Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course will explore the physical, biological and chemical fundamentals of polar and alpine environments. Through a series of lectures and workshops, the importance of these regions in terms of climate, sea-level rise, biogeochemical cycling and ecology will be highlighted. This diverse course will pull on multidisciplinary knowledge from physical geography and earth sciences.

Workshop style lectures; 2 hours per week

Group work for group assessment; 1 hour per week

Entry to Level 3 Geography or Level 3 Environmental Geoscience

None

None

A policy document will be developed in groups, with time given each week in class for groupwork and formative feedback (60%) 

Two online quizzes will be given (40%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

■ To introduce students to the fundamentals of polar and alpine environments

■ To develop an understanding of the importance of polar and alpine environments globally

■ To provide an understanding of dynamic interactions between the cryosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere within polar and alpine environments

■ To critically examine anthropogenic impacts on polar and alpine environments

■ To consider solutions for challenges in polar and alpine environments

■ To critically examine literature on polar and alpine environments

■ To develop skills in creating documents on environmental issues

■ To develop presentation and teamwork skills

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

■ Discuss the fundamentals of polar and alpine environments

■ Describe the importance of polar and alpine environments globally

■ Discuss the dynamic interactions between the cryosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere within polar and alpine environments

■ Critically assess anthropogenic impacts on polar and alpine environments

■ Critically assess literature on polar and alpine environments

■ Demonstrate their skills in creating documents on environmental issues

■ Demonstrate presentation and teamwork skills

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.