Social and Environmental Sciences combines elements of sustainability, sociology, geo-politics, and environmental studies to look at the dynamics within and between human societies and the relationship between societies, cultures, the manmade and natural environment. 

This module focuses on four areas of study: planetary systems (the living planet, carbon, nitrogen, energy, and water cycles), how the biosphere depends on and plays a role in these systems, and how human social structures developed alongside the natural world. It then considers how humans shaped the natural world and the development of human beliefs which destabilize the planet’s living systems. It looks atthe impact of this crisis on environmental, political, economic, and social systems, and evaluates possible methods of mitigating these issues as well as obstacles (political, technological, social, economic) to their implementation.   

This is an introductory module and there is neither a requirement for prior knowledge, pre-requisites or co-requisites.   

Feedback will be provided throughout this course. All students are encouraged to think critically, reason logically, communicate clearly, and read, listen, and watch carefully. These are valuable skills throughout the academic environment. 

A30 credit module, this module features a range of study methods which typically include lectures, seminars, and self-study. This module considers the living environment; the formation of human society and the relationship between humans and all aspects of the natural world. These topics typically include consideration of their political, social, cultural, technological, and economic elements. By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to this level of study. In particular students will be able to: 

Topics typically studied include 

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for reasons judged legitimate by the Mitigation Committee, the applicable assessment will normally be deferred. See ‘Details of reassessment’ for the form that assessment usually takes. When deferral occurs there is ordinarily no change to the overall weighting of that assessment.  

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to take a re-sit exam. Only your performance in this exam will count towards your final module grade. A grade of 40% will be awarded if the examination is passed. 

Basic Resources: 

Web based and electronic resources: 

ELE provides an integral part of this course; further reading and links to related material are available there.