Earth Science

Initially you will study the major themes of Earth Science. There are two courses in first year, covering plate tectonics, the structure of the Earth, earthquakes, volcanoes, how rocks deform, evolution of life, environmental issues, geotechnology, and exploration for oil, gas, coal and minerals.

You will undertake four courses in the second year, building your knowledge of:

• the solid Earth
• palaeobiology, and the use of fossils to reconstruct environments and climates in the past
• the surface of the Earth in the past and the present day
• the structure of the Earth, geological maps, and Earth exploration.

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2: see Degrees in Arts, Life Sciences, Science and Social Sciences.

If you progress to Honours (years 3 and 4) you will study a number of core courses covering stratigraphy, petrology and geochemistry, sedimentary rocks, isotope geology, tectonic geomorphology, structural geology, geological maps, geophysics, and major Earth processes. You will participate in several residential field classes and undertake two independent projects. You will also tailor your degree to include additional areas of particular interest chosen from a wide range of optional courses, many of which are focused on applied aspects of Earth Science.

You will undertake two independent Honours projects; a field-based geological mapping project and a laboratory-based research project. The latter involves the use of analytical facilities within the School (such as our state-of-the-art electron microscopes) and can lead to a genuine contribution to science.

Travelling and overseas work are major features of a geoscience career and we encourage our students to take advantage of the University’s extensive exchange programmes to study abroad. Our students have studied in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, California and Europe. See page 28 for more information. See Study abroad.