COURSE CURRICULUM

The Environmental Science BSc at Leicester provides students with a broad understanding of Earth systems, ecological processes, and the interactions between the environment and society. In the first year, students are introduced to the evolution and functioning of the Earth from both deep time and contemporary perspectives, gaining essential skills in laboratory and field techniques, statistical and spatial data analysis, and working with geographical information. Optional modules allow students to explore areas such as palaeobiology, human geography, biodiversity, and natural resources. In the second year, the focus shifts to pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, its impacts, and mitigation strategies, alongside research design to prepare for the final year dissertation. Students can further specialise or build a broad portfolio through optional modules covering topics such as catchment systems, global change biology, mineral resources, and overseas field courses. In the final year, the core module is the dissertation project, supported by an academic supervisor, allowing students to pursue independent research in a topic of their choice. Optional modules enable further specialisation in areas such as environmental geoscience, ecosystems, sustainability, remote sensing, water quality, behavioural ecology, and digital geographies. The course equips graduates with practical, analytical, and research skills, preparing them for careers in environmental management, research, policy, and conservation, or further postgraduate study.