University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Science > School of Geographical Sciences > Climate Change Science and Policy (MSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 2GEOG011T |
---|---|
Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Rachel James
|
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Earth sciences, environmental sciences and environmental studies (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full or Part Time |
Programme length |
1 years (full time)
2 years (part time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
This MSc programme aims to develop the student's interest in, and knowledge and understanding, of Climate Change Science and Policy. The programme emphasises an understanding of the Earth as a system of interrelated physical, chemical, biological, sociological, and political processes. It aims to provide students with a solid grounding in climate change science, including understanding of past, present, and future change, with an emphasis on exploring data and methods, leading to a critical understanding of the evidence base and uncertainties. The programme will also provide students with a critical appreciation of the context for action on climate change, through knowledge of environmental and climate policy, analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to governing the environment, and discussion of the role of science and scientists in policy and practice. The programme is designed for students who have studied a scientific discipline during their undergraduate degree, and it seeks to build on their scientific training with an emphasis on development of quantitative skills for analysis of environmental data, whilst broadening their understanding of environmental policy and politics. The programme aims to equip students with effective independent research, critical evaluation and communication skills, and prepare them to take up employment as climate change experts in the public or private sector, consultancies, or non-governmental organisations or to pursue further postgraduate training.
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Traditional and interactive lectures, seminars, and practical sessions. In particular, problems worked on in classes will demonstrate the links between tools and discovery, e.g. how specific climate models can be used to anticipate future climate change. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment will be mixed and includes a combination of technical reports, essays, presentations, and policy reports. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Lectures will include interactive discussion and/or be complemented by seminars or practical sessions, to support development of comprehension, analysis, and evaluation, through discussion and problem solving tasks. Students will present in class to practice communicating their analysis and distilling key messages. The dissertation will allow for skills to be honed further through detailed exploration of one topic. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment will be mixed and includes a combination of technical reports, essays, presentations, and policy reports. The assignments will be designed to allow students to develop skills in describing Earth system processes, critical analysing and synthesising information, evaluating alternative approaches, and distilling complex information. Assessment of the dissertation will be based on a written research project (with a primary emphasis on organisation, clarity and critical evaluation and a secondary emphasis on quality of writing, figures and presentation). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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|
Practical sessions in the mandatory units and optional units will offer training in data handling, manipulation, and analysis, and use of numerical models. In-class exercises and assignments are designed to develop communication skills for a range of audiences. Units will include informal exercises and assignments involving group work. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment will be mixed and includes a combination of technical reports, essays, presentations, and policy reports. Some of the assignments will be based on data analysis and modelling developed through practical sessions; and these quantitative skills will be further developed through the dissertation. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Students are expected to have developed a modern, solid foundation of subject specific skills underpinned by the interdisciplinary, scientific principles (quantitative, physical/biogeochemical) underlying Earth processes and environmental governance. Students will be able to apply the principles and undertake more in-depth analysis, and be able to communicate with others in a sound scientific manner. Students will be more at ease in being able to guide themselves in analysis of their own performance, and of setting and achieving their aims. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Students will have an expanded range and depth of subject specific knowledge, through the structured development stage of their research projects. Students will undertake planning, management and data collection for a research project. With the support of their advisor, students will have become confident in their ability to collect, synthesise, and evaluate scientific literature and data resources, and they will be better able to communicate and defend their own ideas and interpretation of the work |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
Most of the work undertaken at this level will be at, or informed by, the latest research findings and concepts. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with the international research community within the School of Geographical Sciences. They will undertake research analyses, documenting their activity, findings and interpretation as for publication. This will enable the students to be fully conversant with the principles of a research-led learning environment, and communicate the results and interpretation in a mature manner to a scientific audience. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
View the specific prospectus information for this programme: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/2016/sci/msc-climate-change-science-policy/
Email the PGT administrator at geog-pgadmin@bristol.ac.uk, or view the School website at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/geography/
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Select from: | ||||
Dissertation: MSc Climate Change Science and Policy | GEOGM0062 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Climate Change: Science and Impacts | GEOGM1405 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Earth System Modeling | GEOGM0030 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Quantifying Climate Risks | GEOGM0045 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 60 credit points from: | ||||
Environmental Policy and Politics | GEOGM1409 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Practical Statistics for Use in Research and Policy | GEOGM0010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sustainability, Risk and Resilience in the Urban Age | GEOGM0037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
An Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Policy and Management | GEOGM0013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Development and Environment: History, Theory, Practice | GEOGM0044 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Environmental Modelling Applications | GEOGM0058 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Development and Environment Studio | GEOGM0060 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Students complete the following units over two years of the part time programme | ||||
Climate Change: Science and Impacts | GEOGM1405 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Quantifying Climate Risks | GEOGM0045 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Earth System Modeling | GEOGM0030 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Dissertation: MSc Climate Change Science and Policy | GEOGM0062 | 60 | Optional | AYEAR |
Select 60 credit points from: | ||||
Environmental Policy and Politics | GEOGM1409 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Practical Statistics for Use in Research and Policy | GEOGM0010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sustainability, Risk and Resilience in the Urban Age | GEOGM0037 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
An Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Policy and Management | GEOGM0013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Development and Environment: History, Theory, Practice | GEOGM0044 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Environmental Modelling Applications | GEOGM0058 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Development and Environment Studio | GEOGM0060 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Postgraduate Certificate on successful completion of 60cp, Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of 120cp | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Students complete the following units over two years of the part time programme | ||||
Climate Change: Science and Impacts | GEOGM1405 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Quantifying Climate Risks | GEOGM0045 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Earth System Modeling | GEOGM0030 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Dissertation: MSc Climate Change Science and Policy | GEOGM0062 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Select 60 credit points from: | ||||
Environmental Policy and Politics | GEOGM1409 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Practical Statistics for Use in Research and Policy | GEOGM0010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sustainability, Risk and Resilience in the Urban Age | GEOGM0037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
An Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Policy and Management | GEOGM0013 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Global Development and Environment: History, Theory, Practice | GEOGM0044 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Environmental Modelling Applications | GEOGM0058 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Policy and Management Consultancy | GEOGM0072 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds but is permitted in designated programmes (as set out in the programme specification) where students choose to withdraw from the intended programme but otherwise achieve the necessary credit points for the exit award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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