BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology with a Year in Industry Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London

Develop understanding of basic concepts in chemistry and physics applied to geological processes. Covers atoms, periodic table, reactions, equations, geochemical analysis, earth composition, phase diagrams, mineral solubility, weathering, hydrological cycle, Newton's Laws, kinematics, circular motion, planetary orbits, gravity, magnetism, electricity, resistivity, stress, strain, seismicity, isostasy, radioactivity, and geochronology.

Develop understanding of skills required to practice geology in the field, carrying out activities in South Devon and Pembrokeshire. Learn to describe and interpret origin of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and prepare geological map and cross-section. Examine stereographic projections, sedimentary logging, stratigraphic columns, and structural features using stereonets.

Introduction to 4.6 billion-year history of Earth with skills to interpret that history. Two complementary streams: palaeontology covering story of life from origin through dinosaurs to human evolution, and sedimentology covering earth surface processes and palaeoenvironments. Teaches rock classification, textural analysis, facies analysis, graphic logging, palaeoflow analysis, and stratigraphy.

Explores geological structure and processes that shape our planet and others in solar system. Covers planetary heat engine powering plate motion, volcanoes and earthquakes, and use of maps, minerals and rocks to unlock story of subsurface.

Students explore key themes of human-Earth interaction including anthropogenic climate change, geohazards, environmental pollution, and sustainable exploitation of energy resources and energy-critical elements.

Describes key principles of academic integrity focusing on university assignments. Covers plagiarism, collusion and commissioning as activities undermining academic integrity and possible consequences. Includes activities with feedback to develop understanding.

Develop understanding of key events in history of life and their environmental impact using fossil and sedimentary record. Analyse fossil assemblages using stratigraphic principles including absolute dating, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. Interpret sedimentary rocks and examine importance of fossil assemblages in earth history interpretation.

Develop understanding of geological evolution of the British Isles, interpreting regional geological history from geological maps. Learn to describe rock specimens and reconstruct palaeoenvironments using case studies. Consider application of stratigraphic techniques and evidence from geology fields to evaluate competing hypotheses.

Develop understanding of hazards associated with geological activity, their causes, and approaches to risk management. Covers volcanoes, earthquakes, radon, and hazards from geological resource exploitation including asbestos, mining, and contaminated land. Examine geological and geochemical data to make scientifically justified risk decisions.

Develop understanding of advanced chemical concepts relevant to Earth Sciences. Focus on isotope geochemistry with techniques applicable in most geological contexts. Attend practical classes and conduct small project involving analysis and interpretation of real geochemical dataset.

Provide advanced practical skills in interpretation and synthesis of laboratory and field data, supported by literature research, and ability to communicate through presentation and report.

Embed GIS and programming skills for creation, analysis and interpretation of geospatial data and coding skills to facilitate data collection, analysis, modelling and interpretation. Trains in creation of georeferenced point, line and polygon data, combining raster and vector data. Introduces Python including arrays, reading and writing, branching, repeating, and plotting.

Develop understanding of how to classify sedimentary basins according to their tectonic mode of formation. Learn to explain and illustrate basic processes of subsidence and uplift in basins formed by extension and flexural loading of lithosphere. Consider characteristic patterns of sedimentary facies and stratigraphic architecture relating to basin types and tectonic processes, examining tectonosedimentary history.

Further develop understanding of igneous and metamorphic geology. Look at characteristics and origins of alkaline igneous rocks, nature and controls on metamorphic reactions, and links between metamorphism and tectonic processes. Consider hand specimen and thin section techniques for study of minerals and igneous and metamorphic rocks, and analytical approaches to interpretation including quantification of metamorphic rates and processes.

Develop understanding of theory and practice of seismic, gravity, magnetic and resistivity surveying. Consider methods used to manipulate, analyse, and display geophysical data to solve geological exploration problems. Examine strengths and weaknesses of different data types.

Develop understanding of how to analyse geological structures in terms of deformational mechanisms and tectonic stresses that produced them. Look at brittle failure in rocks, fracture types and propagation, and relationship between principal stresses and geologic structures on small and regional scales. Examine remotely sensed continental and marine datasets and use imagery available in Google Earth for tectonic analysis.

Industrial Placement

Topics include: global water cycle – structure and properties of water, hydrological cycle and fluxes, flow to rivers, Darcy's Law and groundwater flow calculations, aquifers – nature and distribution, pumping of water from ground, chemistry of groundwater, pollution and remediation, chemical weathering and water chemistry, types of weathering, karst formation and morphology, ocean water and evaporites, ocean islands and water supply problems, hydrothermal water cycle, mid-oceanic ridges, hydrot

Teaches advanced level key geological and transferable skills. Data Handling – retrieval and handling of geological data revising and extending numerical skills from years 1 and 2. Presentation skills – exercise to improve spoken, visual and communication aspects in geology. Advanced Field Skills – includes data collection, teamwork and site investigations.

Emphasis on sedimentary processes and sedimentary environments. Current topics include: deep marine sedimentary systems and contourite successions; numerical modelling of carbonate platforms; selected topics in carbonate sedimentology; selected topics in glacial sedimentology; interaction of plants and sedimentary systems; extreme sedimentary events; accumulation of banded iron formations.

Overview of modern volcanology focusing on types of volcanoes and how they form, products of volcanoes, magma diversity, evolution of magmas and their age determination, physical and chemical properties of magmas and their surface products, magma chamber formation and convection, rise of magma to surface.