Postgraduate Handbook 2026-2027
Module GEOL40515: Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability
Department: Earth Sciences
GEOL40515: Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tied | 4 | 15 | Available in 2026/2027 | Durham |
Tied To
- MSc Environmental Sustainability: (programme not found)
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None
Aims
- To provide students with an understanding of Environmental Sustainability.
- To introduce students to the key environmental challenges.
- To provide students with the framework of sustainable development.
- To provide knowledge of fundamental concepts that underpin the entire masters course .
Content
- Introduction to environmental sustainability principles.
- Key environmental challenges and global context.
- Sustainable development frameworks and concepts.
- Sustainability metrics and indices.
- The five key concepts of environmental sustainability.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- By the end of this module, students should be able:
- To understand the diversity of definitions sustainability in the environmental context
- To know the range of indices and metrics used to assess sustainability
- To understand key concepts of environmental sustainability:
- - Capacity
- - Diversity
- - Resource efficiency
- - Climate mitigation
- - Circular economy
Subject-specific Skills
- Conduct research and analyze environmental data and information.
- Evaluate and interpret sustainability assessments and reports.
- Develop and apply sustainable solutions to environmental problems.
- Communicate effectively on environmental sustainability issues to diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with others to address complex environmental challenges.
Key Skills
- Effective written communication.
- Planning, organising and time-management.
- Problem solving and analysis.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Learning outputs are met through classroom-based workshops, supported by online resources. The workshops consist of a combination of taught input, case studies, discussion and computing labs. Online resources will typically consist of directed reading and a programming environment with example code.
- The summative assessment will be based upon: an in-class test and a group project.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workshops | 10 | Weekly | 2 hours | 20 | Yes |
| Preparation and Reading | 130 | ||||
| Total | 150 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summative Assessment | 100% | In-Year Test | 1 hour | 50% | |
| Project | 50% |
Formative Assessment
The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises on specific data topics of relevant to the learning outcomes of the modules. Oral feedback will be given on a group and/or individual basis as appropriate.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.