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.

• Biology modules:
  • The Living World (40)*;
  • Biodiversity and Conservation (20).
• Geography modules:
  • Foundations in Geography (40)*;
  • Introduction to Physical Landscapes (20);
  • Development and Sustainability (20);
  • Tourism Geographies (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).
• Geography modules:
  • Global Environmental Change (20);
  • Investigating Environment and Society (40)*;
  • Coastal Zone Management (20);
  • Geohazards (20);
  • Sustainable Communities (20);
  • Field Investigation (20).

Year 3 (Level 6)

Along with the compulsory dissertation (in either Biology or Geography), you must take at least one Biology and one Geography module to a total of five modules. The choice of module available permits a high degree of specialisation within the subject. Managing Sustainability is a particularly relevant module for the programme.

• Biology modules:
  • Plant Community and Field Ecology (20);
  • Animal Behaviour (20);
  • Marine Biology (20);
  • Wastes Management (20);
  • Ecological Assessment (20);
  • Plants and People (20);
  • Dissertation (40).
• Geography modules:
  • River Management (20);
  • Climatology (20);
  • Quaternary Environments (20);
  • Tourism: Contemporary Issues (20);
  • Dissertation (40).
• 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 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).

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.

Entry Requirements

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

Alternative qualifications welcome.