Geology

Modules shown are for the current academic year, and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

All of our Geology degrees share a common programme of studies for the first two years, which is divided into 50% theoretical, 25% practical and 25% coursework.

You can expect:

• Broad introduction to geology
• Cover subjects not previously experienced
• Catch up on aspects of sciences not studied at school

You will learn basic geological principles and go on field trips in the UK and a two-week Rio Tinto Urra field trip to Spain.

You will be taught to see the Earth as a dynamic system, and complete all of the core modules from the four areas below.

• Dynamic Earth 1
• Earth Materials and Stratigraphy
• Maths or Maths Methods 1
• Physics for Geoscientists or Physical Processes

• Chemistry for Geoscientists or Solid Earth Geochemistry
• Igneous and Metamorphic Processes
• Life and Earth History
• Surface Processes

• Graphics & Statistics for Geoscientists
• Optical Mineralogy and Petrology
• Programming for Geoscientists
• Structural Geology 1

• Earth Materials and Stratigraphy
• Field Geology 1
• Introduction to Field Geology
• Projects, Tutorials and Workshops 1

In your second year you can expect to:

• Deepen knowledge of core geological subjects
• Enhance written, analytical and research skills
• Undertake fieldwork to become an independent learner

You will continue to study and deepen your knowledge of major branches of geoscience.

• Earth structure and tectonics
• Field geology
• Geochemistry, low temperature
• Applied geophysics
• Igneous and metamorphic petrology
• Palaeontology
• Remote sensing and GIS
• Sedimentary geology
• Structural geology

Additional teaching is designed to provide complementary knowledge such as areas of physical science, computing and statistical skills as applied to geosciences. We will also introduce economic and industrial aspects of geology and encourage you to undertake language studies as part of the Imperial Horizons programme and business as part of the Business for Professional Engineers and Scientists programme.

Major teaching field trips currently go to the Pyrenees and to Scotland.

You study all of the core modules listed in the four different groups below.

• Applied Geophysics 1 or Maths 1
• Global Geophysics or Physical Processes
• Igneous 1
• Sedimentary Geology

• Earth Resources
• Palaeontology 1 or Maths Methods 2
• Solid Earth Geochemistry or Low Temperature Geochemistry
• Structural Geology 3

• Metamorphic 1
• Remote Sensing and GIS
• Rocks Master Class
• Structural Geology 2

• Field Geology 2
• Field Geology 3
• Projects, Tutorials and Workshops 2

You take a combination of core and optional modules organised into 4 areas, where you will:

• Write dissertation and prepare GIS-based map, alongside knowledge-developing modules in autumn term
• Undertake a series of optional modules in spring term alongside other Year 3 students to enhance your skills
• Improve time management skills
• Prepare for future career with work placement

Following on from your taught field course in the Scottish Highlands in the spring term of Year 2, you will undertake an independent fieldwork project. A dissertation based on this project is to be submitted at the end of the autumn term of your third year.

There is a wide variety of pure and applied geology module options. You may also choose to take an option in a foreign language, management, economics or humanities. It is possible to study specialist topics with staff from the Natural History Museum.

You choose 4 modules from below:

• Basins and Tectonics
• Climate
• Ice and Fire
• Seismic Techniques
• Solar System geoscience

You choose 6 modules in total from the below lists. The Department offers modules on a bi-annual alternating basis, which means that three-year degree students will have a different group of modules to choose from, based upon the year you start your course.

Four-year MSci students will complete one group of the alternating modules in the third-year, and the rest of the modules in the fourth year.

• Environmental Seminars
• Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow 1

• Coastal Engineering
• Flow and Reactive Transport
• Geodesy and Geomagnatism
• Igneous 2
• Igneous 3
• Impact Cratering
• Marine Geology & Geophysics
• Marine Stratigraphy
• Minerals Processing
• Palaeoceanography

• Advanced Applied Geophysics
• Advanced Exploration Seismology
• Biogeochemistry
• Earth Systems
• Environmental and engineering geology 1
• Field Geomorphology
• Geodynamics
• Geohazards
• Geomorphology
• Hydrogeology and Fluid Flow 2
• Hydrothermal and ore forming processes
• Palaeo and Environmental magnetism
• Physical Oceanography
• Remote Sensing and GIS 2

• Earth Science Synthesis
• Independent Geology Project

• Ore Deposits
• Field Geology 4
• Earth Science General Paper