BSc (Hons) Environmental Science with Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at Keele University

This module will introduce you to the essential skills required of Geographers, Geologists and Environmental Scientists. To introduce these skills to you we will explore our 'living lab' campus and take you on a series of four, one-day field courses in Staffordshire. The module will help you develop your own academic and professional practice, providing you with the foundations for not only completing your degree successfully, but also helping you think about future study or employment.

Understanding and managing environmental issues, from global to local scales, requires multiple disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches for effective action. You will evaluate some of society's main environmental, ecological, and sustainability problems and how we can address them and develop reflective practice skills to support learning. You will also develop report writing skills from case study workshops and formative feedback.

This module explores the dynamic systems of Planet Earth, focusing on the interconnections between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. You will examine geological processes, weather and climate, oceanography, ecosystems, and be introduced to environmental analytics. Emphasis is placed on human impact on these systems, environmental sustainability, and contemporary issues such as climate change and resource management. Through lectures, lab work, and field studies, you will gai

In this module you will explore sustainability within Staffordshire (Keele's local area). Topics include environmental issues, renewable energy, and community-led conservation efforts. You will examine regional case studies, engage with local sustainability initiatives and learn how these activities build on Staffordshire's rich geology, geography and history. Through interactive learning on and off campus, you will develop your knowledge of sustainability practices and identify strategies to en

Whether it is natural resource depletion, changing climate, protecting wilderness, saving endangered species, or living during a pandemic, we worry about the impacts society has on nature and vice versa. Conservation practices have emerged to safeguard the parts of the natural world we particularly value. However, our ideas about nature are often multiple and contradictory, and discussions about our duties to nature often disguise deeper claims about economic benefits and social equity. This mod

Enhance your employability with this hands-on module. You will acquire the specialist field, laboratory, social survey and computer-based research skills required to work in the environmental sector. You will acquire these skills by completing an Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment on Keele campus. By completing the module, you will gain the research, fieldwork and data analysis skills required to conduct your third-year research project.

The Lake District field course provides you with hands-on experience in one of the UK's most iconic landscapes. This module involves a weeklong intensive field study focusing on the region's unique physical geography, ecology, culture and built environment. You will conduct various fieldwork activities, including data collection, environmental analysis, and ethnographic observation. This immersive experience enhances practical skills in geographical and environmental research and fosters a deepe

Geographical Information Systems and remote sensing are essential tools and techniques for spatial data analysis and visualisation. This module will teach you to collect, manage, and interpret data from satellite imagery and aerial photography. The course covers GIS software applications, spatial analysis, and map creation, emphasising practical skills through hands-on projects. By the end of the module, you will be proficient in using foundational GIS and remote sensing technologies to solve re

Humans impact processes, conditions and components of our planet and biosphere on global, regional and local scales. Scientific understanding is key to managing these for better environmental and human well-being. You will explore issues from climate change and circular economy futures to pollution, biodiversity loss, and ocean health concerns. By the end of the module, you will be able to articulate the context of human impacts and evaluate the scientific evidence for potential solutions.

Environmental investigations and monitoring activities require robust sample collection, processing procedures and accurate laboratory analytical techniques. The ability to accurately interpret and evaluate data is also essential. In this module you will gain hands-on practical experience and theoretical understanding of experimental design, sampling strategies, sample processing and preservation, use of analytical instruments to characterise environmental media (e.g. water, soil, biota) and the

In this module you will investigate the ethical dimensions of geosciences and their impact on environmental justice. Topics include principles of geoethics, the role of geoscientists and geographers in society, and the ethical challenges in resource extraction and management. The module addresses environmental justice issues, focusing on the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, the rights of indigenous and marginalized communities, and the development of sustainable practices. Cas

In this module you will explore key concepts and processes relating to water within the context of different Earth systems. You will learn about the need for responsible and sustainable use of our global water resources, and how to manage water in the environment to this affect. You will develop skills in presenting, interpreting and analysing numerical data through working with real-time data from, for example, the global ARGO network and the Environment Agency.

For the capstone research dissertation project, you will conduct independent research on a topic of your own choice within your field of study. Guided by an academic advisor, you will establish research objectives, undertake fieldwork

In a competitive job market, practical skills and understanding workplace dynamics are crucial. This module allows you to gain hands-on experience, enhance your employability skills, and provide valuable insights into the professional world. You will be supported via a range of activities to secure a role and can source your own placement or apply to university-sourced roles. This module has built-in flexibility on when and how you complete your placement around existing demands.