Ocean Sciences MOSci (Hons)

Module details

For required and optional modules for specific routes in years one, two and three, please see the following:

Biology route: C1F7 Marine Biology with Oceanography

Chemistry route: F700 Ocean Sciences

Geography route: FF78 Oceans, Climate and Physical Geography

Physics Route: F700 Ocean Sciences

Programme Year One

You will take core and optional modules in Years One, Two and Three of the MOSci, selecting from a three-year Ocean Sciences degree programme, the choice depending on your interests and skills. You will select one of the following three-year Ocean Sciences degree programme routes: F700: Ocean Sciences, either the oceanography, physics or chemistry route (see page 32) FF78: Geography and Oceanography (see page 22) C1F7: Marine Biology with Oceanography (see page 31) G1F7: Mathematics with Ocean and Climate Sciences (see page 32) Then you will follow the Year Four of the MOSci in Ocean Sciences

Programme Year Four

Compulsory Modules:

• ENVS402: Ocean Sciences Masters Research Project

• ENVS422: Data Analysis of Environmental Records

• ENVS414: Modelling Processes in Ocean and Climate

• ENVS413: From Sampling to Models in Ocean Biogeochemistry

Students can choose one optional module from a range of Masters Level modules from across the School:

• ENVS424: Sea Level

• ENVS485: Human Impacts on the Environment

• ENVS412: Advanced Ecology – Conserving Resources

• ENVS525: Politics of the Environment

• BIOL761: Dynamic Population Modelling

Compulsory modules

• Integrated Masters Research Project (ENVS402) Level M Credit level 60 Semester Whole Session Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims
• ​Carry out a critical and focused survey of relevant scientific literature.
• ​Be able to articulate clearly, both written and orally, the state of knowledge in a wider field of science around the planned research, showing the relevance and timeliness of the planned research.
• ​Write coherent scientific prose in the format of a scientific paper targetted at a specific journal.

• ​Produce a concise, well-designed poster suitable for a scientific conference.

• ​Carry out independent research, with a clear focus on the research questions and using appropriate methods.
Learning Outcomes

​Be able to provide a critical and focused assessment of an area of scientific literature, including keeping records of key points made in the literature.

​Be able to articulate the importance of a research question within the broader scientific context. ​Be able to write scientific prose in typical formats used in science. ​Be able to formulate testable hypotheses, and along with the methods and approach required to test them.

​Be able to produce a poster for a scientific conference, and to recognise what makes a good (and a bad) poster.

• From Sampling To Models In Ocean Biogeochemistry (ENVS413) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 50:50 Aims
• ​Develop an appreciation of how models are constrained by observation and the uncertainties in observations. 
  
• ​Provide an integrated view from laboratory analyses, field experiments and models for the cycling of carbon, nutrients and trace metals in the ocean
• ​Develop analogue models based on laboratory experiments
• ​Acquire skills in error analysis, calibration and experimental design
• ​Receive training in research and industry standard analytical instruments including nutrient analysers, spectrofluorometric, voltammetric and chromatographic systems.  
Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to design and carryout an experiment to measure key biogeochemical processes and write a concise and informative report

​​Students should be able to critically analyse and interpret a biogeochemical data set and calculate key parameters to be used in models (.e.g growth rates, nutrient assimilation rates)
Students should develop an appreciated of how models are constrained by observations and the uncertainties in observations

Students should develop skills in error analysis, calibration and experimental design​

• Modelling Processes In Oceans and Climate (ENVS414) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

• ​To allow the students to undertake independant work using the tools developed during each of the four phases of the course towards testing hypotheses quantitatively.
  

• To develop written communication skills​

• To develop the ability to dissect numerical experiments towards providing process insight​
Learning Outcomes

​By the end of this module a student will be able to use a range of different simple models to conduct quantitative assessments of the importance of different processes

By the end of this module a student will be able to communicate the results of numerical modelling in a short illustrated report that draws general conclusions ​

• Data Analysis of Environmental Records (ENVS422) Level M Credit level 15 Semester Second Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

• ​Enable students to apply a variety of different data analysis techniques to a range of datasets​

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  ​Enable students to clearly formulate hypotheses about a dataset, test those hypotheses, and understand the results and their robustness.

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  ​Enable students to present the results of data analysis, in forms appropriate to scientific presentations and publications

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will have the ability to read from a dowloaded dataset in a variety of formats, to perform a variety of spatial/temporal analyses on data spanning space and time, and to display the results clearly.

The student will have the skills to formulate and test hypotheses about a dataset, and to determine whether the support for a hypothesis is robust.

​The student will be able to present the results of their analysis clearly and concisely.

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​The student will be equipped to critically analyse result of data analyses presented in scientific papers.

Optional modules

• Advanced Ecology - Conserving Resources (ENVS412) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims

  The aim of this module is to provide students with:

  • A clear and critical appreciation of ecological theory.
  • Information on statistical methods appropriate to community and macro-ecology.
  • The ability to apply scientific rigour when critically assessing the options available for conservation action in any given case.
  • The ability to present balanced, critical written accounts on scientific issues.
  Learning Outcomes

  On successful completion of this module students should have a knowledge and critical understanding of:

  •    Macroecology
  • Community ecology

  Upon successful completion of the module students will be able to use statistical methods appropriate to community and macro-ecology.

  Upon successful completion of the module students will also enhance their ability to critically:

  • Access, understand and summarise scientific information
  • Discuss current scientific approaches and their uses
  • Answer exam questions

• Sea Level: Processes and Measurement (ENVS424) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 60:40 Aims ​​

  ​This module aims to attract students from varied but numerate backgrounds and provide them with the skills to understand the broad and rapidly-evolving literature on causes and observations of sea level change and its relation to extreme events, in preparation for either research or employment in fields (such as insurance, national sea level monitoring agencies, coastal planning) for which sea level is an important component.

  Learning Outcomes ​

  ​The student will understand and be able to explain and synthesize the causes of different kinds of sea level change on time scales up to hundreds of thousands of years.

  ​The student will be able to engage with the sea level literature, understand and critically assess the latest developments.

• Human Impacts On Environments (ENVS485) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 0:100 Aims

  The aim of this module is to provide students with:

  • The opportunity to conduct in depth research on a chosen topic within the broad theme of human impacts on the environment.
  • Provide students with training in research methods and critical analysis techniques
  • To present the results in the form of a high impact, high quality poster.

  Restoration targets and conservation options in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

  Learning Outcomes

  On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of human interactions on the enivronment
  • Knowledge of a series of key case studies illustrating interactions between human activities and terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
  • Critically analyse and assess previously published materials and synthesize into an appropriate case study.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of poster development and construction
  • Present a poster in a professional manner
• Politics of The Environment (ENVS525) Level M Credit level 15 Semester First Semester Exam:Coursework weighting 50:50 Aims

  This unit is designed to critically evaluate the political responses to the growing impact that environmental issues and the concept of sustainability are having on decision making at all levels of governance, (international, national and local). More specifically the unit aims to: 

  1)         develop a critical understanding of the growing importance of environmental and sustainable development thinking in political decision-making processes; 

  2)         explore different environmental attitudes, values and perspectives and examine the impact on various political perspectives;  

  3)         develop a critical understanding of the opportunities and limitations of environmental decision making international dimension of environmental politics and its impact on nation states; 

  4)         understand the role that environmental pressure groups have in shaping political decisions at the international, national and local levels of governance; 

  5)         critically evaluate the policy responses at national and local levels to the new emerging environmental agenda

  Learning Outcomes

  Students successfully completing this module will be able to demonstrate: 

  1)         a critical appreciation of how environmental issues are being addressed at all levels of governance; 

  2)         a critical understanding of different environmental values and attitudes and the way that these impact upon political philosophy and decision-making; 

  3)         a critical understanding of the way that various environmental interest groups impact on political  and other decision making processes.

   

The modules listed above are illustrative and subject to change. Please refer to the department site for further information

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