Skip to content
The Open University

Degree

Code
B19
Level
Undergraduate
Made up of
360 credit points

Description

If you’re awarded this degree you’ll have a broad understanding of the relationship between human activity and environmental change, and of the principles of sustainability. You will recognise the effects of large-scale human activities (such as agriculture, resource extraction, energy supply, transport and urbanisation) on natural and modified ecosystems, and the options for managing them. You’ll be able to bring together skills from science, technology and social science to investigate and analyse environmental issues that you encounter in your life or work and to advocate changes in management and policy.

Top

Planning your studies

We advise that you start with a course at Level 1. This degree requires that you complete 60 points of study at this level, from either Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116), Exploring science (S104) or Introducing the social sciences (DD101) (or the two 30-point courses DD131 and DD132). We recommend U116 if you are entering the OU with a broad interest in environment. DD101 and S104 also have significant environment content from social science and science perspectives respectively. Whatever your choice, if you complete this Level 1 work successfully you’ll have a firm foundation for future studies as well as credit points to count towards your degree.

If you’re new to study or to the OU, however, you may wish to start with the introductory course Introducing environment (Y161) from our Openings Programme before embarking on one of the above courses.

The structure of this qualification is changing from 2013. If you are currently studying towards this degree and plan to complete your studies by 31 December 2012, you can choose from either of the pathways below. If you complete your studies after 31 December 2012, you must follow the first pathway.

You can register your intention to study for this degree when you reserve your place on individual courses, or you can ask us at any time to link courses that you have already studied towards the degree. This gives you the flexibility to delay your decision or to change your mind as your studies progress. There is no time limit for obtaining the required credit points for this qualification; however, you should note limitations on individual courses as mentioned below. You must include at least 120 points from OU courses that have not been counted in an OU diploma or other first degree you have been awarded. If you have graduated with an OU BA or BSc degree without honours this requirement is reduced to 60 points.

Top

Career relevance and employability

Environmental studies graduates are found working in public, voluntary and private sector occupations, such as environmental management, environmental policy and information systems. This degree may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. You can download Recognition leaflet 3.2 Royal Town Planning Institute and Recognition leaflet 3.4 Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management, or ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for copies. Ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for the careers publication OU study and your career if you want to find out more about the process of career development and about sources of careers information and guidance.

For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.

There’s more information about the career relevance of degrees on the national HE Prospects website.

Top

Courses

If you complete this degree after 31 December 2012 for this 360-point honours degree you require:

60 points from the following optional courses:

Level 1 optional courses Points Next start
Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)

Introduces studying the environment and explores the issues arising from environmental change and the ways in which these challenges are being addressed.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Exploring science (S104)

Develop key scientific skills and explore a range of fascinating concepts and topics, including  genetics, drugs, global warming, atoms, and the origin of the Universe.

See full description.

60 Jan 2010
Introducing the social sciences (DD101)

An ideal introduction to the disciplines that make up the social sciences - psychology, social policy, criminology, geography, environment, politics, international studies, economics and sociology.

See full description.

60 Jan 2010
or
Introducing the social sciences - part one (DD131) NEW and

Introduces the disciplines that make up the social sciences - psychology, social policy, criminology, geography, environment, politics, international studies, economics and sociology.

See full description.

30 May 2010
Introducing the social sciences – part two (DD132) planned for first presentation November 2010
30

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DD100, DD121, DD122, S103

60 points from the following compulsory course:

Level 2 compulsory course Points Next start
Environment (U216)

This course introduces a wide range of environmental concerns, exploring and debating our responses to them and investigating their scientific, technological and social backgrounds.

See full description.

60 Jan 2010

Or the discontinued course U206

And at least 60 points from the following optional courses:

Level 2 optional courses Points Next start
Energy for a sustainable future (T206)

Is environmentally sustainable energy just a pipe dream? Explore the sustainability problems of current fuel use, and examine more efficient use of energy, including renewables. 

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Environmental control and public health (T210)

Gain an understanding of environmental and pollution management; how our natural resources are affected by human activity; effects of pollution on health; monitoring and legislation.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010 FINAL
Environmental science (S216)

This wide-ranging course draws together biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics. It fosters a holistic approach, studying the processes that link together different environments.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
International development: challenges for a world in transition (U213)

This course introduces the main issues associated with meeting the challenges of international development, in the context of changing global, political and economic circumstances.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Living in a globalised world (DD205)

This course uses geographical concepts to help you make sense of our complex, globalised world and the processes and patterns that shape it.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Our dynamic planet: Earth and life (S279)

This course explores the structure of the Earth from its core to the atmosphere, and investigates how the Earth system works from a geological perspective.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
Understanding systems: making sense of complexity (T214)

Explore how ‘systems thinking’ makes sense of technological, environmental and social systems – examining connections and relationships between things, and the different perspectives of those involved.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DT210, S268, S269, S278, ST240, T205, T237, T265, U208, UZX213

And 60 points from one of the following compulsory courses:

Level 3 compulsory courses Points Next start
Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)

Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
The environmental web (U316)

Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010

And at least 60 points from the following optional courses:

Level 3 optional courses Points Next start
Doing economics: people, markets and policy (DD309) NEW

Examine the various economic theories that explain people’s behaviour in households, businesses and governments and make critical judgements of which alternative best serves which purpose.

See full description.

60 Jan 2010
Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311) *

Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Ecosystems (S396)

Explore the interactions between organisms and their environment that together form an ecosystem – from simple microbial communities to entire rainforests, and even the Earth itself.

See full description.

30
Environmental monitoring, modelling and control (T308)

Drinking water supply, air quality management, noise control and solid waste are the main themes of this course, concluding with an environmental impact assessment project.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Innovation: designing for a sustainable future (T307)

This project-based course looks at how successful innovations emerge, and how innovation can be directed towards ensuring a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Managing complexity: a systems approach (T306)

Working on your own project throughout this course, you will practise and develop your systems thinking and project management skills in handling complex issues.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Oceanography (S330)

Oceans cover seventy percent of the Earth’s surface. This course investigates their physics, chemistry and biology, and the structure of the basins that contain them.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
The environmental web (U316) *

Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
The geological record of environmental change (S369)

Explore evidence of environmental change in the geological record, including sedimentary sequences, climatic and tectonic processes, the ‘greenhouse’ Cretaceous world, and the Ice Age. 

See full description.

30 May 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DU310, S328, SXR369, T303

*Only if not already studied as the compulsory Level 3 course

To complete the 360 points needed for an honours degree, the remaining points up to a maximum of 60 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses. For those of you with an interest in science, we recommend these 10-point short courses: Archaeology: the science of investigation (SA188); Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis (S186); and Understanding the weather (S189). You must ensure that you have the required number of points at each level.

The courses listed can count towards this degree for a maximum of ten years after we have stopped presenting them. Please see course descriptions for presentation plans.

If you complete this 360-point honours degree before 31 December 2012 you can choose to either follow this pathway or the one above:

60 points from the following compulsory course:

Level 2 compulsory course Points Next start
Environment (U216)

This course introduces a wide range of environmental concerns, exploring and debating our responses to them and investigating their scientific, technological and social backgrounds.

See full description.

60 Jan 2010

Or the discontinued course U206

And at least 120 points from the following optional courses:

Level 2 optional courses Points Next start
Energy for a sustainable future (T206)

Is environmentally sustainable energy just a pipe dream? Explore the sustainability problems of current fuel use, and examine more efficient use of energy, including renewables. 

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Environmental control and public health (T210)

Gain an understanding of environmental and pollution management; how our natural resources are affected by human activity; effects of pollution on health; monitoring and legislation.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010 FINAL
Environmental science (S216)

This wide-ranging course draws together biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics. It fosters a holistic approach, studying the processes that link together different environments.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
International development: challenges for a world in transition (U213)

This course introduces the main issues associated with meeting the challenges of international development, in the context of changing global, political and economic circumstances.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Living in a globalised world (DD205)

This course uses geographical concepts to help you make sense of our complex, globalised world and the processes and patterns that shape it.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Our dynamic planet: Earth and life (S279)

This course explores the structure of the Earth from its core to the atmosphere, and investigates how the Earth system works from a geological perspective.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
Understanding systems: making sense of complexity (T214)

Explore how ‘systems thinking’ makes sense of technological, environmental and social systems – examining connections and relationships between things, and the different perspectives of those involved.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DT210, S268, S269, S278, ST240, T205, T237, T265, U208, UZX213

And 60 points from one of the following compulsory courses:

Level 3 compulsory courses Points Next start
Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)

Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
The environmental web (U316)

Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010

And at least 60 points from the following optional courses:

Level 3 optional courses Points Next start
Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311) *

Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Ecosystems (S396)

Explore the interactions between organisms and their environment that together form an ecosystem – from simple microbial communities to entire rainforests, and even the Earth itself.

See full description.

30
Environmental monitoring, modelling and control (T308)

Drinking water supply, air quality management, noise control and solid waste are the main themes of this course, concluding with an environmental impact assessment project.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Innovation: designing for a sustainable future (T307)

This project-based course looks at how successful innovations emerge, and how innovation can be directed towards ensuring a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Managing complexity: a systems approach (T306)

Working on your own project throughout this course, you will practise and develop your systems thinking and project management skills in handling complex issues.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
Oceanography (S330)

Oceans cover seventy percent of the Earth’s surface. This course investigates their physics, chemistry and biology, and the structure of the basins that contain them.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
The environmental web (U316) *

Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.

See full description.

60 Feb 2010
The geological record of environmental change (S369)

Explore evidence of environmental change in the geological record, including sedimentary sequences, climatic and tectonic processes, the ‘greenhouse’ Cretaceous world, and the Ice Age. 

See full description.

30 May 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DU310, S328, SXR369, T303

*Only if not already studied as the compulsory Level 3 course

To complete the 360 points needed for an honours degree, the remaining points up to a maximum of 60 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses. You may, include environment-related courses in this ‘free choice’ element, such as Introducing environment (Y161); Archaeology: the science of investigation (SA188); Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis (S186); and Understanding the weather (S189). You can also include our 30-point Level 1 course Working with our environment: technology for a sustainable future (T172) (now discontinued).

Top

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Cognitive skills
  • Practical and professional skills
  • Key skills

Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.

Top

Credit for previous study elsewhere

If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.

Credit transfer details for this qualification:

Top

Classification of your degree

On successful completion of the required number and type of courses you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (Honours) Environmental Studies degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in 240 points from the courses above Level 1 listed above. At least 120 of those points must come from courses at Level 3. You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony to collect your award certificate.

Top

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.

Award Regulations

Student Regulations

The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.

Top

How to register

To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.

Top

Study explained

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.

Got a question?

Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90

Request a print prospectus

Order a prospectus Order or download a printed prospectus

© The Open University   +44 (0)845 300 60 90   Email us