This diploma provides evidence of achievement along similar lines to the BSc (Hons) Geosciences, but at pre-degree level for students who wish to use it for career purposes before their degree is complete, or who want to obtain an interim qualification on their way to a full degree.
The Diploma in Geosciences is mainly made up of Level 2 courses taken from our undergraduate programme. There are no entry requirements but you must be suitably prepared for study at that level. The normal preparation would be the Level 1 course Exploring science (S104) (or the discontinued course S103). Alternatively, you may choose to start with one or more of the relevant Level 1 Science Short Courses and then go on to S104 subsequently.
You can register your intention to study for the diploma 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 diploma. 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 unless you are including discontinued courses which may cease to be countable at some point after their final presentation. You must include at least 40 points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU diploma or first degree that you may have been awarded.
For this 130-point diploma you require:
| Level 2 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | Apr 2010 |
|
30 | Jan 2010 |
|
15 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses S236, S237, S260, S267, S268, S269, S278, S281. Note that only 60 points in total may be counted from S267, S269 and S279.
*students including this course will accumulate 135 points for the diploma overall
**students who satisfactorily attended the residential school that was previously a component of S260 or S236 may count this instead and will only need 60 points in this category, and 120 overall for this diploma
| Level 2 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2010 FINAL |
|
30 | Jan 2010 |
| Level 3 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
30 | |
|
10 | |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
60 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued courses S292, ST240, at Level 3 the discontinued courses S328, S338, S365
* A single Level 3 residential school course is planned to replace these 2 courses.
** 60 point-course of which 30 points can count towards this diploma
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a Diploma in Geosciences.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the 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.
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.
An undergraduate qualification in Science.
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90