Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module GEOG3431: SPECIALIZED ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Department: GEOGRAPHY

GEOG3431: SPECIALIZED ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Type	Tied	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2005/06	Module Cap	125 (some specialised aspects have specific caps)	Location	Durham

Tied to	CFG0
Tied to	L702
Tied to	LMV0
Tied to	LR79
Tied to	X1F8

Prerequisites

Any Level 1 or level 2 module in Geography or other appropriate evidence.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

Specialized Aspects of Human Geography.

Aims

To develop an understanding of specialized aspects of Physical Geography using materials related to two specific branches, either systematic or locational or technical, chosen from a list of topics representing some of the main physical geography research thrusts of the Department.

Content

Choice of two topics from the following list:
Antarctic Environments
Applied Hydrology: Runoff and Sediment
East Asian Environments
Environmental Remote Sensing
Experimental Geomorphology: Design & Analysis
Fluvial Archives
Glacier Change
Glacial Erosion
Glacial Sedimentary Environments
Gravel-bed River
Image Processing of Remotely Sensed Data
Mountain Environments
Oceans Present & Past
Peatland geomorphology
NOT ALL THESE SPECIALIZED ASPECTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ANY ONE YEAR

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

On successful completion of the module students are expected to be able to:
Demonstrate advanced levels of knowledge and understanding in two specific areas of Physical Geography.
Be competent in accessing and assimilating literatures of an advanced nature relating to departmental research interests.

Subject-specific Skills:

Deploy skills specific to the Specialized Aspects they are studying

Key Skills:

Show analytical skills in the written, summative examination.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The lectures aim to provide students with an outline of key debates in the topic area, to discuss the literature that they should explore, and to give any relevant examples and case studies.
The student preparation and reading time is partly devoted to any formative assignments set by staff and partly to the general and specific reading suggested by staff in lectures.
The end of year examination is a summative test of the knowledge, understanding and analytical skills acquired by students.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	Varies	Weekly	2 hours	20
Tutorials	Varies	Varies	1 hour	6
Practicals and Fieldwork		Varies		4
Preparation and Reading		Varies		170
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
unseen written examination	three-hour	100%

Formative Assessment:

Varies.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University