Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

MSci (Hons) Geography

Academic Year: 2016/17

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different)
Owning school/department Department of Geography - pre 2018
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body

This programme is accredited by the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES), the education committee of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

Final award Msci(Hons)/Msci (Hons) + DPS/DIntS
Programme title Geography
Programme code GYUM01
Length of programme
UCAS code F840 / F84F
Admissions criteria

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/departments/geography/geography/   

Date at which the programme specification was published Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:37:47 BST

1. Programme Aims

  • To provide students with an intellectually-stimulating environment within which they can develop the skills to enable them to comprehend, interpret and analyse the physical world;
  • To enable students to learn about the key concepts, theories and methods within the discipline of  geography;
  • To provide students with the opportunity to study a broad curriculum in physical geography;
  • To achieve, through the student learning process, a progressive improvement in academic performance over the degree programme;
  • To enhance students’ career and employment prospects on graduating by developing a range of transferable skills embedded in the programme.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

  • The Benchmark Statement for Geography
  • Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
  • University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy
  • Departmental learning and teaching policies
  • The research interests and specialisms of the teaching staff

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: 

K1   a range of key environmental systems (including lakes, rivers and soils), environmental processes and the impacts of these processes on human activities and vice versa;

K2   the determinants of temporal and spatial variation in the physical, social, economic and political worlds; and the significance of spatial and temporal scale on physical processes, human processes and on their interactions; 

K3   past patterns of environmental and social change, and of the processes and conditions that have determined that change, and the implications for the future;

K4   the idea of Geography as dynamic, plural and contested; developed within the broader disciplinary frameworks of the natural and social sciences and the humanities;

K5   the potential applications of geographical concepts within a broader critical framework;

K6   the range of methods, tools and techniques available to collect, analyse and interpret environmental data for practical problem solving;

K7   how environmental data inform management of environmental systems.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

C1     develop a reflexive approach to learning;

C2     abstract and synthesise information;

C3    critically assess theories and concepts pivotal to understanding environmental dynamics and systems;

C4     critically evaluate and interpret a range of evidence, including data and text;

C5     undertake problem-solving and decision-making;

C6     develop a reasoned argument;

C7     successfully complete an original piece of research on environmental dynamics, dovetailing both theoretical rigour and data analysis (Independent Research Project).

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

P1     evaluate and interpret different types of geographical evidence;

P2     recognise and critically debate moral and ethical issues underpinning particular geographical debates or enquiries;

P3     undertake safe and effective field and laboratory work;

P4     understand the merits and limitations of different methods for the collection of quantitative and qualitative data relevant to geographical enquiry and use appropriate methods for the analysis of these data;

P5     prepare effective maps and diagrams using a range of appropriate software tools (e.g. SPSS, MATLAB, ArcGIS);

P6     design and execute a piece of research and produce a report;

P7     synthesise research results and, if appropriate, recommend management policy;

P8     interpret, write-up and present quantitative and qualitative data.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should demonstrate competence in:

T1     verbal and written communication skills, including assimilation and communication of material of a technical nature;

T2     problem-solving and analysis of numerical data from a variety of sources;

T3     field and laboratory skills, including evaluation of the risks involved in collecting and analysing environmental data and development of appropriate risk mitigation strategies;

T4     spatial awareness and observation skills;

T5     identification, retrieval, sorting and exchange relevant information from conventional and on-line sources;

T6     independent study and group work;

T7     time management;

T8     costing and planning the resource allocation for a research proposal.

4. Programme structure

Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 in each Part with a minimum modular weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules.  Individual modules taught and assessed over both semesters with a modular weight of 10 may count against either semester 1 or semester 2, depending on the balance of other modular weights between semesters.  Where the module weight of a module taught and assessed over both semesters is 20 or 40, this shall be split equally between semesters.

4.1       Part A – Introductory Modules

Candidates must take all designated compulsory modules (combined weight of 120)

Semesters 1 and 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYA106

Tutorials

10

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYA007

Cartography and Digital Mapping

10

GYA008

Global Environmental Change at Local Scale

10

GYA201

Earth System Science

20

GYA206

Practising Physical Geography Residential Fieldcourse

20

Semester 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYA112

Environmental Hazards: from Mitigation to Management

20

GYA203

Quantitative Methods in Physical Geography

20

GYA210

Environmental Hazards: Measuring and Monitoring

10

4.2       Part B – Degree Modules

Semesters 1 and 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYB327

Geographical Research: Design and Practice

20

GYB230

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

20

GYB240

Environmental Systems and Resource Management

20

GYB201

Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems

20

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYB328

Physical Geography Fieldcourse

20

OPTIONAL MODULES

Candidates must choose a total of 20 weight of optional modules across the year.

Candidates must have 120 weight of modules (compulsory plus optional) per Part, but may split them 60/60 or 70/50 across semesters. Candidates may take up to 20 credits of human geography modules or modules from other Departments with the approval of the Director of Studies.

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYB311

River Ecology

10

GYB322

Lake System Dynamics

10

Semester 2

OPTIONAL MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYB308

Forest Ecology

10

GYB400

Exploring the Ice Ages

10

4.3       Part I

Five year programme – Candidates registered on the five-year sandwich programme must undertake industrial or professional training and register for module GYI004.  Alternatively, candidates may undertake an approved programme of study abroad as specified by, and subject to the approval of, the Department of Geography (GYI003).

4.4       Part C – Degree Modules

Semesters 1 and 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYC500

Dissertation

40

Semester 1

OPTIONAL MODULES

Candidates must choose a total of 80 weight of optional modules across the year.

Candidates must have 120 weight of modules (compulsory plus optional) per Part, but may split them 50/70, 60/60 or 70/50 across semesters. Candidates may take up to 20 credits of human geography modules or modules from other Departments with the approval of the Director of Studies.

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYC903*

Alpine Studies Fieldcourse

20

GYC904*

Island Biogeography Fieldcourse

20

GYC104

Glacial Environments and Landscapes

10

GYC208

Aeolian Processes and Landforms

20

GYC211

Snow, Ice and Society

10

GYC315

Environmental Change and Ecological Response

10

*note that GYC904 and GYC903 are mutually exclusive

Semester 2

OPTIONAL MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYC108

Climate and Society

20

GYC110

GIS and Flood Management

10

GYC200

Conservation: Principles and Practice

10

GYC300

River Dynamics and the Environment

10

4.5 Part D – Degree Modules

Semesters 1 and 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYD500

Independent Research Project

60

GYD037

Professional Practice in Environmental Management

10

Semester 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYD025

Research Design

10

Semester 1

OPTIONAL MODULES

Candidates must choose a total of 40 weight of optional modules across the year. Candidates must have 120 weight of modules (compulsory plus optional) per Part, but may split them 50/70, 60/60 or 70/50 across semesters. Candidates may take up to 20 credits of human geography modules or modules from other Departments with the approval of the Director of Studies.

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYD021

Tools for River Management

20

GYD023

Lake Monitoring and Management

20

GYD035

Hydroclimatological Monitoring and Modelling

20

Semester 2

OPTIONAL MODULES

Code

Title

Module Weight

GYD029

Applied Environmental GIS

10

GYD033

Wind Erosion Measurement and Mitigation

10

GYD034

Evidence-based Environmental Management

10

GYD036

Natural Hazard and Catastrophe Modelling for Environmental Management

10

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to Part C, and from Part C to Part D, and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX, but also must achieve a Part Average mark of 55% or greater in Part B and a Part Average mark of 55% or greater in Part C.

Candidates who, after reassessment, fail to achieve a Part Average mark of 55% or greater at Part C will not progress to Part D, but may, at the discretion of the Examiners, be eligible for consideration for the award of BSc Geography with a classification based on the candidate’s performance in Parts B and C and determined on the basis of the Part weightings for the BSc programme (40:60).

Candidates who, after reassessment, fail to qualify for the award of Extended Honours Degree in Part D may, at the discretion of the Examiners, be awarded a BSc in Geography with a classification based on the candidate’s performance in Parts B and C and determined on the basis of the Part weightings for the BSc programme (40:60).

 In exceptional circumstances, any candidate who, having successfully completed Part C, is unable to commence or complete Part D, may, at the discretion of the Programme Board, be awarded the degree of BSc in Geography with a classification corresponding to the candidate’s achievements in the Part B and Part C assessments and determined on the basis of the weightings given for the BSc programme.

 In accordance with Regulation XI, a Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) will be awarded to candidates who have satisfactorily completed GYI004 in the programme of study required for Part I.  

In accordance with Regulation XI, a Diploma in International Studies (DIntS) will be awarded to candidates who have satisfactorily completed GYI003 in the programme of study required for Part I.

Subject to the exception specified below, provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates who have the right of re-assessment in any Part of the programme to undergo re-assessment in the University's Special Assessment Period (SAP). 

Candidates who have accumulated fewer than 60 credits in any Part of the programme may not undergo re-assessment in the University’s SAP.  Re-assessment in the SAP will also not be available for certain modules and this is indicated in individual module specifications.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C and D. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 20%: Part C 40%: Part D 40% to determine the final percentage mark.

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