Environmental science
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| 7 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
This broad course draws together biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics. You will develop a holistic approach encompassing the processes, links, interactions and feedback mechanisms that operate within different environments. Two multimedia interactive field trips feature in the course, in which you explore an area visually, observe habitats, gather data and analyse your observations. By the end of the course you will be able to ‘lead’ a group of students through a new virtual environment; make critical analyses of landforms, soils and water flows; identify habitats of flora and fauna; and comment on anthropogenic influences and their likely consequences.
Course content
This is a wide-ranging course in which you will learn about aspects of biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics that can be applied to the study of the environment. But there is much more. The holistic nature of environmental science is stressed through studying the many links that operate between different environments.
In the first two weeks of the course you take part in a ‘virtual’ field trip to the catchment area of the River Teign in south Devon. You will make observations and collect data about weather, landforms, rocks and soils, water flows and water analysis, and vegetation habitats, and assess the effect of human influences on the area.
The next part of the course centres on four subjects – air, Earth, water and life. Air looks at the influence the atmosphere has on conditions at the Earth’s surface. The components of air, how they interact with one another and with the Earth are all considered. The properties and phenomena that make up an everyday notion of the ‘weather’ are also introduced. Next we look at two aspects of the Earth: rocks and soils. The topic starts by seeing how rocks are formed with different compositions, in a variety of environments. This is followed by a study of weathering: rocks and the minerals of which they are composed undergo physical and chemical (and some biological) erosion, forming insoluble fragments and soluble ions. Indeed, soils are a weathering product of great importance. Water begins with the fate of rain as it falls, looking at different modes of interception and how we measure them. This is followed by a study of rivers: flows and changes in water composition as we move from river source to ocean. Water also flows through and resides in the ground, and here we look at the interaction of this water with soils, at aquifers and springs, and we build models that allow us to estimate flow rates and residence times. All this is brought together as we develop the hydrological cycle. The last topic in this part of the course is Life. We study the variability of species distribution in different habitats, together with the fundamentals of sampling. Ideas of the requirements for growth for a variety of flora and fauna are considered, along with the ability of an environment to supply these resources.
Next the course widens to look at the Earth’s overall systems. The aspects considered include tectonics, landforms and the agents that created them. This is followed by a study of the element cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus.
The rest of the course is devoted to the following special topics: oceans and climate, wetlands, the cryosphere, grasslands, tropical forests, eutrophication, water quality, atmospheric chemistry and pollution, extreme weather, acid rain and biological conservation.
In the last part of the course you will embark on a second virtual field trip, to the unfamiliar environment of the desert of New Mexico, USA. You will be challenged to predict the consequences of a change in climate on the flora and fauna of the region. You will need to draw on the skills that you have developed in the course, together with visual, numerical and other data about the study area.
Associated residential school
The 10-point residential school course, Environmental science in the field (SXR216) offers tuition and activities that support the academic aims of this course, and it would be particularly appropriate to take the two in the same year. If you want to count S216 towards an Open University qualification, you may need to include SXR216 as well. If you decide to attend the residential school, you must register for SXR216 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.
Entry
You should have a reasonably sound science background. If you have taken Exploring science (S104) (or the discontinued course S103) you will be more than adequately prepared, but you are expected to be familiar with only a very limited part of what is covered in S103 and you could get sufficient experience from other Open University courses or other learning. If you have not previously taken a Level 1 science course, we advise you to buy The Sciences Good Study Guide by A. Northedge et al. (2003, The Open University). It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the course, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully. The Science Faculty has produced a booklet Are You Ready For S216? to help you to decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you need a little extra preparation. This can be viewed or printed from the Are you ready for Science? website. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
S216 is a compulsory course in our:
It is an optional course in our:
- BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (B16)
- BSc (Honours) Geosciences (B25)
- BSc (Honours) Life Sciences (B28)
- BSc (Honours) Molecular Science (B26)
- BSc (Honours) Physical Science (B27)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Environmental Studies (B19)
- Diploma in Natural Sciences (D47)
- Diploma in Geosciences (E02)
- Diploma in Life Sciences (E05)
- Diploma in Molecular Science (E03)
- Diploma in Physical Science (E04)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it can help to weight your degree towards a BSc.We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The virtual field trip activities require good visual acuity for many of the textual diagrams and images. The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, DVDs, course website.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We also offer group tutorials (both computer-based and ‘face-to-face’) and day schools that you should attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. But if you unavoidably miss or do badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a 'substitution score'. In S216 this rule can apply to only one of the seven assignments, with the exception of the fifth one (the project). You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Please note that there is an activity related to the completion of the first TMA that you will need to complete by study week 2. If you register late for this course, you should therefore ensure that you read through this assignment as soon as you can.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2011. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Environment, Development and International Studies and Science.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
A marvellous course if you are in the least bit interested in the physical world around you. The contents cover ...
Read more
Overall an enjoyable course, covering a wide range of various disciplines. Because of it broadness, there are some more, and ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.