Programme Specification A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a taught programme of study leading to an award from The University of Sheffield 1 Programme Title Polar and Alpine Change 2 Programme Code GEOT130 3 JACS Code F800, F780, F760 4 Level of Study Postgraduate 5a Final Qualification Master of Science (MSc) 5b QAA FHEQ Level Masters 6 Intermediate Qualification(s) Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) 7 Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield) Not applicable 8 Faculty Social Sciences 9 Department Geography 10 Other Departments involved in teaching the programme None 11 Modes of Attendance Full-time and Part-time 12 Duration of the Programme 1 year (Full-time), 2 years (Part-time) 13 Accrediting Professional or Statutory Body None 14 Date of REVISED March 2010 15. Background to the programme and subject area The programme explores environments, and underlying causes for change, in those cold climate parts of the globe where current environmental and climate change are proceeding at the fastest rate. The course has a strong research emphasis but is organized flexibly to target a range of different audiences including those wishing to acquire specific skills before progressing to a PhD, continuing geography students, and those wishing to embark on a government, industrial or commercial career in environmental assessment and management in a polar or alpine environment. An exciting feature of the course is the core fieldtrip to an Arctic or alpine environment, providing the students with field skills in a unique environment, and allowing access to Arctic and alpine sites for dissertation fieldwork. Course content is strongly influenced by the research interests, international contacts and expertise of staff in this RAE Grade 5A department. The fieldtrip, in particular, is likely to expose students to scientists of other countries working in cold climates, as well as staff from Sheffield. The programme is assessed through coursework and examination with the most significant assessment element being the dissertation. 16. Programme aims Our aims within the programme are as follows: 1. To develop theoretical and practical awareness at an advanced level of polar and alpine environments and reasons for change in these environments. 2. To provide advanced training in scientific research methods with an emphasis on their application in polar and alpine environmental analysis. 3. To provide training in generic research skills including project design and management, oral and written communication and the use of information technology. 4. To develop a specialised substantive and research knowledge in a selected field of the polar or alpine environment. 1 533565060 – ver10-11 5. To prepare students for postgraduate research (PhD) and/or for a variety of research related careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. 6. To prepare students for varied careers dealing with cold climate environments in the public, private or voluntary sectors. 17. Programme learning outcomes On graduation students achieving an award of Masters will have developed a knowledge and understanding of: K1 Field, laboratory and numerical methods in polar and alpine environments. K2 The conceptual basis for the application of methods in K1 in both blue skies and applied research in the context of the scientific method. K3 How to design and formulate a research proposal and to undertake a research project. K4 Polar and alpine science needed to proceed to PhD research in the same or related disciplines. On graduation students achieving an award of Masters will have skills and other attributes to: S1 Plan, design and execute a piece of rigorous research, including the production of a final report, and demonstrate a critical understanding of the appropriate methodology. S2 Demonstrate awareness of a substantial range of scientific research strategies, and of the developing technologies associated with these strategies. S3 Analyse polar and alpine environments by a variety of methods including field, laboratory and quantitative methods. S4 Conduct discussion, oral presentation, and task achievement within a collaborative context. S5 Collect, interpret and combine different types of environmental evidence. On graduation students achieving an award of Certificate will have developed a knowledge and understanding of K1-K2 and S2-S4. 18. Teaching, learning and assessment Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning methods: Knowledge and understanding is acquired through a series of compulsory and optional modules and delivered primarily through lectures, seminars and field and laboratory classes. There is a strong emphasis placed on small-group teaching with the students required to have practical, hands-on experience of techniques. Module structure varies according to the needs of each topic, but typically a 15-credit module is made up of 20-30 contact hours, depending on whether practical skills need to be learnt. MOLE will be used to make outline notes, data, computer models and other information needed for project work available. Independent learning is a key element to developing the independent knowledge (especially K3 and K4) and skills (S1-S3), so that 120-130 hours per module are allocated for assimilation of materials, further reading, completion of practical work and preparation of reports or presentations (S4). Skills and other attributes are primarily developed through field classes, laboratory classes and workshops, and individual and group project work. A supervisor is allocated to each student for the duration of their dissertation research. Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following assessment methods: Assessment of the core knowledge base (K1-K4) and skills and other attributes (S1-S5) rests upon written coursework, oral presentations, examinations, and the dissertation. 2 533565060 – ver10-11 19. Reference points The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference: University teaching and learning policies NERC guidelines on MSc course recognition Staff research The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications The Department’s learning and teaching strategy 20. Programme structure and regulations The programme is offered in full-time and part-time study mode. All MSc students take modules to the value of 180 credits, including 90 credits in the form of a dissertation. Taught modules to the value of 75 credits and a dissertation module of 90 credits are compulsory in order to provide a strong, coherent core to the course, with a further 15 credits being drawn from a range of modules linked to both this MSc and other MScs offered in the department. Students not permitted to proceed to the dissertation or who fail the dissertation will be eligible for a postgraduate certificate award by gaining 60 credits from core and optional modules during Semesters 1 and 2. The full-time course is delivered over a twelve-month period. The taught modules are delivered over two semesters (September to February, February to June). The dissertation is a year-long module that has its preparation/proposal stage from September to February and main research stage from February to September. It is suggested that the part-time course is delivered over four semesters with the dissertation being taken in Year 2, but variations of this will be discussed with individual part-time students to enable a suitable workload balance across Years 1 and 2. Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression and descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at http://www.shef.ac.uk/govern/calendar/regs 21. Student development over the course of study The compulsory modules form a foundation of substantive knowledge and key research skills. Specifically, students acquire a background in field, laboratory and quantitative research in geography and the environmental sciences, as well as key philosophical and theoretical debates. The “current issues” module provides flexibility for students to study in depth areas of the subject in which they are particularly interested. These modules provide an appropriate basis for the preparation of the dissertation. 22. Criteria for admission to the programme A minimum of an upper second-class honours degree from a British University (or an international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. Candidates with other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. International students are also required to offer a suitable English language qualification, such as TOEFL (minimum score of 550) or IELTS (an average score of 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component). 23. Additional information This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can be accessed via our Student Services web site at www.shef.ac.uk/ssid 3 533565060 – ver10-11