Module GEOG2551: ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES AND MANAGEMENT

Department: Geography

GEOG2551: ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES AND MANAGEMENT

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• Provides students with a context and an overview of a range of contemporary environmental issues and debates
• The module aims to link the physical processes at the Earth's surface with an appreciation of the multiple ways in which these are managed in order to increase students' understanding of the interactions between physical and human processes in environmental systems
• Use case studies and in-depth analysis of specific environmental issues, to enable students to assess the current state of the environment with respect to both its past history and potential future change

Content

• Through a range of contemporary environmental problems this module will address the following topics:
• The changing scale of environmental problems and management
• Monitoring, modelling and prediction
• Risk, uncertainty and public understanding
• Social responses to risk and vulnerability
• Policy instruments and institutions for environmental management
• Case studies

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students are expected to have knowledge of:
• A range of current and potential future environmental problems, as well as past and present environmental management practices and operators
• The operation of physical processes that can cause environmental problems

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Describe a range of current environmental problems, recognise past and present management practices and predict potential future issues
• Explain the operation of physical processes and the ways in which they can cause challenges for managing the environment
• Compare and critically analyse different approaches to environmental management in a variety of environments and settings
• Demonstrate their understanding of both theoretical debates and empirical issues through case studies and grounded examples

• Through tutorials, students will develop communication skills amongst their peers and with the module tutors
• The course work assessment will encourage students to take responsibility for improving their own learning by wider reading and critical appraisal of a particular topic

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

• Lectures will be used to impart basic facts and information necessary to fulfill the aims of this module and to introduce areas of debate and controversy
• The combined tutorial and assignment (a formative plan followed by a summative essay) will develop students’ skills at critical appraisal and discussion

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

In line with Board of Studies policy for all Level 2 optional modules, formative assessment is provided through formative feedback on summative coursework

■ 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