Compulsory modules

Academic, Professional and Field Skills
This module will introduce you to the essential skills required of Geographers, Geologists and Environmental Scientists. To introduce these skills to you we will explore our ‘living lab’ campus and take you on a series of four, one-day field courses in Staffordshire. The module will help you develop your own academic and professional practice, providing you with the foundations for not only completing your degree successfully, but also helping you think about future study or employment. 

Planet Earth – Our Environment
Explore the dynamic systems of Planet Earth, focusing on the interconnections between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. You will examine geological processes, weather and climate, oceanography, ecosystems, and be introduced to environmental analytics. Emphasis is placed on human impact on these systems, environmental sustainability, and contemporary issues such as climate change and resource management. Through lectures, lab work, and field studies, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of Earth's environment and the challenges it faces.

Human and Physical Geographies for a Changing World 
Explore the heart of Geography, connecting Human and Physical topics to help you achieve a detailed understanding of our increasingly complex world. Geography is an integrative subject, and we combine the study of landscape, climate change, and natural hazards with topics such as social exclusion, modernization, identity politics and (counter-)urbanisation. Putting this material in the context of big ideas like scientific uncertainty and Geography’s colonial framing, the module provides a strong foundation for further study in the subject. 

Applied Environment and Sustainability
Understanding and managing environmental issues, from global to local scales, requires multiple disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches for effective action. You will evaluate some of the main environmental, ecological, and sustainability problems that society faces and how can we address them. You will also develop report writing skills applied in an assessed fieldwork report.

Optional modules

Conservation Policy and Practice
Whether it is natural resource depletion, changing climate, protecting wilderness, saving endangered species, or living during a pandemic, we worry about the impacts society has on nature and vice versa. Conservation practices have emerged to safeguard the parts of the natural world we particularly value. However our ideas about nature are often multiple and contradictory,; and discussions about our duties to nature often disguise deeper claims about economic benefits and social equity. This module engages with interdisciplinary ideas about nature focusing on conservation approaches in policy and practice. 

Roots and Future: exploring sustainable places
In this module you will explore sustainability within the region, with a particular focus on Staffordshire (Keele's local area). Topics include environmental issues, renewable energy and community conservation efforts.  You will examine regional case studies, engage with local sustainability initiatives and learn about how these activities build on the regions rich geology, geography and history. Through interactive learning on and off campus, you will develop your knowledge of sustainability practices and identify strategies to enhance the regions' ecological resilience and community well-being and how these can be implemented beyond our locality of Staffordshire.

Compulsory modules

Earth’s Changing Landscape 
Glaciers, volcanoes, coastal erosion, floods... studying Earth’s spectacular landscapes is increasingly significant in the context of climate change and its impacts on human and physical environments. Landscapes tell us about Earth’s past, but also help us face the future as we battle natural hazards such as landslides and work to safeguard resources such as fresh water. This module explores Geomorphology, the science of landscapes, using a global range of examples supported by student-led analysis of remotely-sensed imagery and new scientific research.

Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing
Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing are essential tools and techniques for spatial data analysis and visualization. This module will teach you to collect, manage, and interpret data from satellite imagery and aerial photography. The course covers GIS software applications, spatial analysis, and map creation, emphasizing practical skills through hands-on projects. By the end of the module, you will be proficient in using foundational GIS and remote sensing technologies to solve real-world geographic and environmental problems. 

Human Impact on the Environment
Humans impact processes, conditions and components of our planet and biosphere on global, regional and local scales. Scientific understanding is key to managing these for better environmental and human well-being. You will explore issues from climate change and circular economy futures to pollution, biodiversity loss, and ocean health concerns. By the end of the module, you will be able to articulate the context of human impacts and evaluate the scientific evidence for potential solutions.  

Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment: Methods and Research Design
Enhance your employability with this hands-on module. You will acquire the specialist field, laboratory, social survey and computer-based research skills required to work in the environmental sector. You will acquire these skills by completing an Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment on Keele campus. By completing the module, you will also gain the research, fieldwork and data analysis skills required to conduct your third-year research project.  

Environmental Analytical Methods 
Environmental investigations and monitoring activities require robust sample collection, processing procedures, and accurate laboratory analytical techniques. The ability to accurately interpret and evaluate data is also essential. In this module you will gain hands-on practical experience and theoretical understanding of experimental design, sampling strategies, sample processing and preservation, use of analytical instruments to characterise environmental media (e.g. water, soil, biota) and the interpretation of data. The knowledge and skills developed are highly relevant for careers in environmental management, regulation, consultancy and research.  

Lake District Field Course 
The Lake District Field course provides you with hands-on experience in one of the UK's most iconic landscapes. This module involves a weeklong intensive field study focusing on the region's unique physical geography, ecology, culture and built environment. You will conduct various fieldwork activities, including data collection, environmental analysis, and ethnographic observation. This immersive experience enhances practical skills in geographical and environmental research and fosters a deeper understanding of the interactions between natural environments and human activities within the Lake District. 

Optional modules

Water in the Environment
In this module you will explore key concepts and processes relating to water within the context of different Earth systems. You will learn about the need for responsible and sustainable use of our global water resources, and how to manage water in the environment to this affect. You will develop skills in presenting, interpreting and analysing numerical data through working with real-time data from, for example, the global ARGO network and the Environment Agency.  

Geoethics and Environmental Justice
Investigate the ethical dimensions of geosciences and their impact on environmental justice. Topics include principles of geoethics, the role of geoscientists and geographers in society, and the ethical challenges in resource extraction and management. The module addresses environmental justice issues, focusing on the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, the rights of indigenous and marginalized communities, and the development of sustainable practices. Case studies and interactive discussions will highlight real-world applications and ethical dilemmas.

Flexible Work Placement (Level 5)
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.

Compulsory modules

Independent Research Dissertation
For the capstone research Dissertation project you will conduct independent research on a topic of your own choice within your field of study. Guided by an academic advisor, you will establish research objectives, undertake fieldwork or data collection, and analyse your findings. This module emphasizes critical thinking, methodological rigor, and effective communication of results. Completing the dissertation allows you to demonstrate your expertise, contribute to subject knowledge, and prepare for professional careers or post-graduate study. 

Optional modules

Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment  
What concentration of substance X will cause environmental harm, and what will not? Ecotoxicology and risk assessment is how we determine the answers and, ultimately, develop environmental quality standards that underpin environmental regulation and assessment. Through this module you will gain knowledge, skills and hands-on experience of conducting ecotoxicology laboratory protocols (terrestrial and aquatic systems), constructing and interpreting dose response curves, sourcing and evaluating ecotoxicology data, deriving Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs), and ecotoxicological a risk assessment. 

Extinction! 
This module explores the causes and consequences of extinction events throughout Earth's history. You will investigate mass extinctions, such as the Permian and Cretaceous events, and explore the role of factors like climate change, asteroid impacts, and human activities. You will learn about evolutionary biology, palaeontology, and conservation science, highlighting current biodiversity crises and strategies for species preservation. Through lectures, seminar projects, and case studies, you will gain an in-depth understanding of extinction dynamics and their implications for the future.  

Glacial Environments
Glacial Environments focuses on the nature, behaviour and distinctive landscapes associated with glaciers and permafrost as the key components of the global cryosphere (environments dominated by ice). With these environments being particularly vulnerable to climate change, the module examines the nature, rate and consequences of glacier recession and permafrost degradation and role as climate tipping points. You will also enhance your skills in the description and interpretation of landforms and landscapes as viewed within ground level and remotely-sensed imagery. These are skills central to a number of subject-relevant careers including hazard management, water resource management and engineering geomorphology

River Conservation and Management
Learn about scientifically sound and environmentally sensitive river management. You will also explore the historical development of river management from using hard engineering approaches to the present environmentally sensitive and economically sustainable development approaches used within river catchment planning. Critiquing varying river management approaches and examining habitat models based on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of river systems - this module will teach you industry standard techniques to prepare you for a career in the water and conservation sector.

Quaternary Climate Change: from Ice Ages to a Warming World
The Earth’s climate and environment has been constantly changing throughout the history of the planet, and continuing change will have a serious impact on human activity. However, our understanding of how climate and the environment changes is incomplete, and thus our ability to predict and adapt to future change is limited. This module aims to examine the key issues and debates surrounding global climatic and environmental change throughout the Quaternary period. In particular, it aims to highlight the relationships between global environmental change and the characteristics of the Earth's surface processes and landscapes, and to recognise the contested and limited nature of knowledge in this very dynamic subject.

Tropical Biology Field Course
This exciting opportunity enables you to witness first-hand the challenges tropical ecological systems are facing and how humans are impacting sensitive ecological niches. You will gain training in the importance of biodiversity in the tropics from experts in the field, as well as experience international travel and other cultures. The field course is hosted by the University of Sains Malaysia (USM), whose expertise in a range of aspects of tropical ecology and conservation will ensure that you will gain cutting-edge knowledge in the field. Further details about the field course including itinerary, costs, logistics, selection criteria, and assessment among other aspects are announced at tropical field course information sessions during Semesters 1-2 of Level 5.

Professional Environmental Field Skills
There is a graduate skills gap in the ecology and environmental sector. This module aims to bridge that gap by teaching advanced plant and animal identification skills and providing hands-on experience with industry-standard field survey techniques, focusing on UK-protected species and habitats. Crucially, you will have the opportunity to earn a FISC qualification (see here), which is highly valued by employers, boosting your employability and equipping you to conduct UKHab surveys.  

Sustainable Futures Consultancy 
The Sustainable Futures Consultancy module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to address environmental and/or societal challenges through sustainable practices. Focusing on a real-world application you will work with other students on a consultancy project, developing strategies for sustainable solutions in a particular sector. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, stakeholder engagement, and practical implementation, preparing you for careers in regional planning, sustainability consultancy or environmental management. 

Applied GIS 
This module will provide you with the broader context of GIS applications to address a range of real-world societal and environmental issues within human and physical geography, geology and environmental sciences. You will gain essential skills in acquiring, analysing and displaying spatial data and not only gain essential skills in acquiring, analysing, and displaying spatial data but also explore how GIS can be integrated with environmental impact assessment and be used to support decision-making. By the end of the module, you will gain GIS skills that are important across all sectors in business, government, and science, thereby enhancing your future employability.  

Advanced Geographical Fieldwork 
This international field course gives you the opportunity to put your learning into practice in an international setting. Our current location is Geneva and the French Alps where you can explore diverse geographical phenomena in a renowned mountainous region. Through hands-on fieldwork, you can investigate topics such as climate adaptation and mitigation, geotourism, glacial processes, alpine ecosystems, identity, sense of place and cultural landscapes. Field activities may include qualitative data collection such as ethnographic observations and photography, and/or, quantitative techniques such as water sampling and environmental analysis. You will also be encouraged to engage in mapping and field sketching methods. You will have the opportunity to practice your field activities and data collection methods on campus to help you design and implement your own individual research project in Geneva and the Alps. This immersive experience enhances your understanding of geographical concepts and methodologies while fostering problem-solving skills in a new environment.

Flexible Work Placement (Level 6)
In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.

Professional Experience in Education
This module gives students interested in pursuing teaching or training as a career the opportunity to gain experience in the world of teaching in schools and colleges. You will develop skills highly valued by employers such as communication, and interpersonal skills, whilst learning to address individual needs and developing engaging teaching materials. You will be supported via a range of activities to prepare for your placement and have the choice to source your own placement or apply to university sourced roles. 

Clean Technology 
Learn about how to accelerate energy transitions away from fossil fuels with a specific focus on: energy efficiency, clean energy generation and storage, electrification and their integration within smart energy systems. You will develop and enhance your energy literacy skills, which will equip you for careers and research opportunities available in the sustainable energy sector. 

Blue Economy: sustainable futures with an ocean focus 
Growing interest in ocean and coastal development needs collaboration because marine spaces and ecosystems are interconnected. Blue Economy approaches are presented as “sustainable” but are contested. You will explore the wonders and complexities of our blue planet and develop evidence-based analysis of, and advocacy for, a sustainable ocean. You will develop knowledge through concepts derived from exploring case studies, ocean advocacy and solutions for an ocean-focused sustainable future.

Environmental and Wildlife Forensics
Become aware, understand and apply key theoretical and practical aspects of Environmental and Wildlife Forensics. You will gain knowledge on how environmental and wildlife crime investigators use forensic science to assist them in legal investigations.

Compulsory modules

Literature Review and Grant Proposal
In this module you will further develop skills in the evaluation of scientific literature and experimental design. In addition to producing a comprehensive literature review, you will also formulate research questions/hypotheses and design appropriate research strategies to address these in the form of a mini grant proposal and lay summary.

MSci Extended Research Project
As the culmination of your studies, you will develop advanced skills in experimental design and the critical analysis of scientific data, following an extended period of research study, where you formulate a project and design and conduct appropriate investigations to address this. You will further develop higher-level communication skills, presenting outcomes of your project as a research article produced to the specifications of a selected journal format and deliver an oral presentation and poster at our MSci research conference. 

Optional modules

Advanced Research Topics in Environmental Science and Sustainability
This module will develop your skills in the acquisition and critical analysis of primary scientific literature relevant to a range of research methodologies in modern ecology and conservation. Following research-level seminar presentations by staff and invited speakers, you will critically evaluate select research publications and develop a deeper understanding of appropriate experimental design, data analysis, presentation and evaluation, and the application of a wide range of techniques and approaches in environmental science and sustainability research.

Advanced Research Topics in Geography
This module will develop your skills in the acquisition and critical analysis of primary scientific literature relevant to a range of research methodologies in modern ecology and conservation. Following research-level seminar presentations by staff and invited speakers, you will critically evaluate select research publications and develop a deeper understanding of appropriate experimental design, data analysis, presentation and evaluation, and the application of a wide range of techniques and research approaches in geography, earth and environmental sciences.