Course Catalogue

Professional Skills in Environmental Science DUMF4050

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course seeks to link learners with professionals from across the environmental science sectors, including policymakers, regulators, consultants, and wider industry. Learners will build on knowledge developed throughout the degree programme, working with representative stakeholders to practice and apply sector relevant skills and develop their understanding of relevant regulations. Students will also frame this knowledge and understanding through the lens of future employment and career progression. The course is delivered through VLE materials, seminars, practical sessions and field trips, and is assessed through a policy brief and a mock job application.

Timetable

2-3 hrs per week of lectures/seminars on one day a week.

3 x Field classes

1 x Workshop

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements

Students should satisfy normal honours entry requirements for the programme.

This course is only for BSc Environmental Science & Sustainability Honours students.

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Policy brief (60%) (ILO 1, 3) - Students will summarize points related to an Environmental Science and Sustainability topic in a way which is useful and informative to policy-makers and politicians, including visualising data and highlighting key issues and active debate within the field.

Job Application and short answer questions (40%) (ILO 1, 2, 4)

Students will prepare a job application for a job related to Environmental Science and Sustainability. The assessment will include preparation of a cover letter summarising their relevant skills and experience and short written answers to questions relating to the application. The short answer questions will be designed to enable students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of job-related tasks and to provide examples showing experience relevant to the role.  

Course Aims

The aims of this course are to: 

1. Link programmatic learning with potential careers

2. Work with stakeholders from across the environmental sector to allow students to develop understanding and practical experience of methods commonly used in environmental monitoring and regulation

3. Introduce reporting standards appropriate to a variety of industries

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Understand the roles and responsibilities of various jobs in the environmental sector

2. Apply methods commonly used in environmental monitoring and regulation

3. Analyse, present and report real world data

4. Create robust job applications

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions