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ESC-20110 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ESC-20110 - Earth's Changing Landscapes
Coordinator: Angela Turner Tel: +44 1782 7 34955
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Glaciers, volcanoes, coastal erosion, floods…Earth’s landscapes are not just spectacular, they’re crucial to understanding our planet’s past, present, and future. In the face of climate change, natural hazards, and increasing environmental pressures, the study of Geomorphology - the science of landscapes - has never been more relevant.
In this module, you’ll explore the dynamic processes and connections between climate, tectonics, human activity, and Earth’s changing landscapes. Through interactive lectures, online resources and student-led Journal Clubs, you’ll critically engage with cutting-edge scientific literature and real research and deepen your understanding of Earth systems. You’ll also learn how to analyse remote-sensing imagery using tools like Sentinel Hub and Google Earth, gaining valuable skills in recognising geomorphological features, interpreting landscapes, and identifying the processes behind them.
Assessments are designed to help you evaluate research, interpret landscape evolution, and convey complex ideas to diverse audiences - all vital skills for careers in environmental science, geography, planning, or conservation.

Aims
The primary aim of this module is to help students develop a clear geomorphological understanding of landscapes, and of landscape change over time, at local and global scales. The second aim is to increase students' confidence and ability in working with remotely-sensed imagery and in using high-level peer-reviewed research sources. We focus on the connections between environment, process and form in landscape development, and the module is designed to give students the opportunity to:
- investigate geographically variable controls on geomorphic processes, and their impact on landscape diversity;
- consider landscape change over short and long-term timescales, including the accelerating impacts of climate change, and the implications of landscape change in both human and environmental contexts;
- make detailed explorations of a range of case study landscapes using remotely-sensed imagery and research literature.
Students will also synthesise, summarise and communicate landscape process and form to a range of audiences via the creation of a teaching resource aimed at GCSE Geography, Geology and Environment students.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify and explain spatial variability in geomorphic processes, and the associated diversity of landforms and landscapes, at local and global scales: 1
describe and explain the changing nature of the Earth's landscapes over time in relation to key controls such as climate change and plate tectonics: 1,2
use remotely-sensed imagery to identify, interpret and illustrate a range of global landscapes at local and global scales: 1,2
illustrate the dynamic, plural and contested nature of the subject area, and explain the role played by geographers, geoscientists and environmental scientists in advancing knowledge and understanding through both academic and applied research: 1,2
design a learning resource for GCSE-level Geography, Geology and Environment students.: 2

Study hours

Active learning:
- 22 hours Interactive lectures
- 22 hours weekly engagement with online learning materials related to lectures

Independent study hours:
- 46 hours independent study reading journal literature and searching for remote sensing or bathymetric imagery
- 40 hours Independent work on Assessment 1 (Journal Club Portfolio)
- 20 hours Independent work on Assessment 2 (Teaching pamphlet)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 70%
Journal Club Portfolio
Students will choose three topics from the module Journal Club case studies and content to use in their reviews and illustrate the diversity of global landscapes. The portfolio (~2.75 k words) should contain a critical discussion on three of the provided key journal articles and their own wider reading around the topic. This can focus on three different landscapes, OR one geomorphology paper and two different landscapes. Each landscape topic should be supported by a relevant, annotated remotely sourced image and should be around 750 words long. Students should consider how their three chosen articles relate to each other. At the end, students will need to include a reflection on their experience of taking part in the Journal Club (around 500 words).

2: Assignment weighted 30%
Teaching pamphlet
Students will choose one landscape (either covered in the module or their own choice) and create a teaching resource (four sides of A4, approximately 750 words) for GCSE-level Geography, Geology and Environment students. In the pamphlet, they should annotate images from remote sensing and/or bathymetric surveying, and use peer-reviewed literature to explain the geomorphic processes behind the landscape feature/s over a range of timescales. The pamphlet should also cover how current or future climate change will impact the landscape features, and discuss the link between people and the environment, with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025