BSc (Hons) Environmental Science with Hazards & Disasters including Professional Placement
What are the causes of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and landslides? How do we plan for them, lessen their impact and handle the emergencies that can result?
This course examines the physical science of natural hazards, the social factors that can contribute to disasters, emergency planning and disaster risk reduction. You'll gain expertise in a range of practical and field techniques through ‘real-world' exercises.
One way we keep the course up to date is by inviting guest lecturers from the many organisations with which we have contact, including:
Guest speakers provide first-hand learning opportunities and introduce you to potential career paths. Many discuss case studies of actual disasters, such as the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. You will also work with hazard practitioners in fields such as floods and volcanoes.
The course is highly practical. You will analyse environmental samples in the lab, investigating water quality or undertaking particle size analysis of sediment, for example. You will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to analyse geospatial data, learning how to use ArcGIS to evaluate and solve many environmental and hazard-related issues.
In addition, you'll continually apply your studies to real-life situations through fieldwork in the UK and overseas, and through paid work placement opportunities. For example, during Years 2 and 3, many of the modules on this course include day trips and excursions. You might visit:
You will also take part in longer field trips throughout the course:
In your first year you will do a southern UK-based, week-long trip to a specific area, such as Dorset. Here you will:
At the end of Year 2, students have opportunities to engage in optional fieldwork overseas during the summer (for at least two weeks), collecting data for their final year research projects. This is part funded by the Turing Scheme (UK government programme) and by the University. Recent summer fieldwork destinations include Almeria in Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, South Africa and Chesapeake Bay in the USA.
In Year 3, you will participate in an overseas residential field trip to a location in Europe, such as Tenerife. This gives you the chance to study an environment very different to that of the UK. You will focus on volcanic and seismic hazards, developing the skills and knowledge to monitor and evaluate hazards and risk, and explore in the field community resilience and disaster risk reduction strategies.
What are the causes of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and landslides? How do we plan for them, lessen their impact and handle the emergencies that can result?
This course examines the physical science of natural hazards, the social factors that can contribute to disasters, emergency planning and disaster risk reduction. You'll gain expertise in a range of practical and field techniques through ‘real-world' exercises.
One way we keep the course up to date is by inviting guest lecturers from the many organisations with which we have contact, including:
Guest speakers provide first-hand learning opportunities and introduce you to potential career paths. Many discuss case studies of actual disasters, such as the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. You will also work with hazard practitioners in fields such as floods and volcanoes.
The course is highly practical. You will analyse environmental samples in the lab, investigating water quality or undertaking particle size analysis of sediment, for example. You will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to analyse geospatial data, learning how to use ArcGIS to evaluate and solve many environmental and hazard-related issues.
In addition, you'll continually apply your studies to real-life situations through fieldwork in the UK and overseas, and through paid work placement opportunities. For example, during Years 2 and 3, many of the modules on this course include day trips and excursions. You might visit:
You will also take part in longer field trips throughout the course:
In your first year you will do a southern UK-based, week-long trip to a specific area, such as Dorset. Here you will:
At the end of Year 2, students have opportunities to engage in optional fieldwork overseas during the summer (for at least two weeks), collecting data for their final year research projects. This is part funded by the Turing Scheme (UK government programme) and by the University. Recent summer fieldwork destinations include Almeria in Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, South Africa and Chesapeake Bay in the USA.
In Year 3, you will participate in an overseas residential field trip to a location in Europe, such as Tenerife. This gives you the chance to study an environment very different to that of the UK. You will focus on volcanic and seismic hazards, developing the skills and knowledge to monitor and evaluate hazards and risk, and explore in the field community resilience and disaster risk reduction strategies.
