Understanding the continents
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This wide-ranging course develops your knowledge of the continents: its theme is crustal evolution in contrasting environments. It revises and extends your knowledge of plate-tectonic processes and looks at the East African rift system and Iceland as examples of extensional regimes. You will study subduction zone processes; consider the Tibetan mountain range; examine the Himalaya and the Scottish Highlands as examples of collisional processes; and analyse the tectonic and magmatic framework of Britain. This course is intended for those with an understanding of the essentials of igneous and metamorphic rock-formation processes, plate-tectonic theory and structural processes.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | S339 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The course consists of five blocks, with associated online activities that include exercises based on the home kit, the DVDs, maps and offprints from the scientific literature.
Block 1 reviews and revises plate tectonic processes, how heat moves within the Earth, and the consequences for deformation and the production of magmas. It sets the context for more detailed studies in later blocks.
Block 2 examines how continents behave during rifting and break-up, taking the Red Sea, the East African Rift and Iceland as examples.
Block 3 investigates how continental growth and continental evolution occur at subduction zones. Case studies of volcanic and tectonic activity at selected plate boundaries (including the Andes, and Santorini volcano in the Aegean Sea) illustrate the key processes.
Block 4 presents examples from the Alps, the Moinian and Dalradian rocks of the Scottish Highlands, and the Himalaya to illustrate the principles of mountain-building.
Block 5 describes how the crust’s architecture beneath the British Isles is revealed by geophysical data, and covers the tectonic and magmatic history of the British lithosphere in the context of the history of plate tectonics and continental drift.
Associated residential school course
The 10-credit residential school course Ancient mountains: practical geology in Scotland (SXR339) offers tuition and activities that complement the academic aims of this course. If you want to count S339 towards an Open University qualification, you may need to include SXR339 as well. If you decide to attend the residential school (next available in May 2012), you must register for SXR339 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.
Entry
This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU.
You are expected to understand the essentials of igneous and metamorphic rock-formation processes, including igneous and metamorphic rock classification and geochemistry (e.g. three-component phase diagrams), structural processes and geophysical techniques, as well as the main features of plate tectonic theory.
If you are not familiar with those topics, you are advised to have first studied our Level 2 Earth science courses, such as Geology (S276) and Our dynamic planet: Earth and life (S279), which cover them. You might also find those study materials useful as revision. Your regional or national centre will be able to tell you where you can see reference copies, or you can buy selected materials from Open University Worldwide Ltd.
The Science Faculty has produced a booklet Are You Ready For S339? 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. 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.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader, and mathematical and scientific equations, technical language terms and graphical materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
You will occasionally be required to observe and interpret small-scale features of rocks from the home kit, as well as material on the DVDs, so good visual acuity and, preferably, the ability to distinguish colours are required to fulfill the learning outcomes. Alternatively, use of a sighted assistant may be appropriate. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet.
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 publication Meeting your needs.
You can also find information about accessible study 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.
Study materials
What's included
Course books, DVD-ROMs, small home kit containing rock specimens, online study calendar, a website holding other essential study materials, e.g. activity instructions and assignments, which you may choose to print out.
You will need
You will need broadband access to the internet as some components that are used in assessment cannot be accessed via a dial-up connection.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to 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 will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The iCMA is optional and does not count towards your final grade.
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 November 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | S339 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) |
| Examination |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
This course is quite rightly referred to as hard rock. I made the mistake of not studying Geology S260 first, ...
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In hindsight, a bit of a mistake not studying S276 first because much of the geochemistry in S339 is founded ...
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Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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