University of Brighton
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Environmental Hazards
BSc(Hons)

  • Course summary and entry requirements

    Course duration Help

    Full-time: 3 years

    Part-time: 6 years

    With placement year 4 years

    UCAS code F850

    About the course

    Environmental hazards such as earthquakes, coastal erosion and waste disposal have a huge impact on our lives and with a growing world population, there is an increasing need to understand how these hazards can be overcome or reduced. The impact of such hazards is often determined by the vulnerability of society to these events, whether they are generated by natural processes or by society itself.

    Graduates are able to understand the causes of environmental hazards, their socio-economic contexts and the ways in which society can monitor and respond to their threat. All of these different aspects come together on the residential field courses to locations such as Greece and Mount Etna, Sicily.

    Typical entry requirements Help

    The entry requirements listed here are for students starting their course in 2014. Entry requirements for students thinking about starting a course in 2013 can be found in the online prospectus. Individual offers may vary

    A-levels:
    BBB. Should include geography or a relevant science. Applicants with only two full A-levels or a double award will be considered on an individual basis.

    International Baccalaureate:
    32 points, specified subjects.

    Access to HE diploma:
    acceptable, subject-specific units.

    GCSE (minimum grade C) or Access equivalent:
    at least three subjects including English language and mathematics or a science.

    Foundation degree/HND
    /HNC direct to year 2.

    For non-native speakers of English:
    IELTS 6.0 overall, 6.0 in writing.

  • Course content

    Course structure

    The course takes a multidisciplinary approach, and practical and applied learning is achieved through lectures, seminar groups, laboratory and field work. You will undertake training in study skills, research methods and career development. The dissertation project is a major part of the final year and further develops research and analytical skills. Year 3 can be spent on a career-focused work placement.

    Areas of study

    Following an introduction to environmental hazards, natural and social systems and mitigation procedures in year 1, students have the opportunity either to maintain a broad-based course or to specialise in particular aspects such as hazard assessment, hazard management or hazard mitigation. Students can also select particular pathways and specialise in geological hazards, pollution hazards, geomorphological hazards or biological hazards.

    Syllabus

    Year 1
    An Introduction to Environmental Hazards
    Fundamentals of Geology
    Hydraulics for Environmental Hazards
    Introduction to Fieldwork (Greece)
    Introduction to Statistics and Quantitative Techniques for Environmental Scientists
    Skills for Independent Learning
    The Global Earth System
    The Ocean Planet: an introduction
    Global Environmental Issues and Management
    Fundamentals of Physical Geography

    Options
    Twenty-first Century Brighton
    Ecological Processes
    Elements of Chemistry
    Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
    Interpreting Geological Maps
    Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
    Mineralogy and Petrology
    Physiological Ecology
    Soil Mechanics
    Modern languages

    Year 2
    Environmental Hazards
    Further Statistics
    Geography fieldwork, Sicily
    Skills for Research and Careers
    Soil and Water Analysis

    Options
    Alternative and Renewable Energy
    Applied Palaeontology
    Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology
    Climate Change
    Community Participation and Development
    Contemporary Rural Geography
    Earth Resources
    Ecological Techniques
    Environmental and Spatial Planning
    Environmental Conservation and Management
    Environmental Pollution and Control
    Evolution and Diversity
    Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry
    Fundamentals of Environmental Microbiology
    Geographic Information Systems
    Geographies of Consumption
    Global Geomorphology
    Hydraulics
    Ice Age Earth
    Independent study module
    Introduction to Environmental Geochemistry
    Introduction to Marine Biology and Ecology
    Introduction to Remote Sensing
    Sedimentology
    Soil Mechanics
    Structural Geology
    Structure of the Earth and Global Processes
    Water in the Landscape
    Modern languages

    Optional placement year

    Final year
    Independent project

    Options
    Advanced Analytical Methodology
    Air Quality Management
    Applied Ecology
    Applied Remote Sensing
    Biogeography
    Case Studies in Environmental Pollution
    Coastal and River Engineering
    Coastal Environments
    Community Participation and Development
    Energy Assessment
    Environmental Assessment
    Environmental Change in Low Latitudes
    Environmental Performance
    Evolution and the Fossil Record
    Exploration Geology
    Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems
    Geographies of Disability and Impairment
    Geohazards
    Geology of Major Civil Engineering Projects
    Geographical Information Systems
    Hazards in Cold Environments
    Hydrology and Hydrogeology
    Independent study module
    Introduction to Remote Sensing
    Medical Geography
    Oceanography
    Planetary Geology
    Plant and Animal Interactions
    Political Ecology
    Rural Development and Conservation in Africa
    Water and Health
    Wetland Environments
    Wildlife Conservation and Management
    Modern languages

    You can view the programme specification for this course as a PDF file by clicking on the link below:

    Programme Specification

  • Fees and costs

    The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2013-14. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

    The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

    What's included in the fee?

    When costs such as health or criminal record checks, field trips or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

    You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply please check with the school that provides your course using the contact details on the left of this page for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

    Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

    BSc Hons Environmental Hazards  [P2EG011]
    UK/EU 9,000 GBP
    Island Students 9,000 GBP
    International 12,900 GBP

    If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is currently £750 for Home and Island Students and £1,760 for International students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

  • Location

    Location Help Moulsecoomb

    Located to the north of Brighton city centre, the Moulsecoomb campus offers students an excellent learning environment and a wide range of facilities. It is the largest of our five campuses with over 8,000 students.

    View campus maps and directions

    Living in Brighton

    Brighton’s rich mix of historic architecture, lively arts scene, varied shopping and cosmopolitan community make it a vibrant, enjoyable place to live. It is no wonder that many Brighton graduates choose to stay here.

    Social scene

    Alongside the traditional seaside attractions, Brighton is famed for its exciting social scene with a wide choice of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

    Music event on the beach

    Arts

    The highlight of the city’s cultural year is the Brighton Festival. The event is held each May and is England’s biggest arts festival, which showcases arts and performance from around the world. Brighton is also home to the UK’s oldest working cinema, the Duke of York’s, which shows alternative and mainstream films. The city is also well known for its exciting music scene and hosts The Great Escape music festival.

    Burning the Clocks winter solstice festival

    Sports

    Whether you take your sport seriously or just want to keep fit, Brighton offers all kinds of sports opportunities and facilities, on and off campus. You can also make the most of the location, and play volleyball, basketball and windsurfing down by the beach. The seafront is also the finishing point for the famous London – Brighton bicycle ride and the quirky veteran car run.

    Playing volleyball on the seafront

  • Staff profiles

    Dr Jonathan Caplin

    Jonathan's research focuses on the transmission and survival of bacteria pathogens in water and sediments, and novel methods of antibacterial control.  

  • Career opportunities

    In addition to specific knowledge of a range of environmental hazards, graduates are equipped with a broad understanding of the environmental sciences. The course provides an effective basis for a wide range of career opportunities and postgraduate study.

    Recent graduates are working as local council research officers, recruitment officers, retail managers and environmental consultants.

    Visit the careers service website.


Applying for 2013 entry

We have limited places available on this course.

Please call us for advice 01273 644644

International applicants should call
+44 (0)207 250 6749

Application process
Book your open day place
Find out more

01273 642288
Email entec@brighton.ac.uk

If you are an international student, contact us on:

+44 (0) 207 250 6749
international@brighton.ac.uk

 

 

Visit the school that delivers this course

Read the subject brochure


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