Environmental change: the record in the rocks
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| 1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA) | 1 Computer-marked assignment (CMA) |
| End-of-course assessment | Residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This six-day residential school provides practical fieldwork and laboratory experience appropriate to an Earth sciences degree, investigating the interpretation of fossil environmental indicators. It builds on knowledge and skills from The geological record of environmental change (S369) – which we strongly advise you to have studied or be studying. There’ll be opportunities for group work; and to prepare and present short written and oral reports; and some coursework and assessments before, during and after the school. It will be held at Durham University, with a limited choice of dates in July – register early if you have a preference, as unfortunately we can’t always offer your first choice.
Course content
Most of the programme at the school is devoted to field trips, with laboratory sessions and tutorials mostly in the evenings. The field trips will mainly visit the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and Durham coasts, looking at Carboniferous, Permian and Jurassic rocks, with attention to sequence stratigraphic interpretations. The programme will also include opportunities for group work and practice in the preparation and a very short individual oral presentation of a poster display.
There is a choice of weeks in July and early August, and you will be asked to choose your preferred week when you register for the course. Places are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so you should register as early as you can. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Entry
The course is best taken together with The geological record of environmental change (S369), though you could take that first and this course later. If you have adequate relevant geological knowledge or experience of sequence stratigraphy, you may be able to complete the course without S369, but it is a Level 3 course and you must be sure that you are well enough prepared.
If you have any doubts about the level of study, please seek advice from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or the course manager, telephone (01908) 654809.
Preparatory work
If you have successfully passed or are studying The geological record of environmental change (S369) and you have attended the SXR260 residential school, you should be adequately prepared. The fieldwork may be tough if you are unused to exercise outdoors, so it would be a sensible idea to go for a few good walks before attendance.
Qualifications
SXR369 is an optional course in our
- BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (B16)
- BSc (Honours) Geosciences (B25)
- Diploma in Natural Sciences (D47)
- Diploma in Geosciences (E02)
It can also count for 10 points 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 award descriptions for information on the circumstances in which the course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements of a qualification may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
You will be required to observe and interpret sedimentary rocks in the field. That, together with practical work in the laboratory, means that good visual acuity and, preferably, the ability to distinguish colours are required. Coach trips to field sites are uninterrupted journeys of up to two hours each way. The fieldwork is likely to be extremely challenging – or even unsafe – if your mobility is significantly restricted, or if you have a severe medical condition. In 2009 there are two weeks with special arrangements for students with significant additional requirements (weeks beginning 11 July and 1 August). If you have such requirements, particularly those involving mobility, you should register for one of these weeks, as no special arrangements will be available in any other weeks. Before registering for the course you must seek advice from the course manager, telephone (01908) 653576.
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. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the residential school site and the facilities available to help with the academic programme. 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 booklets Meeting Your Needs and Meeting your residential school needs, which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service. If you have concerns about taking this course or the support that you would have, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or the Disability Resources Team for advice.
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
Printed materials, course website.
You will need
Outdoor clothing suitable for inclement weather, and strong footwear. Specialist equipment for the fieldwork will be provided.
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 receive full-time tuition at the residential school, covering aspects of S369 as well as SXR369.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
There will be a computer-marked assignment (CMA) to be completed before the school, assessment at the school, and an end-of-course assessment, submitted on paper. To pass the course you must pass this assessment and participate satisfactorily in the fieldwork activities.
Professional recognition
Geoscience students are currently entitled to apply for Candidate Fellowship of the Geological Society.
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 May 2011 when it will be available for the last time.
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
For any student doing S369 I think this course is an essential addition since it bring the theory into sharp ...
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Another very enjoyable summer school at Durham. This is a very full-on week, with very little pause for breath, however, ...
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