Residential fieldwork, usually overseas is offered at Level 2. Earth Science students are required to explore and expand their transferable skills such as those involved in group work, oral presentation, contribution to seminar discussion and writing for a range of audiences. Levels One and Two provide the student with a clear understanding of the operation of the physical environment and lay the foundation for overtly applied work in the final year. The final year involves the application of the knowledge and skills gained in the earlier units to real problems and issues. Individual investigation is imperative and is integrated with lectures, seminars, practicals and fieldwork, both in the UK and overseas.
All students follow two options from the courses offered.
This groupwork will often involve liaison between students and earth scientists from research, government and industry, thereby giving students experience of the subject matter beyond academia and also an insight into the expectations of future employers. Earth Science at University College Northampton is distinctive in terms of its inter-disciplinary outlook, the depth of knowledge of atmospheric processes which its students receive and in its provision of experience of the subject at work. The course has an excellent record of positive student feedback, having been described by recent graduates as 'challenging and rewarding', 'friendly' and 'three years of really good fun'.