Geology AS / A Level

GEOLOGY AS / A LEVEL
Geology is the study of the earth. Geologists study the earth and its products to understand the processes that occur on its surface and those acting within it. The AS level is a one-year course involving fieldwork and other practical work. This can be extended to a full A level by continuing the course for a second year.

Are there any special requirements?

It would be of benefit to study another science alongside geology to aid your understanding of scientific methodology.

What and how will I be studying?

• You will have lectures and practicals on, for example, minerals and rocks where you will need to take notes and file these logically.
  
• You will undertake fieldwork to learn the skills that geologists use to reconstruct how a rock formed.
  
• You will work in groups to discuss problems such as why the climate has changed frequently over the past 600 million years to produce 'icehouse' and 'greenhouse' conditions.
  
• In practical sessions you will select and study high quality specimens of fossils as well as investigate how sedimentary structures like ripples form.
  You will design, carry out, and evaluate laboratory experiments - for example, you may study the impact craters of meteorites or the effects of tsunamis by recreating these (on a small scale!).
  You will use textbooks to collect information on volcanoes or the internet to study earthquakes or CD ROMS to watch continental drift in action.
  
• Videos and geological magazines will give you the latest data on evolution and mass extinction.
  
• You will investigate how and why mountains such as the Alps and Himalayas have formed during Earth's history.
  
• You will visit locations in order to work out how present-day landslides may be prevented and how natural resources (water, oil, limestone) are discovered, exploited and/or conserved.
  

How is the Course assessed? AS - Year 1
Two written examinations (70%) and a practical-based examination (30%).

A2 - Year 2
Two written examination papers (35%) and two coursework projects (15%). The remaining 50% of the marks are carried forward from the AS.

What career opportunities are there?
A number of last year's U6 are now studying geology or earth science at university.

Geology also supports a wide range of other subjects at university such as geography, archaeology, environmental studies/science, biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, or engineering.

Geology students are widely appreciated in business for their ability to draw conclusions from incomplete data. They also show an awareness of the wider environment and, having studied an applied science, a pragmatic and practical approach to problem solving.

It also counts as a science for those who wish to study say medicine or those who wish to balance an A-level course focused on the arts.

Geologists work in a wide variety of fields: discovering, exploiting, and conserving oil/gas/water/minerals, surveying, museum work, archaeology, environmental monitoring, conservation, and teaching. Of course many go into general management but they carry with them an appreciation of the landscape which will enrich their lives.

...and what else?
In a survey of last year's U6 geology students, students found all aspects of the course (teaching, equipment, resources, assessment, feedback, and level of interest) good or outstanding.

There is a week-long residential field course for the U6 studying complex igneous rocks. This supports half-day field courses closer to Scarborough, which take place in the first year of the course. The geological contrast between the two areas could hardly be greater. This course in previous years has been held in Tenerife.