Environment, Politics and Philosophy

We know that we’re facing acute environmental challenges, and if we want to address them, we need to change the ways that we think and behave now.

We also know that environmental science, on its own, is only part of the answer – that solutions also lie in understanding how we think, how we respond emotionally to the world around us, and how we see ourselves within it.

Drawing on a wide range of subjects and disciplines in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences, our Environment, Politics and Philosophy degree places the environment at the heart of what you'll study, as well as forming the basis for the practical projects you might undertake.

Year one
Introductions and foundations: ask questions, challenge your own assumptions, interrogate evidence, data and opinions. You’ll develop your understanding of the connections between different ways of thinking about environmental issues, by following a broad curriculum.

Year two
Practical, applied, relevant: this year is where you will deepen your understanding of philosophical approaches to ecology and the politics of social change. You’ll gain professional skills as you apply your knowledge and understanding to a defined problem or issue.

Year three
Achievement, consolidation, creativity: your final project in the third year brings all this together. You’ll identify your own area of study, develop your proposal and put it into practice. This might be an extended piece of academic writing, a pitch to a local employer, a community project or the creation of digital resources.

We’ll assess your progress through a variety of coursework tasks including:

• Projects
• Portfolios
• Discussion papers
• Reflective writing.

You'll be taught through a mix of seminars, workshops and lectures. You'll learn in small groups, with as many opportunities to work outside the seminar room as possible.

We'll encourage you to work outside of the seminar room as much as possible, through fieldwork, projects with our industry partners, placements and internships.

We'll work with you to develop your professional skills and to identify ways of applying them externally – to roles that are current in an ever-changing work landscape.

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

The course is based at our Newton Park campus, which combines outstanding modern facilities with a beautiful setting.

The Library provides many core resources, both in print and online. We draw on a wide range of resources, and encourage the use – and creation – of different materials.

You'll have access to other excellent facilities including:

• Subject resources and subject Librarian
• Virtual Learning Environment
• Writing and Learning Centre
• English Language Unit