GG3052: APPROACHES TO EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19

Course Overview

This year-long core course is designed to give Joint Honours students an advanced introduction to the history, philosophy and methodology of the earth and environmental sciences. The first part examines key conceptual debates and innovations. Topics include: the discovery of 'deep time', the development of ideas about ice ages, the 'quantitative revolution' in physical geography post-1945, the importance of digital technologies and the influence of environmentalism. The second part, designed to support students' own project work, addresses the implications for research: e.g., the possibilities and pitfalls of different qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	Full Year	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Nicholas P. Spedding

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Either BSc Archaeology-Geography (Studied) or BSc Geography-Geoscience (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

GG3031 Approaches to Geography (Studied)
GG3063 Approaches to Geography (Joint Programmes) (Studied)
GG3071 Approaches to Geography (Studied)
GG3564 Research Design and Methods (Studied)
GG3566 Research Design and Methods (Joint Programmes) (Studied)
GG3571 Research Design (Studied)
GG3572 Research Design (Studied)
GG3573 Research Design (Studied)
GG3574 Research Design (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to key debates, both past and present, on the nature and scope of the earth and environmental sciences. As such it provides essential background for study of physical geography/geosciences at an advanced level. Content will include key aspects of the history of the earth and environmental sciences (e.g., the discovery of "deep time", the development of ideas about ice ages, the impact of evolutionary theory, the quantitative revolution in physical geography post-1945, the importance of digital technologies, the influence of environmentalism). We relate these to important concepts used to structure explanation in the earth sciences (e.g., uniformitarianism, historical approaches vs. process studies, systems and models). The last third of the course addresses the implications for research (e.g., the possibilities and pitfalls of different qualitative and quantitative approaches).

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

Presentation (50%)

Coursework (50%)

Alternative Resit Assessment

Resubmission of failed coursework components usually permitted, but with mark capped at CGS D3/9. Contact course coordinator.

Formative Assessment

Essay plan exercise

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.