Bath Spa University

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Environmental Science

This course enables you to gain both biological and geographical perspectives of the environment.

For more information about this course please visit the School of Science, Society and Management website.

Course Structure and Content

At each Level you will take a mix of 40- and 20-credit modules to the value of 120 credits; modules' credit weightings are indicated in the programme summary below.

Year 1 (Level 4)

You will take the core modules in Geography and Biology (marked *). Although you can choose your balance of 40 credits from the range of Level 4 modules throughout the university, particularly relevant and recommended are those indicated below from the Biology and Geography subject areas. Appropriate choice of modules can help you to develop a particular specialisation in the overall environmental science area.

• Biology modules:
  • Biology: The Living World (40)*;
  • Biodiversity and Conservation (20);
  • Human Biology (20).
• Geography modules:
  • Foundations in Geography (40)*;
  • Introduction to Physical Landscapes (20);
  • Development and Sustainability (20);
  • Earth Observation - an Introduction (20).

Year 2 (Level 5)

In addition to the compulsory modules (marked *), you choose a further two 20-credit modules from those within the Environmental Science programme, which allows you to continue to develop specialisation, or keep your programme more general.

• Biology modules:
  • Ecology (20)*;
  • Wildlife Conservation (20);
  • Environmental Management (20)*;
  • Health and Human Environments (20);
  • Work Experience (20).
• Geography modules:
  • Global Climate Change (20);
  • Investigating Environment and Society (40)*;
  • River and Coastal Systems (20);
  • Environmental Hazards (20);
  • Sustainable Communities (20);
  • Field Investigation (20).

Year 3 (Level 6)

In addition to the compulsory 40-credit dissertation, you must take at least one Biology and at least one Geography module to a total of five modules. The choice of modules available permits a high degree of specialisation within the subject. Managing Sustainability is a particularly relevant module for the programme.

• Biology modules:
  • Animal Behaviour (20);
  • Marine Biology (20);
  • Environmental Consultancy (20);
  • Biodiversity Assessment (20);
  • Plants and People (20).
• Geography modules:
  • Coastal and River Management (20);
  • Climatology (20);
  • Quaternary Environments (20).
• Business and Management module:
  • Managing Sustainability (20).

Teaching Methods and Resources

Teaching and learning activities are intended to be relevant, challenging and interesting and include lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars, simulations of professional practice, fieldwork-based projects, tutorials, and interpretation exercises. Practical work is an extremely important part of the course, and a wide range of analytical instruments, field equipment, staff expertise, and ICT resources is available to support this work.

Assessment Methods

Generally a mixture of coursework and examination (the combination varies from module to module, but examinations are a minor component at Level 6).

Fieldwork Opportunities

A rich variety of terrestrial and aquatic environments and habitats (many available on site at our wonderful Newton Park campus!) are studied in day-long and residential field trips in England and further afield. Fieldwork is a very important aspect of the Environmental Science programme and is well supported.

Typical Offers

240-280 UCAS Tariff points (e.g. BCC; BB+AS a), with minimum 80 points from a science or geography-related subject preferred.