School of GeoSciences Board of Studies
Proposal for a New Course or Major Course Change
Please use the following headings for your Proposal. Where it is not obvious, some indication
is given of the information that is needed under each heading.
Course Name:
Wave theory
Course Rationale (including academic justification and any enhancements to the student
learning experience)
This is a core course for the MSc degree programme in Exploration Geophysics, and it is also
available for other post-graduates in the school (MScs + PhDs) as an optional course.
Benefits to the School
This course is to support the MSc degree programme in the school, and the School will be
benefited through increased financial income from MSc students.
Quotas and Prerequisites
30-35; successful completion of the course in Fundamental mathematics, and other
conversion courses, as well as the compulsory courses defined in the relevant degree
programme.
Resource Implications
The course will be taught by an existing staff member in the school.
Consultation
We have consulted widely in the development of this course, including discussion with the
geophysics team and the subsurface research group, as well as the teaching organization.
Several consultation sessions have been held with the MSc programme director, the HoS, and
the Teaching Organisation.
Risk Assessment
This is normal classroom teaching. Health and safety procedures are in place in the School
and no specific risks arising from the proposed the course have been identified.
Teachability Assessment
On completion of this course, the students should achieve the following learning outcomes:

Detailed knowledge of wave theory for body waves and surface waves in an elastic
Earth.

Detailed knowledge of derivations of various important solutions to the wave equation.

Knowledge of the newly emerging field of seismic interferometric methods.
Disabled students will not be at a disadvantage for the majority of the course, as it is lecture
and classroom-based
Quality Assurance Arrangements
The course will be assessed by exams, and assessment will be by members of academic staff
using the University’s common marking scheme. The assessed group presentation component
will be marked by 2 or more of the lecturing staff for that course, with feedback provided to
students on the reasons for their assigned mark.
Student questionnaires will be used to provide feedback on the quality of the course, teaching
and supervision.
External examiners will also be used to ensure the quality of the overall programme and
suitability of MSc grading.
Course summary
Wave theory (10 credits) - Semester 1: Block 2
Syllabus
Derivation of the elastic wave equation. Overview of methods of solution. Body wave
solutions (Snell’s law; reflection and conversion at the Earth’s free surface; reflection,
transmission and conversion at subsurface inter-layer boundaries). Surface waves (group and
phase velocity; sensitivity to subsurface structure). Seismic interferometry (derivation of
representation theorems; consequent derivation of interferometric formulae; applications
using passive seismic noise from the Earth; applications using active-source seismic data).