Geology (North America) MESci (Hons)

Year One aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to core disciplines in geoscience assuming no prior knowledge of the subject. A strong feature of Year One is the development of transferable skills (e.g. Geographical Information Systems [GIS], IT, essay writing, oral communication), integrated within a tutorial system. Tutorials are run by academic staff.

Students take the six compulsory modules and choose two optional modules as outlined below.

Fieldwork involves:

• 1 day in North England (October)
• 8 days in Pembrokeshire (Easter)

Students take the six compulsory modules and choose two optional modules as outlined below.

• Study Skills and Gis (earth Science) (ENVS101) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

• ​To develop essential study and disciplinary skills required by Environmental Scientists, both for their current studies and future employment.

  • Introduce students to key approaches/concepts and ideas in the Earth Sciences
  • To help students identify and effectively employ appropriate sources of data and information
  • Develop students'' study skills and provide essential training for subsequent years
  • Develop students'' personal transferable skills.

• To introduce the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to Environmental Science

Learning Outcomes

Record field observations and ideas.

​ Prepare and deliver oral and poster presentations.

​Plan and structure written work to University standard.

​Undertake independent GPS data collection and d emonstrate basic GIS interpretation and analysis techniques

Use IT tools to find accurate and up to date information, including University Library resources.​

​ Work in groups effectively

• Introduction To Field Geology (ENVS109) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  To introduce students to field geology

  Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge and Understanding   On successful completion of this module, students should have competence in:

  a. Rock and mineral identification
  b. Identification of characteristic features of rock outcrops
  c. Geological history of Pembrokeshire

    2. Intellectual Abilities  

  On successful completion of this module, students should have competence in:

  a. Interpretation of outcrop features in terms of geological processes and environments.
  b. Three-dimensual visualization

    3. Subject Based Practical Skills  

  On successful completion of this module, students should have competence in:

  a. How to make geological observations in the field
  b. How to record those observations
  c. How to keep a scientific notebook
  d. How to construct a sedimentary log
  e. Geometrical analysis using stereonets
  f. How to locate themselves on a topographic map

    4. General Transferable Skills  

  On successful completion of this module, students should have competence in:

  a. Teamwork through working in small groups each day.
  b. Time and logistical management by fulfilling a strict and demanding timetable og outdoor work each day.
  c. Conceptual problem solving by completing the active learning tasks set each day.
  d. Fieldwork hazard assessment from a pre-class paper exercise and by evaluating hazards at each locality every day.

• Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics (ENVS112) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 75:25 Aims To introduce students to the structure and composition of the Earth, the Earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields, and dynamics within the deep Earth.
  
  To introduce students to the physics of Earth material and the geological time scale.
  
  To introduce students to plate tectonics. Learning Outcomes
    1. Knowledge and Understanding  

  On completion of this module, students should:

  a. Have concepts and knowledge of whole Earth structure and composition, Earth’s gravity and magnetic fields, and dynamic processes within the mantle and core.
  
  b. Have concepts and knowledge of the physical properties and behaviour of Earth material.
  
  c. Have concepts and knowledge of the geological time scale and radiometric dating methods.
  
  d. Be able to understand the plate tectonic model and the relationship between plate tectonics and geological and geophysical observations in the major plate tectonic settings.

    2. Intellectual Abilities  

  On completion of this module, students shouldbe able:

  a. to explain and evaluate the relationships between Earth structure, composition, physical behaviour and Earth dynamics;
  
  b. to explain and evaluate the relationships between plate tectonics and geological and geophysical processes and observations in the major plate tectonic settings.

    3. Subject Based Practical Skills  

  On completion of this module, students should:

  a. be able to manipulate geological and geophysical data to help understand Earth structure and processes.

    4. General Transferable Skills  

  On completion of this module, students should have developed their skills in:

  a. problem solving including simple numerical problems;
  b. numeracy through completion of assignments;
  c. Information synthesis and collation;
  d. time management through regular assignment deadlines.

• Minerals, Magmas and Volcanoes (ENVS115) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 40:60 Aims

  To introduce the petrological microscope
  To introduce the main rock forming minerals
  To examine the origins of Earth''s magmas, igneous rocks and volcanoes.
  To consider the physical and chemical properties of magmas, how compositions of magmas are changed, and how magma emplacement history is recorded in rock texture.
  To examine the physical processes of the main types of volcanic activity and the associated hazards.
  To introduce volcanic hazards awareness and principles of risk mitigation.

  Learning Outcomes

  Knowledge and understanding​

  On successful completion of this module, students should: a. Know the properties of common rock-forming minerals;
  b. Understand common classification schemes for minerals and rocks;
  c. Understand how minerals may be interpreted to infer geological conditions and processes.
  d. Understand the nature, origins and possible outcomes of magmatic activity.
  e. Understand processes of magma compositional change, and know how magmas and igneous rocks are classified.
  f. Recognise common magmatic rocks in hand specimen and under the microscope.
  g. Understand the physical and chemical processes and conditions that govern the spectrum of volcanic eruption styles, and know how volcanic activity is classified.
  h. Understand the impact of volcanism on society and environment.

  Intellectual abilities

  On successful completion of this module, students should have developed the ability to: a. Design a strategy for identifying minerals in hand specimen and thin section.
  b. Be able to analyse magmatic rocks and make simple deductions concerning magmatic history.
  c. Be able to observe, record, interpret and present descriptive information regarding volcanic activity.
  d. Be able to solve problems concerning physical processes and the environment.
  e. Be able to infer conditions and processes of emplacement and cooling from rock texture.

  ​

  Subj ect base practical skills On successful completion of this module students should: a. Be able to use a hand lens and a petrological microscope;
  b. Be able to make proper drawings of minerals seen in hand specimen and thin section.
  c. Be able to use simple techniques of visualisation and numeracy to solve volcanological problems.
  d. Competently use the petrological microscope to record textural information and unravel magmatic process.

  ​

• Introduction To Sedimentary Rocks and Fossils (ENVS118) Level 1 Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 75:25 Aims
• The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the study of sediments and sedimentary rocks and to introduce the main groups of common fossil.
• The module aims to cover the basic language used to describe sediments and fossils and gives an introduction to a range of physical,chemical and biological concepts.
• The students are introduced to the economic significance of sediments and sedimentary rocks and how fossils provide information on geological time, evolutionary history and ancient environments.
Learning Outcomes   1. Knowledge and Understanding  

By the end of the module the students should:

a. be able to give an account of the basic characteristics of the main types of sedimentary rock;


b. be able to demonstrate that they understand the origin of some of the most important structures and textures;


c. have a clear understanding of the relationships between sedimentary processes and products.

d. know the characteristic features of common fossilse.

e. know how fossils can be preserved

f. understand the concept of functional morphology and its use in determining modes of life in the fossil record

g. understand the use of fossils in dating rocks and

h. know how and why organisms are classified

  2. Intellectual Abilities  

By the end of the module the students should:

a. be able to analyse sedimentary structures and rock fabrics to interpret depositional processes;


b. be able to analyse petrographic fabrics to interpret diagenetic processes and environments;


c. be able to link observational data with systematic interpretation of process, product and, to a lesser extent, environment.

d. identify the common groups of fossil from observational data

e. expain how fossils form and interpret their depositional setting

f. interpret mode of life from fossil morphology

  3. Subject Based Practical Skills