Environment and Sustainability degree is taught by a team of environmental specialists working in the fields of environmental science, geoscience, life science, chemical science, politics and international relations, psychology, business management and health. It therefore provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary degree with scope for specialisation in emerging and innovative fields such as clean technology, environmental citizenship, and sustainable urban regeneration.

What our students say:

"The Environment and Sustainability programme made us as students feel empowered. Without this and the support offered from the staff i do not think i would have achieved half of what I have done." - 3rd year students, 2011/12

What we offer

• An exciting, innovative and interdisciplinary approach to Environment and Sustainability issues incorporating the disciplines of geosciences, life sciences, politics and international relations, management, sociology, human and physical geography and health
• An integrated programme of fieldwork opportunities allowing the development of practical and investigative skills and a 'real-world' appreciation of environmental problems
• An integrated work-placement module and many opportunities to engage with environmental professionals
• First-hand training and experiences in a wide range of specialist laboratory, analytical, computing, presentation, writing and research skills relevant to a broad range of environment-related careers, from non-governmental organisations and charities to environmental management and regulation
• Access to modern, well-equipped lecture and laboratory-based teaching and research facilities in a recently refurbished building in the centre of campus and the new 'Sustainability Hub' building which incorporates a range of innovative sustainable technologies
• Friendly and approachable staff with leading reputations in their fields, many of whom have won a National University award, and a strong commitment to dynamic and supportive high-quality teaching 

Course Content

The study of environmental problems and how best to address these is a rapidly growing academic field as societies around the world face increasing environmental threats from climate change, loss of biodiversity, depletion of resources and pollution. In order to tackle contemporary environmental problems effectively, it is essential to have people who are conversant with both the scientific aspects and the human causes and costs of these complex problems.

The Environment and Sustainability degree at Keele offers an exciting opportunity to provide future graduates with the necessary skills and experience to cross the traditional science–social sciences divide, enabling them to work in a wide range of sectors and environment-related careers. Graduates will develop a broad and deep understanding of different global environmental problems and be conversant with strategies for moving towards sustainability in many different contexts.

Keele University has an international reputation for its research and teaching on environmental issues. The Environment and Sustainability degree, one of the first of its kind in the UK, is taught by a team of environmental specialists working in the fields of geoscience, life science, chemical science, environmental technology, politics and international relations, sociology, management and health. It therefore provides a fully interdisciplinary degree with scope for specialisation in emerging and innovative fields such as environmental technology, environmental citizenship and sustainable urban regeneration.

First year

The first year is a broad-based introductory programme that provides a platform from which knowledge, understanding and skills are developed. Alongside core modules, students have the opportunity to choose additional option modules to suit their particular areas of interests. During the first year, students will gain an understanding of different environmental problems and sustainability issues through both the natural and social science perspectives. In addition, students will develop skills in the practical application of this understanding within different contexts, including how these issues are tackled within different business environments.

Core level-1 modules include:

•  Introduction to Environment and Sustainability
• People and the Environment
• Ecology and Environment
• Introductory Geology for the Environmental Sciences
• Greening Business: Employability and Sustainability
• The Politics of Sustainability

Second year

During the second year students will gain a more in depth understanding of specific environmental and sustainability disciplines, and will look in more detail at issues such as corporate social responsibility, the links between health and the environment, the politics and international relations of the environment and the scientific study of human impacts on the environment. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their learning to the professional environment and find out first-hand about the type of work they might do after graduation through carrying out a work placement as part of a core work-based learning module. In addition, students will continue to develop practical-based research skills to help prepare them for their third year independent research project. The second year also includes a week-long UK-based residential field course which provides students with an exciting opportunity to study environment and sustainability issues in the ‘real world’.

In the second year all students also have an opportunity to study abroad for one semester at one of our partner universities, including institutions in North America, Scandinavia, Australia and South Africa.

Third year

The third year allows students to specialise further in their particular areas of interest, or gives them the flexibility to retain a broad coverage of environmental and sustainability issues. Students undertake an independent research dissertation tailored to their individual research interests, a group-based research project on a topical area of environment and sustainability research such as the sustainability of the Olympic games and an interdisciplinary investigation on aspects of different environmental and renewable technologies. In addition, students have a broad range of taught modules to choose from, spanning topics such as natural hazards and water resources, citizenship and the environment and sustainability and social justice.

Fieldwork and opportunities to study abroad

Field courses provide students with ‘real world’ and ‘hands-on’ experience of a range of topical environmental problems and sustainability issues, and an opportunity to meet professionals working in the environment and sustainability sectors. They also enable students to continue to develop the practical and investigative skills necessary for a broad range of environment-related careers. Our current field courses in the first year include day trips within the local area, a residential trip to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Mid-Wales and five days in North Wales studying soils, hydrology and forest management and investigating the environmental legacy of copper mining on Anglesey. In the 2nd year students choose from 2 residential field courses, a week-long UK-based residential field trip to explore, among other things, sustainability issues of land management, resource use and energy generation, and sustainability issues among rural communities and an overseas option to study environmental management issues in different environments.

There are also exciting opportunities for studying abroad, both through exchange programmes with universities in different parts of the world, including Australia, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and the US and Canada, and through carrying out research abroad as part of the third year dissertation.

In 2011/12 four Environment and Sustainability students started a project to convert a bungalow on the University campus into a 'Sustainable Student House'. The students want to 'live what they are learning' and to help other students to learn how to live more sustainably. This opportunity is available to future Environment and Sustainability students, along with many other opportunities to get involved with the exciting sustainability initiatives at Keele University.

Codes and Combinations

All students who study a science subject are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science (with Honours) (BSc Hons).

Single Honours and Foundation Courses available:

Teaching and Assessment

The Environment and Sustainability degree programme is delivered by a team of dedicated environmental and sustainability specialists with leading reputations in their fields and a strong commitment to dynamic and supportive high-quality teaching. Many staff have won awards at National or University level, and have received funding to develop teaching innovations.

Teaching throughout the course combines traditional lecture-based teaching, small group workshops, seminars and tutorials, and fieldwork and laboratory classes for the development of practical skills. Assessments include traditional examinations, essays and technical reports, alongside more innovative types of assessment, such as oral and poster presentations, reflective portfolios and group projects, designed to enable students to develop and gain confidence in a wide range of employability skills.

The course is designed to ensure that students experience a broad range of different teaching and assessment styles and are able to develop and demonstrate a varied portfolio of transferable skills applicable to a range of future careers.

Programme specifications (new window)

Skills and Careers

All organisations, from private business to local government, increasingly need to engage with environment and sustainability issues, hence this is one of the fastest growing areas of employment opportunities. A degree in Environment and Sustainability will prepare graduates for a broad range of environment and non-environment-related careers, including careers in non-governmental organisations, charities, local and regional government, environmental management and environmental regulatory bodies and industry.

Throughout the course, students will have many opportunities to work and engage with environmental professionals, through lectures and seminars given by external speakers, through their third year project where students have the opportunity of working directly with environmental organisations, through engaging with environmental professionals during their field courses and through undertaking an environment and sustainability work placement as part of their course.

Visit our Careers pages (new window)

UK/EU Admissions
Tel: 01782 734005
Email: admissions.ukeu@keele.ac.uk

International Admissions
Tel: +44(0) 1782 733274
Email: international@keele.ac.uk

Course Information
Tel: 01782 733615
Email: gge@keele.ac.uk