Title:

Introduction to Environmental Science

Code:

GV1B1

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

The module provides an overview of the scope of Environmental Science, and introduces the scientific processes that control and affect our environment.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Chemistry of the Earth and Environment

Code:

GV1A3

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the chemistry necessary to understand natural processes as well as pollutants in the aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environment.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Soils in the Environment

Code:

GV1E1

Convenor:

DR Steve Robinson

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the wide ranging scientific processes that explain why soils are so variable in terms of their properties and functions in the wider environment.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Our Dynamic Earth

Code:

GV1DE

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

Earth is a dynamic and evolving planet with a record of plate tectonic and environmental change over its 4.6 billion year history. This module explores the geological structure and the processes that shape our planet. A series of practicals are designed to explore the science behind these key processes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Techniques in Geography and Environmental Science

Code:

GV1TGE

Convenor:

DR Mike Simmonds

Summary:

This module provides all students in Geography & Environmental Science with an introduction to methodology and techniques across the discipline. The module will ensure that all students have the required skills for the analysis and interpretation of geographical and environmental data based on a series of lectures, laboratory and computer-based practicals and a compulsory fieldclass (-3 days) to Somerset.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 10%, Project 30%, Report 50%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Radical Philosophy

Code:

PP1RP

Convenor:

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

Summary:

From Plato and Marx to contemporaries like Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, Catharine MacKinnon and Giorgio Agamben, there is a long tradition of radicalism in philosophy. This course is about how radical philosophy can usefully question our deepest assumptions and challenge our deepest beliefs. Poets should be outlawed from our society! We can secure knowledge by doubting everything! Capitalism will be destroyed by the very forces it creates! It is not possible for us to live authentically! Gender is a social performance! We can never access the subjectivity of those we investigate! Pornography silences women! We are not responsible for migrants and other fringe groups of society who lack full access to citizenship! We must tolerate hate speech! Torture is permissible in extreme circumstances, e.g. post 9/11! We cannot hope for a perfectly reconciled and harmonious society! These are some of the claims this course investigates philosophically.Reading:Required readings will be posted online.Recommended:Thomas Nagel, Mortal Questions, Cambridge University Press, 2012

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to Linguistics

Code:

ML1IL

Convenor:

DR Federico Faloppa

Summary:

This module aims to familiarise students with principles in general linguistics, and to give students an overall picture of what a language is, how it works, and what its main structures are, with a particular focus on French, German, Italian and Spanish. It will also provide useful meta-linguistic competence which can be applied to the study of any other language.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 20%, Set exercise 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Biogeography and Ecology

Code:

GV1BGE

Convenor:

PROF Frank Mayle

Summary:

This introductory module explores the relationship between plants and animals and their living and physical environment (ecology), as well as their patterns of geographic distribution across the globe (biogeography).   These themes are considered over a range of temporal (past, present, future) and spatial (local, regional, global) scales.

This is a 10 credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 100 hours of work: attending lectures; background reading; taking part in the practical class; interpreting the practical results; writing up the practical including associated reading; and revision and sitting the examination. With that in mind, the kind of workload you should expect might be as follows:

• 19 contact hours in formal teaching sessions
• 65 hours engaged in background reading for lectures and coursework essay
• 1 hour Revision class
• 13.5 hours Revision
• 2 hours Examination (Summer Term)

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Climatology

Code:

GV1C

Convenor:

DR Maria Shahgedanova

Summary:

This module discusses fundamentals of atmosphere and climate providing foundation for all other modules addressing aspects of climate and climate change. The lectures and practicals explain the main processes of climate formation at local, regional and global scales with regard to energy balance and atmospheric circulation; the development of weather systems; and introduces the concept of climate change. The module incorporates two practicals. The first is a hands-on field-based practical session enabling students to learn about meteorological measurements and field data analysis. Students will visit the University of Reading Atmospheric Observatory and use a variety of instruments to take a range of meteorological measurements. The second practical is designed to learn how to obtain and analyse the freely-available global climate data and perform interactive analyses online. Although the module does not have any pre-requisites, it will require willingness to cope with GCSE maths andphysics and learning basic statistics.

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Geomorphology

Code:

GV1GS

Convenor:

DR Alison Macleod

Summary:

This module provides an overview of the basics of geomorphology, that is, the processes and landforms which operate upon and make up, the surface of the Earth. It is designed to give a solid foundation for first year physical geographers and environmental scientists, but it will also benefit all those who are simply interested in knowing more about the surface morphology of our wonderful planet.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Hydrology

Code:

GV1D

Convenor:

DR Hong Yang

Summary:

This is the elementary hydrology course, providing the basis for more advanced courses and for understanding other aspects of physical geography.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to Quaternary Science.

Code:

GV1QS

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

This module provides students, who have an interest in physical geography, human geography, archaeology and environmental science, with an introductory knowledge and understanding of the interaction between human activities, climate change and environmental change over the last c. 20,000 years (since the final stages of the last glaciation). Drawing upon a global set of case studies, the module seeks to illustrate the use of different types of evidence for reconstructing climate and environmental change and evaluating its impact upon human societies, as well as the evidence for the impact of human groups on the environment (e.g. burning, deforestation, farming).

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Practical 25%, Oral 25%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ecology and Environmental Management

Code:

AP1AE15

Convenor:

MS Rebecca Jerrome

Summary:

This module is designed to introduce students to interactions between human activity and components of the natural environment, methods for monitoring and assessing this and how such scientific information is used in devising management strategies. Students will develop practical and academic research skills through relevant field and laboratory work.
PLEASE NOTE PLACES ON THIS MODULE ARE RESTRICTED AND PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO BSc ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND BSc ECOLOGY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION STUDENTS.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to Agricultural and Food Systems

Code:

AP1A02

Convenor:

Summary:

To achieve global food security we need to do more than produce more food. This module explains why and introduces you to the factors that influence food security around the world: how climate, people, and markets affect where food is produced, processed, and transported around the world; and how government policies are used to support the food system. You will also learn about the environmental impacts of food production, and the likely impacts of future climate change. This will help you to develop a better understanding of how agricultural and food systems need to change in the future.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Assignment 20%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Economics 1

Code:

AP1EE3

Convenor:

PROF Elizabeth Robinson

Summary:

In this module you will develop a basic understanding of microeconomic theory and its relevance to some of the key challenges facing society across the globe, and have an introduction of macro-economic principles. You will learn how to apply basic economic theories and tools to solve simple but relevant economic questions. Lectures will be supplemented with in-class participatory exercises designed to enhance your understanding and application of key concepts. The main text for the module is supported by an interactive e-learning environment with numerous practical exercises to develop understanding of economic principles and applications. 

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Humans and the Environment

Code:

AP1AE20

Convenor:

DR Martin Lukac

Summary:

Ever wondered about the hidden workings of the world, where are its limits, how do humans fit into the big picture? You will leave your comfort zone to think through the mind-bending complexity of life on Earth. Through discussions, you will answer many questions about the fundamental principles that constrain the human race. There is no planet B, we all have to understand how to live within the limits of this world, for we are an integral part of it. Are we?

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

International Development: Global and Local Issues.

Code:

AP1ID2

Convenor:

DR Garth Holloway

Summary:

Identify the challenges currently confronting societies, governments, and households and examine how researchers seek to understand these challenges in order to enhance welfare, global sustainability, and the protection of rural livelihoods. In this module you will engage with a range of experienced practitioners and you will learn through diverse teaching methods, including assigned readings, participatory discussions, and directed exercises. These activities will help you understand the formal theories underpinning development processes and the nuances surrounding participatory governance, and will prepare you for future employment in fields of International Development.

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to Management

Code:

AP1SB1

Convenor:

DR Yiorgos Gadanakis

Summary:

This module provides a contemporary and comprehensive introduction to management science and its relevance to businesses. Interactive in-class activities and the use of online apps will help you learn techniques for inspiring teamwork in an organisation context, discover the importance of strategic management design for achieving an organisation's goals, and understand the roles of the manager and the responsibilities this carries. You will also have a range of opportunities to gain hands-on practising decision making through case studies. Furthermore, develop your leadership skills to motivate and guide a team towards the achievement of an organisation’s objectives.  

Assessment Method:

Class test 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Animal Behaviour

Code:

BI1AB1

Convenor:

PROF Richard Sibly

Summary:

Ever wondered what science underlies commentaries to wildlife documentaries? Here you’ll learn the scientific methods used to study animal behaviour, the principal theories underlying its study, and how facts are established from systematic observations and experiments. Key topics are the effects of nature vs nurture, the theory of the selfish gene, why animals fight and why and when they help each other. Classic documentary films illustrate key points in lectures.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Set exercise 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ecology

Code:

BI1EC2

Convenor:

DR Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez

Summary:

Do you want to learn about ecological concepts AND get your hands dirty in the field and lab? Then this module is for you. During lectures you will learn about how species interact with each other and their environment, how biodiversity assembles in communities and forms entire ecosystems, and how human activities are influencing many ecological processes. During practical sessions you will learn how to identify species and use sampling techniques such as e-DNA and camera traps to collect and then analyse your own data. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Mammals: diversity, behaviour & conservation

Code:

BI1ED2

Convenor:

DR Phil Baker

Summary:

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present [10 credits]

Code:

AR1REV10

Convenor:

DR Aleks Pluskowski

Summary:

This module investigates the development of human society in the long-term, from our earliest hominin ancestors (c. 4 million years ago) through to the present day. We will look at key revolutions that have affected human behaviour in the long-term. Key themes include: human evolution, the development of complex societies, the spread of Christianity and Islam, the industrial revolution, and 20th century world wars. The module is taught by lectures.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Revolutions in Human Behaviour: 4 Million Years BC to the Present

Code:

AR1REV

Convenor:

DR Aleks Pluskowski

Summary:

This module investigates the development of human society in the long-term, from our earliest hominin ancestors (c. 4 million years ago) through to the present day. We will look at key revolutions that have affected human behaviour in the long-term. Key themes include: human evolution, the development of complex societies, the spread of Christianity and Islam, the industrial revolution, and 20th century world wars. The module is taught by lectures, seminars and has a field trip.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ancient Greek 1

Code:

CL1G1

Convenor:

MRS Jackie Baines

Summary:

This module aims to teach students some elements of the Ancient Greek language and give them skills to read Ancient Greek at an elementary level.

Assessment Method:

Exam 30%, Class test 70%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Latin 1 (C)

Code:

CL1L1

Convenor:

MRS Jackie Baines

Summary:

This module aims to teach students some elements of the Latin language and give them skills to read Latin at an elementary level.

Assessment Method:

Exam 30%, Class test 70%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

The Economics of Climate Change

Code:

EC110

Convenor:

DR Stefania Lovo

Summary:

The module will offer an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. It will provide an introduction to key theoretical concepts, such as externalities and public goods, and to the policy tools available to devise adequate responses to climate change, such as command and control measures, taxation and subsidies. The module will also introduce national and international policy approaches in dealing with climate change and provide an overview of their implications for economic development.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Economy, Politics and Culture in the Roman World

Code:

EC118

Convenor:

PROF Ken Dark

Summary:

Understanding the Roman world with reference to its relevance to studies of long-term political, cultural and economic change and to contemporary societies and economies.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Assignment 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Professional Placement Year

Code:

GV2PPY

Convenor:

DR Rob Batchelor

Summary:

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore a placement year within a professional environment of their choice.  The placement year will give students the opportunity to build on and develop their transferable skills and personal and professional portfolio which is essential to securing graduate employment. Students enrolled on the professional placement year will be provided with specialist training and dedicated support to assist them in securing their own placement through a competitive process

Assessment Method:

Oral 10%, Report 90%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Environmental Chemistry

Code:

GV2ECH

Convenor:

DR Tom Sizmur

Summary:

Through a series of interactive lectures, laboratory practicals and computer classes, this module provides the skills necessary to predict how environmentally relevant elements behave in the chemical environment.

Assessment Method:

Report 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Geography & Environmental Science Field Class 1

Code:

GV2FCA

Convenor:

PROF Frank Mayle

Summary:

Fieldwork is a key component of Environmental Science and Geography degrees. This module explores key concepts of Environmental Science and Geography within a real-world setting and introduces important field research techniques. It is planned that this field class will be based in Almeria, southern Spain. Participants make a contribution towards the financial cost of the field class.

Assessment Method:

Oral 10%, Project 20%, Report 70%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Soil Ecology and Functions

Code:

GV2F4

Convenor:

DR Elizabeth Shaw

Summary:

The module will present an introduction to soil organisms, their ecology and the functional role they play in soil. The module will provide fundamental information on: the soil as a microbial and macrobial habitat; the diversity of organisms living in soil, their food-web interactions and their functional role in nutrient cycling. The associated practical work will provide experience in use of laboratory and/or computer simulation methods to study the soil nitrogen cycle and techniques for studying soil organisms in the laboratory. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Set exercise 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Geographical Information Systems

Code:

GV2GIS

Convenor:

DR Jess Neumann

Summary:

The module introduces students to the principles, techniques and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Following an online introductory lecture the focus is 'hands-on', based on a series of practical sessions to introduce students to basic tasks including: working with different types of spatial data and their storage and management; setting coordinate systems and projections; geoprocessing, creating and editing data, spatial analysis, symbology, labelling and map design.

Assessment Method:

Practical 20%, Report 60%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein 1

Code:

PP2HKW1

Convenor:

DR Severin Schroeder

Summary:

This module introduces students to the ideas of three great philosophers: David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, focussing especially on their respective conceptions of philosophy.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Global Philosophy 1

Code:

PP2GP1

Convenor:

DR Shalini Sinha

Summary:

This module introduces key thinkers and issues in global and feminist philosophy. Some of the claims we will examine include: Gender is an illusion, male and female ‘sex’ attributes are social constructions!  Race categories are racist, they should be abolished! Persons are ‘processes’; self and identity are conceptual impositions that mask our true nature! The ethics of action lies in intention, not impact! Self-immolation is an ethical form of political protest! Gandhi and Islamist suicide bombing share an ethics of sacrificial dying! Debt is founded on violence! We should undertake dying with full awareness, by meditative fasting! Bare awareness continues in sleep and death!

We will engage in philosophical conversations with (i) contemporary feminist and race theorists such as Judith Butler, Sally Haslanger and Naomi Zack on performativist,  constructionist and essentialist approaches to gender and race; (ii) Buddhist philosophers on the metaphysics of self and identity, and the ethics of action; (iii) Jaina philosophers on the omnipresence of life, the hierarchy of beings, and moral action; (iv) Buddhist, Gandhian and Islamist perspectives on sacrificial dying and the ethics of political action; (v) David Graeber on the nature and origins of debt and money; (vi) Jaina conceptions of meditative dying, and contemporary perspectives on suicide and euthanasia; (vii) Indian and Chinese philosophers on consciousness in waking, dreaming, sleep, and death.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ethical Argument 1: Philosophy and How to Live

Code:

PP2EA1

Convenor:

DR Luke Elson

Summary:

This module introduces students to longstanding methods, issues and arguments in moral philosophy.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy 1

Code:

PP2OID1

Convenor:

MR George Mason

Summary:

In this module you will consider the question: how should we be governed? The module will introduce you to key philosophical arguments concerning the meaning and value of freedom, equality and democracy. You will study both their defenders and their detractors.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Meaning and the Mind 1

Code:

PP2MM1

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module introduces students to core philosophical issues about meaning and the mind, and to central connections between these issues. How could there be minds in a physical world? Are states of consciousness physical states? How do our thoughts and words come to represent the world around us? These questions are intimately related. The capacity to represent the world is a central, problematic feature of the mind. Moreover, to assess what minds are, we must pay careful attention to what our words for mental states mean, and to how they come to mean what they do. We will investigate these questions by reading and discussing recent work in the philosophy of mind and language, by authors such as David Chalmers, Hilary Putnam and John Searle, as well as classic texts by authors such as Gottlob Frege and Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism 1

Code:

PP2IDR1

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module introduces students to a core area of philosophy – epistemology (the theory of knowledge), makes them familiar with key stances on the extent and nature of human knowledge (scepticism, empiricism, relativism, etc.), and requires them to evaluate such stances and find their place on the epistemological map.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Political Thinking

Code:

PO2THI

Convenor:

DR Alice Baderin

Summary:

Issues-based survey course in political theory, involving work on case studies.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Modern International Relations

Code:

PO2MIR

Convenor:

DR Joseph O' Mahoney

Summary:

This module provides an advanced analysis of the principal theoretical approaches to international politics, as well as coverage of a selection of major issues on the international stage, including globalisation, conflict, nuclear weapons and terrorism. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 45%, Set exercise 5%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Politics of the Welfare State

Code:

PO2PWS

Convenor:

DR Brandon Beomseob Park

Summary:

The course is an introduction to the politics of welfare states in the developed economies of OECD countries with a particular focus on Western Europe. It focuses on the interaction between political and economic factors in explaining the emergence and evolution of welfare states and their various forms across countries. Students learn the major theoretical approaches in the study of the welfare state and apply them to contemporary debates about the welfare state as well as the politics of welfare state reform.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

The Science of Climate Change

Code:

MT2CC

Convenor:

PROF Nigel Arnell

Summary:

This module provides an introduction to the science of climate change, aimed at students who do not necessarily have a scientific background.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Atmospheric Physics

Code:

MT24B

Convenor:

DR Chris Westbrook

Summary:

The fundamental processes in cloud physics and atmospheric radiative transfer.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

Code:

MT24A

Convenor:

DR Miguel Teixeira

Summary:

This module is an introduction to the fluid dynamics that drives the ocean and atmosphere circulations.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 30%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Unity, Nationalism and Regionalism in Europe

Code:

ML2UNR

Convenor:

DR Athena Leoussi

Summary:

The aim of this module is to study how two ideas became two of the most important forces which shaped modern Europe from the 18th century to the present day. These were the idea of the nation and the idea of the European community. With this aim in mind, the module is divided into two thematic sections:

The first section explores the origins of the idea of the nation as it emerged as a revolutionary idea in Enlightenment Europe, remoulding states and peoples across Europe and the rest of the world. The section gives historical depth to current debates on nations and nationalism exploring the development of ideas about the nation, national identity, nationalism and the nation-state, through the study of classic and foundational texts such as Ernest Renan’s famous lecture at the Sorbonne of 1882, ‘What is a nation?’, Woodrow Wilson’s ‘Fourteen Points’ of 1918, and close examination of a variety of national movements in Europe, from the French Revolution of 1789, through the making of the first German nation-state, to the national revolutions of 1989 in communist Eastern Europe.

The second section engages, first, with public debates about European integration and the nature of European identity as these interact with the member states of the EU and with processes of globalisation; second, with challenges to established nation-states by the nationalisms of the European regions which have persisted into the 21st century (e.g., Catalan, Flemish, Scottish); and third with the relationship between majority, ruling nations and ethnic and national minorities in the 20th and 21st centuries. This section explores relations between ethnic and national majorities and minorities by using examples from Europe and the rest of the world.  

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Oral 20%, Set exercise 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Science, perversion, and dream in global fantastic literature

Code:

ML2GF

Convenor:

DR Daniela La Penna

Summary:

This module will explore a number of key literary texts that engage the Fantastic mode of literary representation. The module aims to promote critical awareness of the ways in which French, Hispanic, Italian and German literary traditions adapted and transformed the Fantastic narrative so that it spoke to a number of specific issues such as the advances in science and technology, the changing roles of women, the pressures of modernisation, the impact of psychoanalysis, and fears related to changes brought about by colonisation, the political structure of the Nation-state, and the economy. Texts will be read in the original language if the student is taking that language to degree level, and in English translation if not.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Society, Thought, and Art in Modern Europe

Code:

ML2STA

Convenor:

DR Athena Leoussi

Summary:

This module aims to provide students with a systematic historical and cross-national understanding of the key ideas, institutions and symbols that have come to constitute and represent modernity in Europe and, at the same time, new conceptions of Europe. The module examines the birth of modern men and women in Europe in the late eighteenth century and the broad intellectual, cultural, economic, political and social conditions which have been shaping and re-shaping them since. The module further shows a) the contributions of different European nations to a common European reaction to and re-evaluation of tradition and modernity; and b) the diffusion of modernity (Westernisation) from Europe to Asia and Africa and its role in the creation of a global world. Finally, it shows how art has played a leading role in the transformations of modernity; not only recording it but also constituting one of its central components.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Practice of Entrepreneurship

Code:

MM270

Convenor:

DR Norbert Morawetz

Summary:

This is a dynamic and experiential module aiming to give students a strong understanding of key dilemmas likely to be faced by first time entrepreneurs. The module develops student's entrepreneurial skill and confidence to put plans into action. Students gain understanding of the practice of entrepreneurship as informed by theory, role play and guest lectures. This will include exposure to the experience of successful entrepreneurs. Students are given a solid understanding of the realities of business start-up.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 65%, Oral 30%, Portfolio 5%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to English Language Teaching

Code:

LS2LAT

Convenor:

MRS Suzanne Portch

Summary:

The course aims to provide an overview of key aspects of language teaching methodology and practice. 

Assessment Method:

Portfolio 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Language and New Media

Code:

LS2LNM

Convenor:

PROF Rodney Jones

Summary:

In this module, students will explore the ways digital media are changing the way people use language. Students will be introduced to a range of theories from sociolinguistics, media studies and discourse analysis and will learn to apply these theories to analysing authentic texts and interactions. Among the topics covered in the module are genres and registers of mediated communication, social networking and online identity, multimodal and multimedia communication, mobile communication and wearable computers, and online tracking and surveillance.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 25%, Oral 25%, Portfolio 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Research Training for Geography and Environmental Science.

Code:

GV2RTS

Convenor:

DR Mike Simmonds

Summary:

This module enables the development of a wide range of professional skills, including research training, project management, career awareness and employability. The main focus of the module is a team based research project, in which students work closely with an academic mentor to carry out a piece of carefully planned and highly professional research. Students will act as consultants, designing, executing and reporting on a research project that meets the original project brief. Students will also be asked to tailor their CV to a subject-relevant job advert for which they should be qualified to apply for. They will also produce a supporting covering letter. This element will be supported by the Careers Service. Students will encounter more advanced-level research skills training. They will also gain experience of the University of Reading Research Ethics and Health and Safety processes as they prepare for their project. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 20%, Oral 20%, Report 50%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Summer Micro-Placement

Code:

GV2MPL

Convenor:

DR Rob Batchelor

Summary:

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake a research or professional placement broadly related to the general area of their degree programme, during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or 3 study. Research placements will provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally. Professional placements would allow students to work with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of the professional sector.

Assessment Method:

Practical 50%, Oral 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Summer Placement

Code:

GV2PLA

Convenor:

DR Rob Batchelor

Summary:

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake a research or professional placement broadly related to the general area of their degree programme, during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 study. Research placements will provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally. Professional placements would allow students to work with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of the professional sector.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Practical 30%, Oral 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Energy Resources

Code:

GV2ER

Convenor:

DR Alan Howard

Summary:

The module explores key social, environmental and political issues affecting energy resource provision. The module covers key events dating back to the 1940s although the focus is on the current energy context in the UK and its future prospects.

Assessment Method:

Portfolio 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Geological Resources

Code:

GV2GRE

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

This module explores key types of geological resources including metals and non-metals, , oil, gas and building materials.. The geological and geographical origin of these resources will be considered. In addition their economic and strategic importance will be briefly considered. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 25%, Practical 25%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Natural Hazards

Code:

GV2HAZ

Convenor:

DR Alison Macleod

Summary:

This module introduces and investigates the origin, frequency and impacts of a range of natural hazards. These will be considered at both the local and global geographical scales and will look at Hazards in the present day, how they are represented in the palaeorecord and what this can tell us about long-term operation and impact of these natural processes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Hydrological Processes

Code:

GV2HY

Convenor:

PROF Andrew Wade

Summary:

This module introduces students to the science and practice of hydrology. More specifically, hydrological processes are described in terms of the physical, chemical and/or biological mechanisms operating, and related to variations in climate, geology, soil and land cover. The hydrological processes are then considered in terms of important management issues, such as flood protection, drought, water supply and over-abstraction, and water quality and aquatic ecology. Topics include: evapotranspiration and irrigation demand; hillslope hydrology and flood generation; soil water processes and water availability; groundwater recharge, groundwater movement and the consequences of over-abstraction; channel flow and flood propagation; ground- and surface-water interactions, and water quality. Practical sessions focus on hydrological measurement and the use of hydrological models.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Monitoring the Earth from Space

Code:

GV2MES

Convenor:

DR Kevin White

Summary:

«p»This module will introduce students to a variety of remotely sensed data and teach them how to turn this into useful information for a range of geographical applications. This module will also develop skills in extracting useful information about the environment from a wide range of Earth Observation data, using industry-standard software tools.«/p»

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Nature Conservation

Code:

AP2A59

Convenor:

DR Laura Girling

Summary:

Develop an understanding of the principles and practice of nature conservation, from the underlying ecological principles, through to the setting of priorities and the identification of appropriate management strategies. Discover and understand the factors and influences that need to be taken into account in management for conservation and develop the ability to write management plans. Learn through lectures, a practical session and a field trip. You will also have teaching sessions with conservation practitioners with experience of biodiversity conservation and habitat management.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Set exercise 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Grassland Management & Ecology

Code:

AP2A56

Convenor:

PROF Simon Mortimer

Summary:

Grasslands make up the largest component of farmed area in the UK and 50% of total land cover. Examine the ecology of grassland systems, the management of grasslands for livestock production, the conservation, utilisation and feed value of grassland forage. Consider the environmental impacts of grassland management and the multiple ecosystem services that grasslands deliver. In addition to classroom sessions, take part in a farm visit and learn through a practical application exercise on grassland management planning.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Medieval Europe: power, religion and death

Code:

AR2M8

Convenor:

DR Gabor Thomas

Summary:

This single-term module gives students an overview of how archaeology has changed our understanding of European society over the course of the ‘Long Middle Ages’ (5th-16th centuries AD). It comprises 10 weekly sessions involving a combination of teacher-led content with student-led discussions, is assessed by an essay and site interpretation panel and has a field trip to Winchester - one of the richest medieval urban landscapes in southern England.  It will also include a formative assessment in the form of group poster presentations designed to support students in developing essay topics.  

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Set exercise 50%"

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis

Code:

AR2F17

Convenor:

PROF Mary Lewis

Summary:

The module will provide an introduction to the theoretical aspects, methodology and practical aspects of forensic archaeology and crime scene investigations.

Assessment Method:

Report 70%, Class test 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander

Code:

CL2CGH

Convenor:

PROF Timothy Duff

Summary:

Greek History 479-323 BC, from the end of the Persian Wars, through the Peloponnesian War and the fall of Sparta, to the rise of Macedon and the meteoric career of Alexander the Great.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Invertebrate Zoology

Code:

BI2EI4

Convenor:

MR Christopher Foster

Summary:

Invertebrates – animals without backbones – are the most successful and diverse eukaryotic organisms. This module will consider the range and diversity of invertebrates, as well as reviewing invertebrate anatomical and physiological ‘systems through a functional or thematic approach.

The main aim of this module is to introduce you to the aquatic and terrestrial animals without backbones as the most successful and diverse grouping of eukaryotic organisms.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Set exercise 20%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Birds: Diversity, Behaviour and Conservation

Code:

BI2EY5

Convenor:

MR Christopher Foster

Summary:

Lectures will introduce the broad diversity of bird life, before considering in detail the structure and function of key adaptive features, such as those associated with flight. Moving from physiology to ecology, we consider the diversity of reproductive, territorial and dispersal behaviour of birds, including a deeper consideration of the role of migration in bird ecology. We also consider interactions between birds and people, such as conservation.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Introduction to Entomology

Code:

BI2EX5

Convenor:

DR Paul Hatcher

Summary:

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ancient Drama

Code:

CL2DR

Convenor:

PROF Barbara Goff

Summary:

This module examines the ancient genre of drama, with respect to its content, themes and style, and the context of performance culture which surrounded it.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Roman History: From Republic to Empire

Code:

CL2RO

Convenor:

PROF Annalisa Marzano

Summary:

This Roman history module covers the period from the second triumvirate in the last years of the Republic to the reigns of the emperors.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

International Political Economy

Code:

PO3IPE

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Golub

Summary:

The course is an introduction to International and Comparative Political Economy (IPE and CPE, respectively), which focuses on the interaction between states and markets at the domestic and international levels. It covers the major theoretical approaches to IPE and CPE and applies them to study international trade, globalisation, the crisis, capitalism, inflation and growth regimes. It also considers the relation between globalisation and the welfare state as well as capitalism.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950

Code:

PO3USF

Convenor:

DR Graham O'Dwyer

Summary:

This module examines US foreign and defence policy from the end of the Second World War to the present, with a focus on understanding US foreign policy processes, institutions, and decision-making. At heart the module seeks to address three broad questions: who makes (and influences) US foreign policy? How has US foreign policy changed since the end of the Second World War? What is the role of US foreign policy in the world today? By exploring historical and contemporary cases, students will analyse how foreign policy decisions are made, who influences them, and how this has evolved overtime. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, students will gain an understanding of crucial events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, the end of the Cold War, and the War on Terror. Finally, the course will explore salient challenges faced by US foreign policymakers today.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Feminism and Political Theory

Code:

PO3FPT

Convenor:

PROF David Marshall

Summary:

This module studies a variety of issues and topics within feminist political theory. It introduces students to a variety of kinds of feminism and the different analyses that they offer of society, gender, and any disparity of power and advantage between genders. It also considers a range of topics that have been of special interest to feminists but also have broader concern, such as abortion, commercial surrogacy, prostitution, pornography, and affirmative action.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Identity and Conflict in Modern Europe

Code:

ML3IC

Convenor:

DR Athena Leoussi

Summary:

This module focuses on identity and conflict in modern Europe. By examining race, gender, warfare, revolution and immigration, it explores the evolution of modern conceptions of the self, of what it is to be human. The module further examines a) the ways in which  modern identities have been pursued and realised in different European contexts, for example, through social movements and national and international legislation; b) the conflicts which new and modern visions of the self have generated and in which they have been shaped; and c) cultural expressions of identity and conflict in paintings, sculptures, monuments and films.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 30%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Language and Power

Code:

ML3LP

Convenor:

DR Federico Faloppa

Summary:

This module aims to familiarise students with the linguistic means by which a whole range of persuasive texts can be analysed. We will also be considering the use of language (and of a language in general) as a powerful tool in itself. We will investigate a range of discourse types and theoretical approaches, and we will for instance look at stylistic and rhetorical features, linguistic creativity and language “play”, techniques for revealing a text’s underlying ideological stance and bias, power relationships and their effect on language.

Assessment Method:

Oral 25%, Project 75%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Entrepreneurial Project

Code:

MM302

Convenor:

MR Keith Heron

Summary:

New venture start-up involves more than generating a creative idea…it involves starting-up or taking action.

In this module we expect a student to have done something to test out their start-up hypothesis, in order to build their own and potential investor confidence, prior to venture launch.

A start-up business plan is not a measure of entrepreneurial capacity. This module will not require a Business Plan as one of the task assessments but it will require students to design ‘tests’ of the Value Proposition thinking and explain the learning from their progress towards start-up.

This module also provides an option for students to test and develop an idea generated by an external entrepreneur, thus enabling greater engagement with a real business situation. This will only occur where the module convenor has assessed the client idea as being suitable for conforming to the aims and assessment specification of this module.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Project 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Intercultural Communications

Code:

LS3IC

Convenor:

DR Erhan Aslan

Summary:

In this module, students will explore how people of different discourse systems or groups communicate with one another in various face-to-face and digitally-mediated contexts. Specifically, students will gain an understanding of how assumptions and values that have been constructed or adopted within a specific culture group influence the ways in which people successfully communicate with each other as well as experience miscommunication. Students will become familiar with a variety of topics in intercultural communication as they engage in hands-on analyses of intercultural encounters.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Project 40%"

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Criminology

Code:

LW3CRY

Convenor:

PROF Paul Almond

Summary:

Criminology is a lecture-led module examining the nature of crime as a social phenomenon, theoretical explanations of criminal behaviour, and official responses to crime. The module will incorporate tutorial classes and a piece of assessed coursework.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Dissertation (Year of Professional Expereince Students)

Code:

GV3DPE

Convenor:

DR Shovonlal Roy

Summary:

All students taking Geography and Environmental Science as their main degree subject are required to produce a dissertation as part of their degree. The dissertation is an original piece of research carried out by the students independently, but with the support of an allocated adviser, and contributing to knowledge in a particular field of study. Students have a choice of dissertation topic within the range of expertise available in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Dissertation (Study Abroad Students)

Code:

GV3DSA

Convenor:

DR Filippo Menga

Summary:

This module allows students to opt to spend one of their third year terms (Autumn or Spring) at one of our Erasmus partner institutions in Europe or through the University-wide links in North America and Australia. Currently, the Department has established links with: The Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen (The Netherlands); The University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS) and The Department of Geography, University of Bergen (Norway). For those students studying abroad in Europe, funding is contributed by the ERASMUS+ Exchange Scheme. Each study abroad student takes modules equivalent to 40 credits, which are substituted for course credits in Reading.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

ERASMUS Exchange Programme

Code:

GV3ER1

Convenor:

DR Filippo Menga

Summary:

This module allows students to opt to spend one of their third year terms (Autumn or Spring) at one of our Erasmus partner institutions in Europe or through the University-wide links in North America and Australia. Currently, the Department has established links with: The Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen (The Netherlands); The University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS) and The Department of Geography, University of Bergen (Norway). For those students studying abroad in Europe, funding is contributed by the ERASMUS+ Exchange Scheme. Each study abroad student takes modules equivalent to 40 credits, which are substituted for course credits in Reading.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

ERASMUS Exchange Programme

Code:

GV3ER3

Convenor:

DR Filippo Menga

Summary:

This module allows students to opt to spend one of their third year terms (Autumn or Spring) at one of our Erasmus partner institutions in Europe or through the University-wide links in North America and Australia. Currently, the Department has established links with: The Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen (The Netherlands); The University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS) and The Department of Geography, University of Bergen (Norway). For those students studying abroad in Europe, funding is contributed by the ERASMUS+ Exchange Scheme. Each study abroad student takes modules equivalent to 40 credits, which are substituted for course credits in Reading.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Dryland Environments.

Code:

GV3DLE

Convenor:

DR Kevin White

Summary:

Drylands cover a third of the Earth’s land surface, and play a critical role in global human and environmental systems through factors such as atmospheric dust production and land degradation. Deserts also provide vital evidence pertaining to low-latitude environmental change and much can be learned from this evidence about the response of societal and environmental processes to climate change. This course provides a broad-based introduction to dryland environments, covering physical and ecological characteristics, history and prehistory, and contemporary human use.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Air Pollution: Effects and Control

Code:

GV3AP

Convenor:

DR Hong Yang

Summary:

This course examines the effects and control of air pollution, enabling students to understand the issues and give them a basis for evaluating the controversies. The module will cover the history of air pollution, the “classical” air pollutants – sulphur dioxide and smoke; nitrogen oxides and particulates; ozone and other secondary pollutants; carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases; acid rain; indoor air pollution and air pollution in Asia. Current controversies about urban air pollution and the role of traffic, such as "Dieselgate" will be discussed in detail. The module will also examine the management of air pollution: how decisions are made and what legislation is in force. A visit to a monitoring site or industrial installation will be included if possible.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Climate Change

Code:

GV3CC

Convenor:

DR Maria Shahgedanova

Summary:

This course examines natural and human-induced climate change with reference to examples from different parts of the world. By the end of the module, students will gain knowledge about forcings driving climate change (e.g. greenhouse gases, solar variability, volcanic eruptions, desert dust and black carbon aerosol), impacts of climate change on natural and managed systems, methods of climate change assessment and projection, and adaptation to climate change. The course combines the science of climate change (e.g. climatic variability with emphasis on El Nino Southern Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation, conceptual understanding of climate modelling) with its application (e.g. investigation of impacts of climate change on glaciated environments, water resources, urban areas). It addresses interactions between climatic changes and conditions of economies and communities focusing on vulnerabilities to climate change, development of adaptation strategies and techniques, and assessments of barriers to adaptation. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Tropical Rainforests, Climate & Lost Civilisations

Code:

GV3TRC

Convenor:

PROF Frank Mayle

Summary:

This module aims to unravel the long-term (multi-millennial scale) history of tropical forests using a range of complimentary approaches and disciplines – e.g. palaeoecology, archaeology and anthropology. This inter-disciplinary perspective integrates physical and human geography, ecology, and archaeology. The module focuses on tropical Latin America and revolves around several key questions: 1) What have been the interrelationships between climate change, human land use (e.g. burning and agriculture), and tropical forest ecosystems through the Holocene, i.e. the last ca. 11,000 years? 2) What is the origin of current patterns of biodiversity? 3) What are the implications of this historical perspective for conservation policy and understanding the fate of tropical forests over the 21st century? 4) To what extent have past cultures/civilisations been constrained by, or benefited from, their tropical surroundings and why did they collapse?

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Water Politics

Code:

GV3WAT

Convenor:

DR Filippo Menga

Summary:

Water is a quintessential component for life and for the development of societies. Water is also an irreplaceable and transient resource, which crosses political boundaries in the form of rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers. Furthermore, water is not just a natural resource and a physical agent, but it is also deeply embedded in social, political, and economic processes. This module examines the political, social, international and economic aspects of freshwater resources from a geographical perspective, enabling students to develop a critical understanding of a number of issues related to the management and sharing of this resource. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

China Environmental Analysis Fieldclass

Code:

GV3NUI

Convenor:

DR Steve Robinson

Summary:

This is a field-based module to enhance training and experience of monitoring and assessing environmental issues; e.g. waste and contaminated land management, water and air quality, and sustainable agri-ecosystems.  The class is based at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), China, with the field work conducted in the local area.   This module provides you with a unique opportunity to spend time working with local students and academics in Nanjing.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 85%, Oral 15%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Iceland Expeditionary Fieldclass

Code:

GV3IFC

Convenor:

DR Stuart Black

Summary:

This is a field-based module to enhance training and experience of in-situ investigations. The field class is based in Iceland and will allow students to experience a range of natural environments and will include a day long expedition including such activities as: ice cave formation, glacier walking, volcanic tephra sampling, volcano monitoring and archaeological investigations.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Preparing For Floods

Code:

GV3PFF

Convenor:

PROF Hannah Cloke

Summary:

The module will provide a basis for understanding key issues in flood preparedness, from the local to the global scale, including flood forecasting and warning, response and incident management and building community resilience. The module uses lectures, seminars for discussion and includes a visit to the Global Flood Awareness System operational centre. Written exam questions will be drawn from scientific modelling and social science and policy based topics. The module will be partially run in conjunction with GVMPFF to increase opportunity for peer discussion.

Assessment Method:

Exam 90%, Set exercise 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Ecosystems Modelling

Code:

GV3ESM

Convenor:

DR Shovonlal Roy

Summary:

This module concentrates on modelling ecological dynamics with emphasis to ecosystems on land and in the ocean, which are relevant to a range of global issues, from environmental changes to food security, including the earth’s primary production, oxygen generation, and carbon fixation. The module will cover techniques and aspects required for in-depth understanding the ecosystems function and dynamics. As such this module has got some mathematical contents which is higher than usual in typical Geography modules. Lecture materials and recommended reading includebasic calculus, differential equations, logarithms and algebraic manipulations, however, these are not included in theassessments. The content, both technical and general, is suitable for  thefinal year undergraduate students with little or no experience in ecosystem modelling, but those who are interested in learning the building blocks of modelling, and applying it to the stat-of-the-art environmental and ecological systems.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Oral 10%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Water, Agriculture and Irrigation

Code:

AP3A89

Convenor:

DR Gillian Rose

Summary:

Globally agriculture uses approximately 70% of the available freshwater therefore responsible water management is key to global sustainability. In this module you will gain an understanding of the soil and plant processes which contribute to the management of water for crop production and how these are used to schedule irrigation. After learning about the different irrigation methods you will use your knowledge to design an irrigation system and schedule using the Aquacrop simulation model.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 20%, Class test 80%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Plants, greenspace and urban sustainability

Code:

AP3A99

Convenor:

DR Tijana Blanusa

Summary:

Plants in towns and cities deliver a range of benefits. Through a series of lectures you will be learning how interventions such as green roofs and walls, urban gardens and street trees contribute to regulating ecosystem services (microclimate modification, flood and noise mitigation, air quality moderation, biodiversity provision). A visit to a roof garden in central Reading should stimulate thinking about what is possible in practice. We will also be discussing issues around urban food production. The module will provide answers on appropriate urban greening interventions needed to improve environmental quality, as well as human health and quality of life.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Oral 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Climate Change and Food Systems

Code:

AP3A90

Convenor:

Summary:

Anybody working in the food system needs to consider climate change. You will learn about the global climate system and how organisms respond to climate factors. You will apply this knowledge to understand how agriculture and the wider food system need to adapt to climate change. You will learn about a range of scientific approaches used in this area of research, how to decipher the methodology sections of scientific papers, and how to critique what you read in scientific journals and in the media. You will also develop transferable skills in literature review and information synthesis.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Environmental Management in Practice

Code:

AP3AE70

Convenor:

PROF Simon Mortimer

Summary:

Learn how the principles of environmental management are applied in professional settings. Using a series of lectures, case studies and field visits, we will examine the motivations for businesses and organisations to carry out environmental management, the ways in which environmental impacts are assessed and the systems employed to minimise environmental problems.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Wildlife and Farming

Code:

AP3AE75

Convenor:

PROF Simon Mortimer

Summary:

Identify and explore the interrelationship between farming practice and the abundance and distribution of wildlife in the countryside. Through lectures, seminars, groupwork and study visits, examine the history of the relationship between wildlife and farming, the population and community ecology of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates in agricultural ecosystems, management to promote biodiversity in farmland, and the role of biodiversity in delivering ecosystem services. Learn how modifying farming practice can encourage wildlife on the farm and appraise recent policy mechanisms.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Oral 10%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Urban Ecology

Code:

BI3EF7

Convenor:

DR Phil Baker

Summary:

Through lectures this course will provide a detailed knowledge of the ecology of urban areas, both in the context of urban areas in the wider landscape as well as ecology within urban areas.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Neurobiology

Code:

BI3BI8

Convenor:

DR Nandini Vasudevan

Summary:

The aim of this course is to develop a comprehensive picture of the nervous system. This will be achieved by delivering a broad ranging course on neurobiology that covers molecular, cellular, systematic aspects of neurobiology.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Insect Ecology and its Application

Code:

BI3EAA7

Convenor:

DR Paul Hatcher

Summary:

Students will gain an understanding of aspects of ecology appropriate to insects, with an emphasis on insect-plant interactions, and will learn how to apply this to the control of pest insects and also the conservation of rare species

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Oral 20%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Title:

Development of transferable skills through a school placement 4

Code:

ED3TS4

Convenor:

DR Caroline Foulkes

Summary:

This module enables undergraduate students to develop key transferable skills needed for employment, and also provides outreach experience. Following specialist training on key aspects of working in schools, ten day placements in June/July in secondary schools in the Reading area will provide work experience in a professional setting. In the autumn, students will build on the knowledge and transferable skills acquired in order to plan and deliver, with colleagues, a teaching session that shares knowledge of their degree specialism with small groups of school pupils. Students will reflect on, and share, their experiences with their colleagues. Assessment will be by coursework, and placement supervisor report on professionalism and engagement.

Students will be selected by application and interview.

Assessment Method:

Practical 10%, Oral 50%, Portfolio 40%

Disclaimer:

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.