Marine Geography (MESci)

The four year undergraduate programme is designed for high quality candidates who aim to pursue a research career in academia, government or industry. The course involves learning about the process and outcomes of research and enables students to specialise in areas of their choice.

This applied and industry-relevant degree draws on the traditional skills of the geographer to observe, measure, map and analyse the significance of a wide range of physical and human variables. Coastal and offshore fieldwork are an important feature of this programme, enabling hands on training for students to use modern survey methods rather than just learn about them.

When you graduate from this degree you will have a detailed knowledge of both the processes and interrelationships involved in ocean, atmosphere, marine physical geographical/environmental systems and the means of acquisition, handling and presentation of information including remote sensed data and the use of Geographical Information Systems. You will also be able to explain the interactions between the human and Earth systems, particularly the resources, risks, impacts, governance, and management of marine and coastal environments. You will be trained in the practice and philosophy of research and will have been able to pursue these skills in a major research project of your own choice.

The holistic nature of first year is highly beneficial for those that are still unsure with what career pathway they desire. Alongside the social aspect, the field trips are a great way of developing key skills such as geological mapping, independent research and collaborative fieldwork. The MESci Research Project was particularly valuable as this enabled me to use resources and develop skills directly linked to my current position in industry.

Phalene Gowling, MESci International Marine Geoscience 2013 Year one

The course structure is very flexible. All Cardiff's School of Earth and Ocean Science degree programmes share a common first semester. This is designed to give you a sound foundation in Earth Sciences upon which to build. At the end of your first Semester you will decide whether to continue with your original degree choice or choose another of Cardiff's Earth Science degrees.

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsThe Sedimentary SystemEA110210 creditsMarine Geography Data AnalysisEA112010 creditsGlobal OceansEA112110 creditsResearch Tutorial with Earth Science SkillsEA112410 creditsEarth and Planetary System ScienceEA110120 creditsMESci Marine Geography FieldworkEA112720 creditsMarine Charts and HydrographyEA110910 creditsNatural Resources and EnergyEA110610 creditsEnvironmental Chemistry and BiologyEA111110 creditsDangerous EarthEA110310 creditsYear two

In Year 2 the modules you will take are chosen to provide a wide knowledge base and transferable skills base to make you as employable as possible in a competitive job market.

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsApplied GISEA213010 creditsCoastal HydrographyEA211420 creditsMarine Geography Field Skills and Research TutorialEA212920 creditsMarine EcosystemsEA211510 creditsMarine & Coastal Resource SystemsEA213410 creditsThe Geomorphology of Catchments and CoastsEA213820 creditsEnvironmental PollutionEA211610 creditsThe Ocean Atmosphere SystemEA211220 creditsYear three

In your third year you choose from a range of modules to best tailor the degree to align with your future career choice, whether that be more marine or coastal or more human or physical geography.You will complete a marine project based on the practical field or laboratory work you have done in the Summer vacation between Years 2 and 3. You will research into any area of marine geography you choose and learn how to prepare a research paper for publication. You will present the results of this research at the annual MESci Research Conference.

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsMarine Geography DissertationEA310530 creditsResearch SkillsEA314010 creditsApplication of Marine ScienceEA310710 creditsMarine Geography FieldcourseEA312510 creditsOptional modules

Module titleModule codeCreditsMarine GeomaticsEA312020 creditsMarine Conservation ScienceEA310610 creditsEnvironmental Management, Science and PolicyEA311010 creditsWater ResourcesEA311710 creditsIntegrated Coastal ManagementEA311410 creditsBiogeographyEA312910 creditsGeomicrobiologyEA313210 creditsEnvironmental LawEA313410 creditsCoral Reef SystemsEA314510 creditsGlaciologyEA314610 creditsPaleoclimateEA314710 creditsMarine MicrofossilsEA310210 creditsYear four

You will complete a Masters research dissertation in any Marine Geography related topic that can be supervised in the School. You will work one-to-one with a research supervisor and probably interact with a research group. Since the School is very large and of international research standard, this means that you have a wide choice of dissertation topic. Many students develop their own topics and contact a researcher to see if they can supervise it. Alternatively a list of projects is published each year for you to choose from. The research dissertation is complemented by a Research Frontiers module, in which the latest ideas in Earth Sciences research are discussed. In addition to a Year 4 fieldcourse and the Research Frontiers module you have a choice of optional modules.

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsMESci FieldcourseEA410510 creditsMESci Research ProjectEA412070 creditsOptional modules

Module titleModule codeCreditsEvolution of AntarcticaEA410710 creditsExtremophilesEA411610 creditsProcess Geomorphology - from Source to SinkEA411010 creditsCoastal Science and PolicyEA411710 creditsIPCC: The Physical Science BasisEA412310 credits The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.