BSc Geography (Physical)

Title:

Geography and Environmental Science Field Class

Code:

GV1FC

Convenor:

DR Jess Neumann

Summary:

This is a field-based module designed to enhance training and experience of undertaking in situ problem-based research, involving data collection, analysis and interpretation. The module aims to train students in applying practical skills to a range of regional geographical and environmental issues. This will enhance their knowledge and understanding of field investigation methods used in human and physical geography, and environmental science, with a strong emphasis on authentic, ‘real world’ issues that affect society and the environment. The students will gain experience of collecting, analysing, interpreting and discussing data framed by a range of geographical and environmental issues. This will develop their research abilities and employability skills, which will be key to their career development and achieving their personal goals. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Global Challenges: a Planet in Crisis

Code:

GV1GC

Convenor:

PROF Hilary Geoghegan

Summary:

Planet earth is in crisis. This module offers first-year Geography and Environmental Science students a broad introduction to the interrelated global challenges facing the planet and humanity today. Students will become familiar with academic debates and human geography, physical geography and environmental science perspectives surrounding a number of key challenges. This module will equip students with the skills to use academic literature to support critical discussions of contemporary global geographical and environmental challenges. During the course, collaborative teaching in lectures, interactive discussions in climate café sessions, and a departmental photo exhibition will showcase research-teaching synergies across Geography and Environmental Science. By the end of the module, students will realise the significance of their chosen degree programme. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Landscapes and Natural Resources

Code:

GV1LAR

Convenor:

PROF Frank Mayle

Summary:

The module introduces students to the integrative concept of landscape, with a focus on the component biophysical elements, their patterns and natural processes. The spatial structure and functions of renewable and living resources that characterise landscapes will be considered. Where relevant, the resilience of these resources in selected landscapes will be considered in the context of global climate change.  

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Restless Planet

Code:

GV1RES

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

The purpose of this module is to introduce the key processes operating in the Earth System including the lithosphere, and atmosphere and the impacts of these on the hydrosphere and to demonstrate that these continuously change through time resulting in our restless planet. The interactions between these different spheres are a major component of the module aiming to demonstrate the integrated nature of the Earth System and that changes to these main cycles can have impacts across the globe. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Skills in Geography and Environmental Science

Code:

GV1SKL

Convenor:

DR Rob Fry

Summary:

This module provides all students in Geography and Environmental Science with an introduction to the discipline whilst making students aware of the academic standards and integrity expected at undergraduate level. The module will introduce some key skills required in environmental science and geographical research, using real-world examples and data.  

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Data Environment

Code:

GV1DEN

Convenor:

PROF Andrew Wade

Summary:

This module will introduce numerical concepts and techniques required to process and analyse environmental data improving or consolidating numerical skills required for studying environmental science. It will train students in using the selected data management, processing and statistical packages, and data visualisation. Data will be drawn from other thematic modules taught at Part 1 and will assist students with managing numerical and data processing tasks set in other modules. The module will consist of lectures and practical sessions with a strong emphasis on practical learning. Assessment will be via two online tests and a project related to processing, analysis and visualisation of environmental data. 

Assessment Method:

Report 70%, Class test 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Earth Lab

Code:

GV1EL

Convenor:

PROF Tom Sizmur

Summary:

This module will introduce the fundamental concepts required to understand and investigate how our environment works and then introduce you to key fieldwork and laboratory skills by visiting sites, collecting samples and analysing them in the laboratory to make an assessment of the health of the environment in our local area.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 20%, Report 40%, Class test 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Geographical Imaginaries

Code:

GV1GIM

Convenor:

PROF Avril Maddrell

Summary:

Geographical knowledge and methods have changed over time; understanding those changes is crucial to understanding how and why we do geography today, as well as recognising the ways in which geographical knowledge will evolve in the future in response to changing social, environmental and technological needs and opportunities. This module is titled geographical imaginaries because it focuses on ways of thinking about and therefore doing geography. Understanding the evolving development of geographical thinking and practice over time and the implications of particular approaches and methods is a subject bench-marking requirement for all students of geography. 

This module aims to i) map out and understand the key continuities and ruptures in geographical topics and questions from the establishment of geography as a university subject in the late nineteenth century to the present day; and ii) show how human geography has adapted and responded to changing social, environmental and technological challenges and opportunities; iii) to understand a range of contemporary ways of thinking in human geography and opportunities for using different  ‘geographical imaginaries’ to understand and address contemporary issues. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome

Code:

AR1EMP

Convenor:

PROF Roger Matthews

Summary:

This module introduces the archaeology and historical context of the world’s early empires, dating from 2500 BC to AD 395. We focus on the great empires of ancient Mesopotamia (Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria), Egypt, the Persian Achaemenid Empire and the Roman Empire. We will review other imperial entities of the world, including examples from China and the Far East, and the Americas. We will examine special themes relevant to the topic of empires, including ideology, imperial cult, trade, urbanisation, warfare, agriculture and the everyday lives of imperial subjects. You will study the rise and fall of some of the greatest, and the most fearsome, socio-political entities to have existed on our planet.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Practical 10%, Report 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death

Code:

AR1FOR

Convenor:

DR Gundula Müldner

Summary:

This module investigates the archaeological methods employed in the scientific study of the dead, both from modern crime scenes and within older archaeological contexts. You will have the opportunity to analyse skeletal remains, and carry out fieldwork in the form of a cemetery survey, learning how to analyse and interpret these results. Through a series of case studies, you will explore the role of forensic archaeologists and anthropologists (working within the context of the ethics, law and politics) behind the examination of human remains.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day

Code:

AR1RAT

Convenor:

DR Gabor Thomas

Summary:

This module investigates the development of human society from a long-term and global perspective. It traces the human journey from our earliest ancestors of c. 6 million years ago to the present day. The module considers the key revolutions and transitions that have affected human thought, behaviour and society, focussing on the evidence from material culture. Key themes include human evolution, the development of complex societies, the inventions of metallurgy and writing, the industrial and agricultural revolutions, and globalisation. The module is taught by a combination of online lectures, face-to-face seminars and lectures, and practical classes.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology

Code:

AR1SOC

Convenor:

DR Alanna Cant

Summary:

This module provides a general introduction to social anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures. It will introduce you to major themes in the discipline of anthropology through focused study on topics that may include: kinship and marriage, gender and sexuality, the roles of religion, ritual and witchcraft in modern life, the concepts of ethnicity and race, and contemporary hunting and gathering societies. The module will also consider how anthropology can help us understand key issues in today’s world, such as ethnicity, race and decolonisation, and the role that work and consumption play in forming identities. Teaching is focused on real-world case studies from different cultures and regions around the globe, including the research expertise of the lecturer(s). 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Fundamentals of Ecology

Code:

BI1FE2

Convenor:

DR Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez

Summary:

In this module you will learn about ecological concepts and how they can be applied in the field and the laboratory. You will learn about how species interact with each other and their environment, how biodiversity assembles in communities and forms entire ecosystems and biomes, and how human activities are influencing many ecological processes. During practical sessions you will learn how to identify species and use sampling techniques that may include sweep nets, footprint tunnels, and camera traps to collect and then learn how to analyse your own data. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Ancient Song

Code:

CL1SO

Convenor:

PROF Ian Rutherford

Summary:

This module introduces students to the lyric poetry of ancient Greece and Rome, studying authors from both civilisations and considering a range of thematic approaches to the surviving corpus of poetry. It is intended to be suitable for beginners and for those who have studied some ancient literature before; there is no language requirement, but there will be an opportunity for students who do have relevant skills to employ them in their coursework and exams.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Texts, Readers, and Writers

Code:

CL1TR

Convenor:

DR Andreas Gavrielatos

Summary:

This module explores the history of texts, reading, and writing in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. We shall look at literature, papyri, inscriptions, letters, Linear B, etc. Attention will also be given to the invention of the alphabet and to ancient writing materials and technologies. No knowledge of Latin, ancient Greek, or the ancient world more generally is required.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 50%, Set exercise 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Approaches to Film

Code:

FT1ATF

Convenor:

DR Tonia Kazakopoulou

Summary:

How do films tell stories, make meanings, and contribute to our culture? What questions can, and should, we ask of a film?

This module includes a mix of cinema screenings, seminars and lectures, exploring a range of fiction and non-fiction films. Class discussions and assignments will challenge you to explore the meanings and cultural significance of moving images, across the 20th and 21st centuries.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Wildlife Documentary: Ecology and Representation

Code:

FT1WD

Convenor:

DR Adam O'Brien

Summary:

This module gives you the opportunity to study wildlife documentaries, and filmmaking addressing ecological issues. You will engage with the relevant critical vocabulary and contextual knowledge to explore how meanings on screen are made. Case studies may include David Attenborough’s landmark BBC series, nature documentaries such as March of the Penguins, and climate change films such as An Inconvenient Truth. There may be a Q&A with a guest speaker from the creative industries. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Oral 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Intercultural Competence and Communication

Code:

IL1GICC

Convenor:

PROF Daniela Standen

Summary:

In this module students develop the skills and understanding needed for communicating effectively in a multi-cultural global environment, including the university and the workplace.  Intercultural competence and communication will be considered from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including Language Education, Film, and Curriculum. During the course of the module you will tackle questions such as: How do you work successfully in multicultural Teams? Are nationality and identity the same thing? Why do stereotypes exist?

Students will demonstrate their learning through reflections and by defining and explaining a real-world situation. The module will be delivered at the University of Reading Whiteknights campus.

Assessment Method:

Oral 10%, Portfolio 30%, Project 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

English Language and Society

Code:

LS1ELS

Convenor:

DR Christiana Themistocleous

Summary:

The course aims to provide a broad introduction to English Language and Society, and a basis for further in-depth study of the field in parts two and three of the degree in English Language and Linguistics.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

British Society

Code:

PO1BRI

Convenor:

DR Dawn Clarke

Summary:

The module draws on theories and approaches from Politics, Sociology, Psychology, History and Philosophy to consider some of the main contours of contemporary British Society. The module will explore a number of images of Britain including: Britain as a Welfare State, Multicultural Britain and Britain as a Class Society. It will also explore crime and deviance in Britain, the role of the mass media and the increasing power of the food industry. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Inequality

Code:

PO1INE

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Golub

Summary:

Inequality is everywhere around us: different individuals earn different salaries, people of different genders and backgrounds have access to different economic opportunities, and those at the top of the income distribution have radically distinct life chances than those at the bottom. What explains rising inequality, is it fair and what are the consequences? Should anything be done to reduce inequality, and if so, what? This course aims to answer these questions by providing students with the analytical tools and knowledge to understand and explain the evolution of earnings, racial and gender inequality over time and its variation across developed countries. It also considers the economic, normative and political implications of different forms of inequality, in particular gender and racial inequality. Is inequality at the top of the income distribution (i.e. the 1% v. the rest of us) the inevitable outcome of a well-functioning market system or does it suggest problems in the way democracy works? Does inequality undermine democracy for instance by affecting political participation or increasing the appeal of non-liberal populist parties? Take the course and you will find out more about these fascinating questions and more!

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Oral 10%, Project 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Political Ideas

Code:

PO1IPI

Convenor:

DR Rob Jubb

Summary:

An introduction to political theory, covering central topics like the state and its authority, democracy, rights and liberty, equality and social justice, and war and intervention, as well as some of the basic methods for understanding them all. 

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

War and Warfare

Code:

PO1WAR

Convenor:

DR Vladimir Rauta

Summary:

What is war? How do we classify war? What causes war? How are wars fought? What kinds of warfare can we identify and how have these changed throughout history? How do we make sense, theoretically and empirically, of the growing spectrum of contemporary war - including, but not limited to, great power war, nuclear inter-state war, civil wars, hybrid/cyber/proxy/grey zone warfare? This is an introductory module for students seeking foundational knowledge of war in international relations. The emphasis is on concepts and types of war, their causes, and how they relate to real world issues in international relations and international security. By thinking through and examining a subset of wars and types of warfare the ultimate objective is to have students embrace a range of theoretical arguments about both historical and contemporary examples, to apply these insights to current debates about war in international relations and to prepare students for future scholarly research and security/strategy-focused analysis.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Global Justice

Code:

PP1GJ

Convenor:

DR Michela Bariselli

Summary:

Global traditions of philosophy  from the Buddha and Confucius to Simone Weil, Frantz Fanon, Martin Luther King Jr., and African and Native American thinkers advocate ideas of justice and freedom that extend far beyond contemporary conceptions. This course shows how these thinkers question our  ideas of justice, and  transform how we approach injustice and freedom in the  context of race and colonialism, nature and  indigenous communities, identity  and sexuality, family and polity, through radically different conceptions of freedom and violence,  love, equality and harmony.

Some of the claims we will examine include: Justice is freedom from suffering!  Revolutionary violence is cathartic and emancipatory! Political justice  requires mental training! Nature is alive and has rights! Gender and sexual freedom are gained by  dissolving bodily boundaries!  Truth lies in pleasure! Justice is  love! Social justice comes with harmonising differences! 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

The Meaning of Life

Code:

PP1ML

Convenor:

MR Steven Wu

Summary:

What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the most important philosophical question we can ask. What is the answer? Indeed, what is the question really asking? In this module, we seek the answers. Along the way, we will consider a series of fascinating questions which promise to enlighten our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. What makes life worth living? Is there any reason to fear death? Could life in artificial reality be better or more fulfilling than life in the real world?

Reading:

A list of required readings will be posted online. All or nearly all core readings are available electronically.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Reason and Argument

Code:

PP1RA

Convenor:

DR Jumbly Grindrod

Summary:

This module enhances students’ ability to understand and construct complex arguments through the study of logic and the psychology of human reasoning. Reading: A module guide will be available. Recommended: Jamie Carlin Watson and Robert Arp, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well, 2nd edition, Bloomsbury, 2015.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Radical Philosophy

Code:

PP1RP

Convenor:

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

Summary:

From Plato and Marx to contemporaries like Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, and Catharine MacKinnon, there is a long tradition of radicalism in philosophy. This course is about how radical philosophy can usefully question our deepest assumptions and challenge our deepest beliefs. Poets should be outlawed from our society! We can secure knowledge by doubting everything! Capitalism will be destroyed by the very forces it creates! Gender is a social performance! Pornography silences women! Torture is permissible in extreme circumstances, e.g. post 9/11! These are some of the claims this course investigates philosophically.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Psychology

Code:

PY1IPY

Convenor:

DR Debra Page

Summary:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading, for students who are interested in but not studying Psychology.  

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Report 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Earth Processes and Hazards

Code:

GV2EPH

Convenor:

DR Hazel McGoff

Summary:

This module explores the key natural processes that occur both within the Earth and at the surface and also describes the hazards that are associated with these processes. 

Heat flow within the Earth is the main driver of plate tectonic changes and the continual cycle of plate formation, motion and destruction forms the distinctive geomorphology of the Earth’s surface especially at plate margins where features such as mountain ranges, volcanoes and ocean trenches occur. Surface features are further modified by processes including weather, gravity, water, ice and fire. This module explores these dynamic processes and also the resultant hazards which result from the tectonic and geomorphological evolution of the Earth including volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, weather events and landslides as well as the impact these can have on the natural world and human societies. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Field Class

Code:

GV2FLD

Convenor:

DR Alison Macleod

Summary:

Fieldwork is a fundamental component of Geography and Environmental Science degrees. This module is designed to introduce Geography and Environmental Science students to key concepts and skills of the discipline that will allow them to undertake field research in a real-world setting using a range of contemporary methods and equipment for data gathering and to experience working as part of a team. The specialist activities undertaken on this module will be tailored to the specific degree programme you are registered on in order that the training you receive is authentic and relevant to your future ambitions and to the skills you are likely to need for dissertation field research. The highest standards of conduct and professionalism are expected from all participants. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Skills Training and Project Design

Code:

GV2STP

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Dale

Summary:

This module enables the development of a wide range of professional skills, including research approaches, project management, career awareness and employability. The main focus for the first part of this module is a team based research project, in which students work closely with an academic mentor to carry out a piece of carefully planned and highly professional research. Students will act as consultants, designing, executing and reporting on a research project that meets the original project brief. They will also gain experience of the University of Reading Research Ethics and/or Health and Safety processes as they prepare for their project. In the second part of the module, students will encounter more advanced-level research skills training which they will be required to reflect on as they start to prepare for their dissertations. Students will also receive guidance on CV writing, produce a supporting covering letter, and will reflect on the employability skills they have developed. This element will be supported by the Careers Service.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Analysing Social Data: Techniques and Applications

Code:

GV2ATA

Convenor:

PROF Steve Musson

Summary:

This module will explore the analysis of social data, using quantitative and qualitative. We will use social data to persuade, argue and illustrate our understanding. During the module, you will become a better informed, more confident and critical user of social data.  

The first section of the module deals with quantitative (i.e. numerical) approaches. We will develop technical analysis skills using Excel and put these into practice with a large dataset such as the UK Census. The emphasis will be on applying simple analytical techniques to secondary data sources and no great level of mathematical ability is assumed. 

The second section of the module deals with qualitative approaches. We will develop a different set of analytical techniques and better understand how we can interpret textual documents. The emphasis will again be on using secondary data and we will put these techniques into practice using a large dataset such as the Mass Observation Archive. If possible, we will visit a public record archive to better understand these data sources. 

Students have often found these techniques useful in dissertations, other research projects, and in future employment. As such, this module can be the gateway for further research and professional development. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climate and Environmental Change

Code:

GV2CEC

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

This module will focus on two areas of physical geography and environmental science: evolution of atmosphere and climate, and ecosystem dynamics. We will examine the main processes of climate formation with regard to energy balance and atmospheric circulation, discuss natural climatic variability and climate change. We will investigate the underlying environmental and anthropogenic causes of changes in plant and animal diversity focusing on their responses to climate change. These processes will be studied at varying spatial (local, regional and global) and temporal (decadal, centennial and millennial) scales drawing upon numerous case studies and involving field investigations, laboratory practical classes, and analysis of climate and environmental data. The module will help students to understand the fundamental processes of climate and environmental change, and the consequences of changes in climate and environment for human communities in the past and present. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Environment and Development

Code:

GV2DEV

Convenor:

DR Sophie Blackburn

Summary:

This module investigates the two-way relationship between nature and society, environment and development. Using various theoretical approaches including political ecology, the module examines how development discourses, social relations and the distribution of power in society shape particular approaches to environmental management, and – conversely – how approaches to environmental management serve to reflect, shape and/or reproduce uneven and unequal development. Via a range of case studies, the module will address key questions such as: what are the assumptions and value-systems underpinning dominant approaches to environment and development? Whose interests dominate, and whose are marginalised? And what might alternative or more equitable development futures look like? Students will leave the module with an understanding of how ideas and values about people, nature and places shape real-world policy and practice. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Environmental Diagnostics

Code:

GV2ED

Convenor:

PROF Elizabeth Shaw

Summary:

Environmental Diagnostics refers to the identification and analysis of the state of the environment and the factors that are affecting it.  Through a case study, this module will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the principles and techniques used in environmental diagnostics.   The module will cover sampling and data quality objectives in environmental diagnostics, the measurement and monitoring of environmental parameters, including physical, chemical and biological environmental indicators. The module will also cover the presentation and interpretation of environmental diagnostic data.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Energy Resources

Code:

GV2EGR

Convenor:

DR Maria Vahdati

Summary:

The module explores past, present, and future social, environmental, health and political aspects of energy resource utilisation. The module aims to provide a holistic consideration of the role of different energy resources in the national, international, and global energy mix. The module will consider the role and impact of international agreements such as Kyoto 1997 and Paris 2015 on shaping energy policy. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Geographical Information Systems

Code:

GV2GEO

Convenor:

DR Jess Neumann

Summary:

The module introduces students to the principles, techniques and applications of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).  

The focus of the content delivery is predominantly ‘hands-on’, based on a series of practical sessions introducing students to computer-based tasks including working with different types of spatial data and their storage and management, setting coordinate systems and projections, spatial analysis and geoprocessing, creating and editing data, and cartography and symbology. Some sessions will include short lectures and demonstrations of key geoprocessing tools.  

Students are also expected to engage in additional learning opportunities where they are offered such as GIS webinars, guest speakers and field-based learning.  

In Semester 2 students will complete a real-world problem-based “Suitability Analysis” project using spatial data, based on set criteria and aligning to relevant policies and guidelines.   

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Monitoring the Earth from Above

Code:

GV2MEA

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Dale

Summary:

This module will introduce students to a variety of remote sensing methods and approaches and the associated advantages and disadvantages.  Students will learn how to turn data collected via these methods into useful information for a range of geographical applications. This module will develop student’s awareness of the importance of different spatial and temporal scales. Students will also learn about and the importance of resolution whilst conducting remote sensing analysis.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Summer Placement

Code:

GV2PLA

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake a research or professional placement broadly related to the general area of their degree programme, during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 study. Research placements will provide the opportunity of working with a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally. Professional placements would allow students to work with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation to gain experience of the professional sector.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Practical 30%, Oral 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Water in the Earth System

Code:

GV2WES

Convenor:

PROF Andrew Wade

Summary:

The module aim is to provide subject-specific knowledge on the topic of water in the Earth System. The purpose is to provide an introductory and exemplar systemic understanding of the connections, through water, between the abiotic and biotic components of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, pedosphere and biosphere. Where relevant these relationships will be considered within the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) Framework to support the systems thinking approach to complex, interacting systems, and finding solutions to the issues faced. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability

Code:

AR2SCF2

Convenor:

DR Wendy Matthews

Summary:

This module examines how archaeology, environmental science and anthropology can provide a deep time perspective on global challenges and sustainability and contribute to future solutions such as those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Human societies are highly dependent on natural resources and the archaeological record is full of examples of the emergence, sustainability, and collapse of communities and civilizations. The role of humans in changing climate and ecosystems is an important issue that now affects political, economic and social life globally and there is much debate about the onset date of the “Anthropocene”. Looking at case studies from across the world, this module will investigate how humans have become a major force in shaping ecosystems and landscapes, and the impact of change on different societies through time. By integrating archaeological, environmental and anthropological approaches, this course will provide an understanding of the relationship between ecological and social change as well as vital information on current and future global challenges, the sustainability of societies and human impact on the Earth and other species.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Advanced Ecology

Code:

BI2AE1

Convenor:

DR Sofia Gripenberg

Summary:

Ecology evolved as a discipline in the 18th and 19th centuries, but has matured a lot since then. Ecological methods have also evolved rapidly in recent years: we are now in the age of big data, molecular biology and citizen science.  

This module will deepen your knowledge and understanding of the patterns and processes in ecological systems. We will also discuss some of the latest methodologies and the new insights they have provided to ecology. During lectures you will learn about the form and function of communities, ecosystems, and biomes, covering topics such as biochemical cycles and the role of microbes in ecological processes, food webs, ecosystem services, and macroecological and biogeographical rules. Through lectures and practical sessions you will become familiar with diverse computational and statistical techniques (e.g. genomics, macroecological comparative methods, species distribution modelling) to address fundamental ecological questions.  

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Ancient Epic

Code:

CL2AE

Convenor:

DR Doukissa Kamini

Summary:

This module offers an introduction to Greek and Latin epic, centring around close study of the Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid, but including discussion of other early Greek hexameter poems such as Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and the Epic Cycle. It may also cover Hellenistic epic, for example Apollonius Rhodius, or other Roman epics like Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander

Code:

CL2CGH

Convenor:

PROF Timothy Duff

Summary:

Greek History 479-323 BC, from the end of the Persian Wars, through the Peloponnesian War and the fall of Sparta, to the rise of Macedon and the meteoric career of Alexander the Great.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Ancient Drama

Code:

CL2DR

Convenor:

PROF David Carter

Summary:

This module examines the ancient genre of drama, with respect to its content, themes and style, and the context of performance culture which surrounded it.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Roman History: From Republic to Empire

Code:

CL2RO

Convenor:

DR Tim Penn

Summary:

This Roman history module covers the period from the second triumvirate in the last years of the Republic to the reigns of the emperors.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Development of transferable skills through a school placement 2

Code:

ED2TS2

Convenor:

MR Mark Aitchison

Summary:

This module enables undergraduate students to develop key transferable skills needed for employment, and also provides outreach experience. Following specialist training on key aspects of working in schools, ten day placements in June/July in secondary schools in the Reading area will provide work experience in a professional setting.

In the autumn, students will build on the knowledge and transferable skills acquired in order to plan and deliver, with colleagues, a teaching session that shares knowledge of their degree specialism with small groups of school students. Students will reflect on, and share, their experiences with their colleagues. Assessment will be by coursework, and placement supervisor report on professionalism and engagement.

Students will be selected by application and interview.

Please be aware that once the placement has been completed in June it is not possible to switch from this module in the Autumn Term as students have completed practical activities directly relating to 50% of the mark (Professionalism and portfolio) and that link to activities in the Autumn Term.

Assessment Method:

Practical 10%, Oral 50%, Portfolio 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Wildlife Documentary: Ecology and Representation

Code:

FT2WD

Convenor:

DR Adam O'Brien

Summary:

This module gives you the opportunity to study wildlife documentaries and filmmaking addressing ecological issues. You will engage with the relevant critical vocabulary and contextual knowledge to explore how meaning is created and constructed. Case studies may include David Attenborough’s landmark BBC series, nature documentaries such as March of the Penguins and climate change films such as An Inconvenient Truth. There may be a Q&A with a guest speaker from the creative industries.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Oral 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Intercultural Competence and Communication

Code:

IL2GICC

Convenor:

PROF Daniela Standen

Summary:

In this module students develop the skills and understanding needed for communicating effectively in a multi-cultural global environment including the university and the workplace.  Intercultural competence and communication will be considered from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including Language Eucation, Film, and Curriculum.  During the course of the module you will tackle questions such as: How do you work successfully in multicultural Teams? Are nationality and identity the same thing? Why do stereotypes exist?

Students will demonstrate their learning, through reflections and critical evaluation of a real-world situation.

The module will be delivered at the University of Reading Whiteknights campus

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to English Language Teaching

Code:

LS2LAT

Convenor:

DR Erhan Aslan

Summary:

The course aims to provide an overview of key aspects of language teaching methodology and practice. 

Assessment Method:

Portfolio 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Society, Thought, and Art in Modern Europe

Code:

ML2STA

Convenor:

DR Veronica Heath

Summary:

This module aims to provide students with a systematic historical and cross-national understanding of the key ideas, institutions and symbols that have come to constitute and represent modernity, in its original cradle in Europe and the rest of the world. The module examines the birth of modern men and women in Europe in the late eighteenth century, in the fulcrum of the Enlightenment and Romanticism, and the broad intellectual, cultural, economic, political and social conditions which have been shaping and re-shaping them since. The module further shows a) the contributions of different European nations to a common European reaction to and re-evaluation of tradition and innovation and b) the diffusion of modernity (Westernisation) from Europe to Asia and Africa and its role in the creation of a global world. Finally, it shows how art has played a leading role in the transformations of modernity - not only recording it but also constituting one of its central components.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

American Government and Politics

Code:

PO2AMG

Convenor:

DR Derek Bolton

Summary:

This module examines the historical, ideological and constitutional frameworks of American Government and Politics. It analyses the relationship between ideas and values (such as liberty and individualism) and the ways in which these condition the expression of the American political system; it looks at intermediate institutions that connect the public to the federal government (such as elections, the media, and interest groups); it explores the central institutions in Washington (such as the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court), and assesses important policy areas (such as gun control).

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Political Thinking

Code:

PO2THI

Convenor:

DR Maxime Lepoutre

Summary:

Module in applied political theory. The course investigates the ethical issues that lie behind some important contemporary policy debates. 

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Geography & Environmental Science Dissertation

Code:

GV3GED

Convenor:

DR Mike Simmonds

Summary:

All students taking Geography and Environmental Science as their main degree subject are required to produce a dissertation as part of their degree. The dissertation is an original piece of research carried out by the students independently, with the support of an allocated staff adviser known as a ‘Supervisor’, and contributing to knowledge in a particular field of study. Students have a choice of dissertation topic within the range of expertise available in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Water Resources

Code:

GV362

Convenor:

PROF Alan Howard

Summary:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading and focusses on water quality, public health and associated water resource management... A range of historical, current and emerging water quality problems will be considered relating to drinking water and water-bodies used for bathing and recreation. The role of the WHO, EU and national governments in water resource management will be considered. Delivery is through a traditional lecture-format with weekly interactive micro-learning tasks to enhance learning, Assessment consists of an exam and coursework assignment.   

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Air Pollution: Effects and Control

Code:

GV3AEC

Convenor:

PROF Hong Yang

Summary:

The aims of this module are:  

• To promote an understanding of the nature and effects of human-induced air pollution;  
• To assess some current controversies on the effects of air pollutants and the appropriate control measures to be applied.   
• To understand the interface between science and politics in coming to decisions about air pollution.  

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climate, Environment and Ancient Civilisations of the Andes

Code:

GV3AND

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

The module aims to unravel the long-term (multi-millennial scale) history of Andean vegetation history and human-environment interactions using a range of complimentary approaches.  This inter-disciplinary perspective integrates physical and human geography, ecology, and archaeology.  The module largely focuses on mountainous ecosystems in South America, in particular the Peruvian Andes, and focuses on several key questions: 1) What have been the interrelationships between climate change, human land use, and environmental change through the Holocene, i.e. the last 11,700 years?;  2) How were these mountainous ecosystems transformed into a domesticated landscapes?;  3) How did ancient human societies achieve long-term environmental and socio-economic sustainability, and why did they eventually collapse?;  4) What are the implications of this historical perspective for today’s global challenges of sustainable living and landscape conservation against the backdrop of global warming?

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Coastal and Estuarine Management

Code:

GV3CEM

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Dale

Summary:

This module will give students the opportunity to explore changes in coastal and estuarine environments in response to sea level rise, climate change, and anthropogenic pressures. Students will explore the processes driving the formation and evolution of a range coastal environments, the geomorphic and hydrodynamics response to external forcing mechanisms, and the consequences for the natural and anthropogenic environments. Students will evaluate the strategies implemented in order to manage coastal environments, and will be encouraged to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different coastal management approaches in relation to future coastal and climatic change.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climate Change

Code:

GV3CLC

Convenor:

PROF Maria Shahgedanova

Summary:

To examine the nature of climate change, its impacts, and methods of adaptation with respect to various parts of the world and different environments and communities.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Environmental Science Field Class

Code:

GV3ESF

Convenor:

PROF Hong Yang

Summary:

This module aims to provide you with the practical skills to identify, document, and evaluate the impact of human activities on the environment in the field. It is a field-based module to enhance training and experience of monitoring and assessing the rural and urban environments, e.g., waste and contaminated land management, noise pollution, water and air quality, and sustainable wetland and agri-ecosystems. 

It is anticipated that the class will be based at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), China, with the field work conducted in the local area. This module provides you with a unique opportunity to spend time working with local students and academics in Nanjing and you will develop international research experience and greater awareness of scientific practice in a global context. You will also develop teamwork, interpersonal and leadership skills through working in small teams comprising students based at NUIST.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Ecosystems Modelling

Code:

GV3ESM

Convenor:

PROF Shovonlal Roy

Summary:

This module concentrates on modelling ecological dynamics with emphasis to ecosystems on land and in the ocean, which are relevant to a range of global issues, from environmental changes to food security, including the earth’s primary production, oxygen generation, and carbon fixation. The module will cover techniques and aspects required for in-depth understanding the ecosystems function and dynamics. As such this module has got some mathematical contents which is higher than usual in typical Geography modules. Lecture materials and recommended reading includebasic calculus, differential equations, logarithms and algebraic manipulations, however, these are not included in theassessments. The content, both technical and general, is suitable for  thefinal year undergraduate students with little or no experience in ecosystem modelling, but those who are interested in learning the building blocks of modelling, and applying it to the stat-of-the-art environmental and ecological systems.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Oral 10%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Geography & Environmental Science Dissertation

Code:

GV3GED

Convenor:

DR Mike Simmonds

Summary:

All students taking Geography and Environmental Science as their main degree subject are required to produce a dissertation as part of their degree. The dissertation is an original piece of research carried out by the students independently, with the support of an allocated staff adviser known as a ‘Supervisor’, and contributing to knowledge in a particular field of study. Students have a choice of dissertation topic within the range of expertise available in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Geography and Environmental Science Field Class

Code:

GV3GEF

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

This is a semi-residential, field-based module to enhance training and experience of undertaking in situ problem-based research, involving data collection, analysis and interpretation. The main theme is ‘society and the environment’, and the aim is to develop a fully integrated understanding of human and physical processes with a strong emphasis on authentic, ‘real world’ issues, drawing upon methods used in human and physical geography, and environmental science.

The module aims to train students in applying theoretical knowledge and practical skills to a range of local geographical and environmental issues. This will enhance their knowledge and understanding of field investigation methods used in human and physical geography, and environmental science, with a strong emphasis on authentic, ‘real world’ issues that affect society and the environment. The students will gain further experience of applying their theoretical knowledge and practical skills attained during the degree course by collecting, analysing, interpreting and discussing data framed by a range of geographical and environmental issues. This will develop their research abilities and employability skills, which will be key to their career development and achieving their personal goals.

The field class will be based non-residentially in the south of England and Wales. However, the problem-based approach around the theme of ‘society and the environment’ is transferrable to a much broader geographical context.  

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Human Geography Field Class

Code:

GV3HGF

Convenor:

PROF Mike Goodman

Summary:

Fieldwork is a fundamental component of Human Geography degrees. This module is designed to cement and allow you to put into practice key concepts in Human Geography through field research in a real-world setting through experiential learning and using a range of contemporary field techniques. Participants make a contribution towards the financial cost of the trip. The highest standards of conduct and professionalism are expected from all participants.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Preparing For Floods

Code:

GV3PFF

Convenor:

PROF Hannah Cloke

Summary:

The module will provide a basis for understanding key issues in flood preparedness, from the local to the global scale, including flood forecasting and warning, response and incident management and building community resilience. The module uses lectures, seminars for discussion and includes a visit to the Global Flood Awareness System operational centre. Written exam questions will be drawn from scientific modelling and social science and policy based topics. The module will be partially run in conjunction with GVMPFF to increase opportunity for peer discussion.

Assessment Method:

Exam 90%, Set exercise 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Physical Geography Field Class

Code:

GV3PGF

Convenor:

DR Mike Simmonds

Summary:

This is a field-based module to enhance training and experience of in-situ investigations. It is anticipated that field class will be based in Iceland and will allow students to experience a range of natural environments and will include a day long expedition including such activities as: ice cave formation, glacier walking, volcanic tephra sampling, volcano monitoring and archaeological investigations.

The module aims to provide students with additional field experience to investigate natural hazards and their impact on human societies both past and present. Following the field class the students will have a detailed understanding of archaeological, physical and environmental evidence for both climate and natural hazards and how they have impacted on society.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Study Abroad Programme

Code:

GV3SAP

Convenor:

DR Aleks Pluskowski

Summary:

This module allows students to opt to spend Semester 1 of their final year at one of our partner institutions where the University has an exchange agreement. Each study abroad student takes modules equivalent to 40 credits, which are substituted for course credits in Reading. Your Study Abroad Coordinator will advise you regarding transfer of credits back to your degree programme.

The aims of the study abroad programme are to develop a knowledge of a range of subject areas relating to the study of Geography and Environmental Science and to provide students with an understanding of how these subject areas are perceived and taught overseas. Students will develop an awareness of the different methodologies and will develop research and writing skills appropriate to their new learning environment.

A range of grants and bursaries are potentially available, depending on where you are studying, and whether you meet eligibility criteria. Funding might be competitive.

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Development of transferable skills through a school placement 4

Code:

ED3TS4

Convenor:

MR Mark Aitchison

Summary:

This module enables undergraduate students to develop key transferable skills needed for employment, and also provides outreach experience. Following specialist training on key aspects of working in schools, ten day placements in June/July in secondary schools in the Reading area will provide work experience in a professional setting.

In the autumn, students will build on the knowledge and transferable skills acquired in order to plan and deliver, with colleagues, a teaching session that shares knowledge of their degree specialism with small groups of school pupils. Students will reflect on, and share, their experiences with their colleagues. Assessment will be by coursework, and placement supervisor report on professionalism and engagement.

Students will be selected by application and interview.

Please be aware that once the placement has been completed in June it is not possible to switch from this module in the Autumn Term as students have completed practical activities directly relating to 50% of the mark (Professionalism and portfolio) and that link to activities in the Autumn Term.

Assessment Method:

Practical 10%, Oral 50%, Portfolio 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Intercultural Communications

Code:

LS3IC

Convenor:

DR Erhan Aslan

Summary:

In this module, students will explore how people of different discourse systems or groups communicate with one another in various face-to-face and digitally-mediated contexts. Specifically, students will gain an understanding of how assumptions and values that have been constructed or adopted within a specific culture group influence the ways in which people successfully communicate with each other as well as experience miscommunication. Students will become familiar with a variety of topics in intercultural communication as they engage in hands-on analyses of intercultural encounters.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Set exercise 10%, Project 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Language and Power

Code:

ML3LP

Convenor:

PROF Federico Faloppa

Summary:

This module aims to familiarise students with the linguistic means by which a whole range of persuasive texts can be analysed. We will also be considering the use of language as a powerful tool in itself. We will investigate a range of genres, discourse types, and theoretical approaches, and we will look at textual, pragmatic, and rhetorical features to better understand power relations and how texts (and their content) can be manipulated. We will then understand, and apply techniques to reveal a text’s underlying ideological stance and bias. 

Assessment Method:

Oral 25%, Project 75%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Feminism and Political Theory

Code:

PO3FPT

Convenor:

DR Maxime Lepoutre

Summary:

This module explores the contributions of feminism to contemporary political theory. It begins by examining theoretical controversies surrounding the definition, subject matter, and aims of feminism. It then brings these theoretical insights to bear on a range of pressing issues in feminist politics, such as abortion, surrogacy, pornography, marriage and sexist language.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Gender and Politics

Code:

PO3GAP

Convenor:

DR Katharina Lawall

Summary:

Why do women remain under-represented in politics? Are voters sexist? And do women make for better political leaders? These are examples of the types of questions that we will consider in this module. Over the course of ten two-hour seminars we will explore how gender shapes politics. Throughout this we will also consider how gender intersects with other identities of race, ethnicity and sexuality. In the module we will look at many real-world examples and students are encouraged to bring their own examples for discussion. The module also exposes students to a variety of different research methods that are used in the field of gender and politics. The course is taught through ten two-hour seminars which require active participation and preparatory work from students. 

Assessment Method:

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

International Political Economy

Code:

PO3IPE

Convenor:

DR Jonathan Golub

Summary:

The course is an introduction to International Political Economy (IPE), which focuses on the interaction between states and markets at the domestic and international levels. It covers the major theoretical approaches to IPE and applies them to study international trade, development, financial crises, and economic sanctions. It also considers the relationship between globalisation and the welfare state as well as the environment.

Assessment Method:

Exam 40%, Assignment 40%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.