Description
Programme Specification for the 2021/2 academic year
BSc (Hons) Marine Science
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | BSc (Hons) Marine Science | Programme code | UFS3GOACSMCC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Academic year | 2021/2 | |
| Campus(es) | Cornwall Campus |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 6 (Honours) |
2. Description of the Programme
This programme is the University’s flagship Marine Science degree and promotes a truly interdisciplinary systems approach to marine science. In this degree you will learn the science behind the complexity of the Earth’s coastal and oceanic processes, which will allow you to understand and respond to the biggest developments and debates in contemporary marine science. You will begin the degree by gaining a broad understanding of the key aspects of oceanography and gain an appreciation of how our seas and oceans link and interact with the wider Earth system. The programme structure is designed to give you the essential skills that marine employers demand, meanwhile allowing you to pursue your interests in the wider subject area. The degree covers a broad range of disciplines, from physical oceanography, marine biology, marine biogeochemistry, geology and marine renewable energy, to environmental management and law. It is led from the Centre for Geography and Environmental Science within CLES, but other departments feed in (e.g. Biosciences, Law, Cambourne School of Mines, and Renewable Energy) to provide an truly interdisciplinary flavour. The degree draws on the international research excellence of teaching staff and is supported by the University’s Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) – an interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into the consequences of environmental change and the mitigation and management of its effects.
At our Penryn Campus we offer a welcoming atmosphere, where you are encouraged to make the most of Cornwall’s unique environment, both in your studies and in your free time. Our programmes treat Cornwall as a ‘natural laboratory’, taking learning into the field to explore the incredible diversity of coastal and natural landscapes in the region.
When participating in field courses, you will be required to cover any visa costs and, if necessary, purchase anti-malarial medication and relevant immunisations. You will also need to provide your own specialist personal equipment appropriate to the field course destination, e.g. walking boots, rucksack, mosquito net, sleeping bag, binoculars. You may incur additional costs dependent upon the specific demands of the research project chosen. Details of specialist equipment, vaccinations and visas that you must supply at your own expense are provided at http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6569.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
This programme is designed to train the next generation of marine scientists and practitioners. It achieves this in several ways:
- The programme seeks to introduce a broad range of theoretical concepts in marine science from a solid physical foundation in the first year, through to more expert and practice-focused modules in the second and final years.
- The programme offers an integrated interdisciplinary curriculum to allow you to make connections between physical processes, ecological patterns, and marine environmental policy and practice.
- It aims to equip you with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skill-sets required by marine, environmental and offshore employers. This includes hands-on training in the use of remote sensing data and field data collection and analysis.
- It uniquely combines the study of the natural and semi-natural environment with consideration of marine policy and law, enabling you to make science-into-policy connections and to facilitate marine environmental decision making.
- The programme encourages you to think about human interactions with the marine environment, through understanding complex issues such as climate change, offshore renewables and changing marine ecosystems.
- Through fieldwork and other activities, this programme promotes intellectual curiosity about the marine environment and how it functions.
- The programme provides training in a range of general and transferable skills (e.g. IT, statistics, basic mathematics, data handling, fieldwork (including sampling at sea), writing and presentation) to propel you to high level careers in the marine sector.
You will be taught by internationally recognised research-active staff through a range of methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, field work, and laboratory sessions. Throughout the programme emphasis is placed on developing practical hands-on expertise, grounded by sound theoretical knowledge. We embed important marine science skills within modules, including, boat work, remote sensing, computer coding and practical data analysis. We include a range of fieldwork from local to further afield venues and you will engage in fieldwork of all varieties and in many different environments throughout the programme of study.
We apply novel methods of interactive teaching in the Marine Science degree. From your first year you will engage with hands-on enquiries using databases, satellite data, lab work, and in situ marine or coastal observations to facilitate understanding of the local, regional, national and global picture of the marine world and all of its processes. Lecture material will be global in scope but practical work will build from a local focus in year 1 to a more global perspective by the final year. By the end of your degree you will be able to use a wide range of marine datasets to answer environmental questions important to the future of our planet.
4. Programme Structure
The BSc Marine Science is a three-year full-time programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). The programme can also be studied part-time in up to six years. This programme is divided into three stages. Each stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College website:
http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/current/
http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/currentstudents/
http://lifesciences.exeter.ac.uk/
http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/renewable-energy/
http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/csm/
http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/law/study/currentstudents/#tab2
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
You may take elective modules up to 30 credits outside of the programme in the first, second and final stages as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
If you have mobility or health disabilities that prevent you from undertaking intensive fieldwork, reasonable adjustments and/or alternative assessment can be considered in agreement with the Director of Education.
Stage 1
105 credits of compulsory modules, 15 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
aThe field course module, GEO1421, is compulsory. If you are unable to take the field course, you will be required to take another optional module
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIO1428 | Marine Biology | 15 | No |
| CSM1041 | Quantitative Methods for GeoScientists | 15 | No |
| GEO1405B | Earth System Science | 15 | No |
| GEO1419 | Introduction to data science | 15 | No |
| GEO1420 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Systems, Their Interactions and Importance | 15 | No |
| GEO1421 | Marine and Environmental Science Field Course [See note a above] | 15 | No |
| GEO1422 | Marine Science Tutorials | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioP S1 BSc MS opt 2021-2 | |||
| GEO1408B | Global Issues in Environmental Science | 15 | No |
| LAW1016C | A Legal Foundation for Environmental Protection | 15 | No |
| CSM1031 | Earth and Environmental Chemistry | 15 | No |
Stage 2
90 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
b The field course module, GEO2460, is compulsory. If you are unable to take the field course, you will be required to take another optional module.
c Module is 30 credits including Dorset Field Course.
d You may not take GEO2449 and LES2002 in the same academic year.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO2441 | Remote Sensing for Environmental Management | 15 | No |
| GEO2460 | Environment and Sustainability on the Isles of Scilly [See note b above] | 15 | No |
| GEO2448 | Research Methods in Geography, Environment and Society | 15 | No |
| GEO2451 | Ice Sheets: Glaciology, Climate and the Oceans | 15 | No |
| GEO2457 | Physical Ocean Processes | 15 | No |
| GEO2461 | Second Year Tutorials | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioP S2 BSc MS opt 2021-2 see notes 'c' and 'd' | |||
| BIO2432 | Exploitation of the Sea | 15 | No |
| BIO2438 | Marine Ecology | 15 | No |
| CSM2183 | Sedimentology | 30 | No |
| GEO2440 | Geographical Information Science and Systems | 15 | No |
| GEO2442 | The Politics of Climate Change and Energy | 15 | No |
| GEO2449 | Green Consultants | 15 | No |
| GEO2450 | Biogeography | 15 | No |
| ECM2911 | Mathematics of the Environment | 15 | No |
| LAW2016C | Environmental Regulation and Redress | 15 | No |
| LES2002 | Workplace Learning | 15 | No |
| BIO2437 | Biology of Aquatic Vertebrates | 15 | No |
| CSC2010M | Oceans and Human Health | 15 | No |
| CSM2190 | Geophysics | 15 | No |
Stage 3
60 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory Modules
d You may not take GEO2449 and LES2002 in the same academic year.
e GEO3462 Dissertation in Marine Science is a 40-credit GEO-coded module but you may select a supervisor from either CLES or CEMPS (i.e. in Geography/Environmental Science, Biosciences, Renewables or Geology).
f The field course module, GEO3463, compulsory. If you are unable to take the field course, you will be required to take another optional module.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO3462 | Dissertation in Marine Science [See note e above] | 40 | Yes |
| GEO3463 | Research Cruise [See note f above] | 15 | No |
| LES3001 | Preparing to Graduate | 5 | No |
Optional Modules
d You may not take GEO2449 and LES2002 in the same academic year.
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioP SF BSc MS opt 2021-2 see notes 'd' and 'e' | |||
| BIO3409 | Symbiosis in Marine Systems | 15 | No |
| CSM3060 | Dynamic Climates of the Past | 15 | No |
| CSM3061 | Energy Resource Geology | 15 | No |
| GEO2449 | Green Consultants | 15 | No |
| GEO3455 | Marine Climate and Environmental Change | 15 | No |
| GEO3458 | Marine and Coastal Sustainability | 15 | No |
| GEO3465 | Polar Frontiers | 15 | No |
| GEO3466 | Biological Oceanography | 15 | No |
| LAW3016C | Legal Response to Environmental Destruction | 15 | No |
| LES2002 | Workplace Learning | 15 | No |
| GEO3454 | Antarctica: Science from a Frozen Continent | 15 | No |
| GEO3448 | Quaternary Environmental Change | 15 | No |
| BIO3433 | Ocean Management and Conservation | 15 | No |
| ENE3003 | Marine Renewable Energy | 15 | No |
| GEO3469 | Catastropolis | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
(http://as.exeter.ac.uk/support/admin/staff/qualityassuranceandmonitoring/tqamanual/fullcontents/)
12. Indicators of Quality and Standards
The programme is not subject to accreditation and/ or review by professional and statutory regulatory bodies (PSRBs).
13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards
The University and its constituent Colleges review the quality and standard of teaching and learning in all taught programmes against a range of criteria through the procedures outlined in the Teaching Quality Assurance (TQA) Manual Quality Review Framework.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
BSc (Hons) Marine Science
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
6 (Honours)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 16/04/2021 |
Date of last revision | 20/07/2021 |
|---|