Keele University Prospectus Undergraduate | 2016 | Page 98

NATURAL SCIENCES

Environment and Sustainability
Overview

The study of environmental problems and sustainable
solutions is a growing academic field as societies
around the world face increasing threats posed by
such problems as climate change, biodiversity loss,
resource depletion and pollution. In order to tackle
those problems effectively, it is essential that we
have well trained people who are able to analyse
the scientific, social, economic and political aspects
of these complex problems. The Environment and
Sustainability course aims to produce graduates who
are able to cross the traditional natural science/
social science divide, preparing you to be able to
work in a range of sectors.
Keele University has an international reputation for
its research and teaching on sustainability issues.
Our programme provides a highly interdisciplinary
degree with scope for specialisation in fields such
as clean technology, ecopsychology, environmental
citizenship, and sustainability and social justice.
The course integrates work placements in the
environment and sustainability sector, three
residential field courses, and opportunities to get
involved in sustainability developments at Keele,
including the opportunity to live in our Sustainable
Student Bungalow for a year, which is a project
set up by students on this course. Many of the
students on this course have been instrumental in
leading initiatives to make Keele a ‘greener’ place
to live and study.

Course content

First year
During the first year, you will gain an understanding
of different sustainability issues through both
natural and social science perspectives, and you
will develop skills in the practical application of
this understanding.
Core modules include: Introduction to Environment
and Sustainability, People and the Environment,
Ecology and Environment, Introductory Geology
for the Environmental Sciences, Greening Business:
Employability and Sustainability, The Politics of
Sustainability.
Second year   
During the second year you will gain a more in
depth understanding of specific environmental and
sustainability perspectives.
Core modules include: Human Impacts on the
Environment, Work Placement, Corporate
Governance and Social Responsibility, Health
and the Environment, Research Skills.
Option modules include (amongst others):
Geoscience and Society, Sustaina ble Chemistry,
Environmental Politics and Policy, International
Relations of the Environment.
The second year also includes the opportunity
to study abroad for one semester.
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Third or fourth year
The final year allows you to specialise further
or gives you the flexibility to retain a broad
coverage of sustainability issues. You will
undertake an independent research dissertation,
an interdisciplinary investigation of renewable
technologies, and choose from a broad range of
taught modules including (amongst many others):
Conservation Biology, Natural Hazards, Water
Resources, Applied GIS, Global Environmental
Change, Ecopsychology, Sustainability and
Social Justice.

Fieldwork and study abroad

Field courses provide you with hands-on experience
of topical environmental and sustainability issues,
practical skills development, and an opportunity to
meet professionals working in the sector. Our current
field courses in the first year include local area day
trips, a residential trip to the Centre for Alternative
Technology in Mid-Wales, and five days in North
Wales studying soils, hydrology, and forest and
pollution management.
In the second year you can choose from two week
long residential field course options: a UK based trip
(currently the Lake District) exploring sustainable
land and resource management, or an overseas
option (currently Bordeaux) studying environmental
management issues in a different environment.
There are also opportunities for studying abroad
at universities in different parts of the world,
including Australia, South Africa, Norway, Sweden
the US and Canada.

Teaching and assessment

The Environment and Sustainability degree is
delivered by environmental and sustainability
specialists with leading reputations in their field
and a strong commitment to high-quality teaching.
Many staff have won awards at national or university
level, and have received funding to develop teaching
innovations.
Teaching combines traditional lecture-based
teaching, small group workshops, seminars
and tutorials, fieldwork and laboratory classes.
Assessments include traditional examinations, essays,
technical reports, oral and poster presentations,
reflective portfolios and group projects, all designed
for you to gain confidence in a wide range of skills.