Open University

BSc (Honours) i Naturvidenskab (Earth Sciences)

The degree provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

When you have completed this degree you will have systematic knowledge and a critical understanding of:

• The fundamental facts, concepts, principles, theories, classification systems and terminology used in the main branches of science
• Appropriate methods of acquiring, interpreting and analysing scientific data and information
• Accuracy, precision, uncertainty, and ambiguity in the context of science; the limits of current scientific knowledge; and the role of science in the world around us
• A selected area of science, at or informed by research and/or literature at the forefront of the discipline.

Cognitive skills

When you have completed this degree you will be able to:

• Use and correctly apply knowledge and understanding of scientific facts, concepts, principles and theories in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
• Describe, critically analyse and interpret scientific information and data presented in a variety of ways, including texts, tables, graphs, diagrams and figures, numerical and mathematical descriptions and computer-based media
• Critically evaluate particular aspects of current scientific research.

Practical and/or professional skills

When you have completed this degree you will be able to:

• Conduct practical investigations in a responsible, safe and ethical manner taking proper account of risk assessment and health and safety regulations
• Obtain, record, collate and analyse data derived from practical investigations, and interpret and report their significance in the light of underlying theory, practical issues and relevant information from other sources
• Initiate, design, conduct and report on investigations that may involve the acquisition of primary or secondary data
• Plan your own learning and be adept at time management and organisation so that you can work independently or with others in ways appropriate for continuing personal and professional development.

Key skills

When you have completed this degree you will be able to:

• Locate scientific information from a variety of sources (e.g. textual, numerical, graphical, computer-based), including reviews and primary sources, and use it to address scientific problems
• Prepare, process, interpret and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques, including the use of statistics
• Communicate scientific information accurately and effectively using written, visual and numerical forms in a style that suits the purpose and audience
• Use mathematical skills appropriate to the level and context
• Use ICT to enhance your learning, for data analysis and for communicating scientific information to others
• Work effectively with others to explore aspects of science.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• In Stage 1, you’ll study two 60-credit modules.
• In Stage 2, you’ll study one 60-credit module and choose 60 credits of option modules.
• In Stage 3, you’ll study one 60-credit module, choose one 30-credit module and complete a 30-credit project module.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

• Questions in science (S111)
• Science: concepts and practice (S112)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Geovidenskab (S209)

You'll choose 60 credits from:

• Stage 2 option modules

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Jordprocesser (S309)

You'll choose one from:

• Evaluating contemporary science (S350)
• Terrestrial ecosystems (S397)

You'll study the following:

• Science project course: geosciences (SXG390)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Færdigheder til karriereudvikling

Når du opnår din kvalifikation, vil du være en tilpasningsdygtig kandidat med en række overførbare færdigheder, der er højt værdsat på arbejdsmarkedet - såsom analytiske, numeriske og kommunikationsevner, teamwork, problemløsning og færdigheder i at bruge computere. Du vil også have en god forståelse for, hvor dine styrker og interesser ligger, og være godt forberedt til dit næste skridt – uanset om det er videre studier eller beskæftigelse.

Arbejdsgivere leder også efter bevis på erfaring på arbejdspladsen for at understøtte de færdigheder, der er opnået gennem graden. For at lykkes skal kandidater være fleksible og multi-faglærte, med evnen til at arbejde i et tværfagligt miljø.

Karriere relevans

Naturvidenskabelige kandidater er godt placeret til at komme ind i både videnskabelige og ikke-videnskabelige job. Den logiske, begrundede tilgang, der er nødvendig for naturvidenskabelige studier, er relevant for en bred vifte af beskæftigelse i den finansielle, erhvervs- og offentlige sektor, så naturvidenskabelige kandidater - især dem, der har gode kommunikations- og interpersonelle færdigheder - er efterspurgte.

Arbejdsgivere omfatter centrale og lokale myndigheder, NHS, vandindustrien, mad- og drikkevirksomheder, medier og kommunikation, gartneriindustrien, multinationale olieselskaber, medicinalindustrien, naturbevaringsorganer og universiteter – i roller som:

• Forskning og undersøgelse
• Produktdesign og udvikling
• Analyse og diagnostik
• Science information management
• Videnskabskommunikation
• Videnskabeligt salg
• Efterforskning og udvinding af naturressourcer
• Sundheds- og sundhedsrelaterede erhverv
• Affaldshåndtering, genbrug og bæredygtighed
• Miljøforvaltning, -beskyttelse og -bevaring
• Undervisning (naturfag er et mangelfag på gymnasieniveau, så der kan være incitamenter til at uddanne sig til fysik-, kemi- eller matematiklærer).

Vækstområder forudsiges at være: miljø, energi og bæredygtighed; bioteknologi og biomedicinsk teknik; sundhedspleje; telekommunikation; lægemidler; bioinformatik; og teknologioverførsel (overførsel af videnskabelig ekspertise til kommercielle produkter).

Med vores unikke tilgang til fjernundervisning kan du studere hjemmefra, arbejde eller på farten.

Du vil have nogle vurderingsfrister, du skal overholde, men ellers vil du være fri til at studere på de tidspunkter, der passer dig, tilpasset din læring omkring arbejde, familie og sociale liv.

For hvert af dine moduler vil du enten bruge online ressourcer eller en blanding af online og trykte materialer.

Hvert modul du studerer vil have en modulhjemmeside med

• En uge-for-uge studieplanlægger, der giver dig en trin-for-trin guide gennem dine studier
• Kursusmaterialer såsom læsning, videoer, optagelser og selvvurderede aktiviteter
• Modulfora til diskussioner og samarbejdsaktiviteter med andre studerende
• Detaljer om hver opgave og deres forfaldsdatoer
• Et vejledningsbookingssystem, online tutorialrum og din tutors kontaktoplysninger
• Onlineversioner af nogle trykte modulmaterialer og ressourcer.