Stage 1
- Gain an overview of the exciting world of ocean science while developing awareness of relevant scientific principles
- Find out about the structure of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere and the processes that occur in them
- Develop essential practical skills and analysis techniques through fieldwork and data-handling activities
All students take the following modules:
- Planet Earth
- Physical oceanography and meteorology foundation
- Biological and chemical oceanography foundation
- Marine techniques 1
- Marine techniques 2
- Field week
This set of modules is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills relating to ocean science and exploration including basic scientific principles, analytical techniques, practical skills and subject-specific knowledge.
Stage 2
- Explore more deeply the realms of physical, chemical and biological oceanography while broadening your interests via an option module
- Enhance your practical skills via a field week and apply your growing knowledge to real-world applications
- Boost your research skills and complete preparatory work for your final-year project
All students take the following modules:
- The global ocean
- Coastal oceanography
- Chemical and biological oceanography
- *Field and professional skills
- Research skills
together with one option module from the following selection:
- Marine optics and acoustics
- Meteorology
- *#Diving and the underwater environment
- Environmental management and sustainability 2
[# limited places available * additional costs involved]
This set of modules is designed to ensure that all ocean science students acquire core knowledge covering all elements of the degree, but also have the opportunity to broaden their interest into subsidiary areas of study. The field skills module provides a platform for making measurements of oceanographic phenomena in the coastal zone and relating these observations to relevant issues relating to the marine environment. The research skills component helps to prepare students for the independent research-based project that forms a major component of the final stage of the degree.
Stage 3
- Select from option modules covering the full range of ocean science subjects: maintain breadth or specialise - the choice is yours
- Carry out a group exercise designed to draw together the different aspects of your ocean science degree
- Undertake an independent research-based project on a topic of particular personal interest
All students take the following modules:
- Marine honours project
- Integrating case study
together with three option modules from the following selection:
- Beaches and coasts
- Biological oceanography
- Climatology
- Marine ecosystem conservation
- Marine pollution and environmental change
- Marine remote sensing
- Modelling the marine environment
- Shelf seas and estuaries
[NB choice of options may be constrained by the stage two option module taken]
The final stage provides an opportunity to undertake an independent research-based project on a topic of particular personal interest and to maintain breadth or to specialise depending on the option modules chosen. TheiIntegrating case study module is a group exercise designed to draw together the different aspects of the degree.