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GEOL3986: Earth Sciences with Placement

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Type Tied
Level 3
Credits 120
Availability Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Earth Sciences

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide experience of applying subject-related skills in a workplace environment.
  • To enable students to acquire transferable skills, to develop personally, and to enhance their employability.

Content

  • Content will be determined in agreement with the placement provider, subject to a forty week minimum duration. The placement content must be related to the students degree.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Knowledge and understanding of the structure, routines, pressures, and disciplines of the workplace environment.
  • Increased knowledge of the Earth Science techniques involved in the placement, and of their practical application.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An enhanced ability to work independently or in a team, as appropriate to the placement.
  • An enhanced ability to work on technical and non-technical tasks, with colleagues from a range of backgrounds.

Key Skills:

  • Increased confidence in the ability to work in different environments and to assume personal responsibility.
  • An ability to manage one's affairs and time
  • Aptitude in a workplace environment.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Pre-placement briefing in order to prepare the student for the placement.
  • Regular contact with a placement advisor during the placement to help the student assess the ongoing value of the placement and the skills acquired, including one site visit by the placement advisor where this is reasonably practical.
  • Post-placement debriefing to help the student assess the final value of the placement and reflect on the skills acquired.
  • Assessment via an A1 poster on the placement, typically presented at the Department Conference in June.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures11 Pre-placement briefing1 hour1Yes
Placement1Weekly, including meetings with placement advisor40 weeks1198Yes
Lectures1Post-placement debriefing and questionnaire1 hour1 
Total1200 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
PosterA1 Poster100

Formative Assessment

More information

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