Environmental Science and the Climate Emergency

Our climate and environment are changing at unprecedented and alarming rates. Now is the time to act boldly to forge effective local and global responses to the planetary crisis and societal emergency.

You will explore the deep connections between environmental and social science in class, field and laboratory settings, so that your knowledge can help deliver the next generation of adaptations, mitigations and solutions.

As you study, you will develop a strong understanding of how the Earth works across climate change, pollution, ecology, conservation, geography and sustainable management. Environmental Science is a truly interdisciplinary subject, meaning you will look at the planet from every angle: from what’s happening deep underground to the atmosphere above us; from glaciers and deserts to rainforests and tiny soil microbes; and from people to the landscapes we shape and live in.

You will learn how these systems connect, why they’re changing, and what we can do to protect them. The degree links closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, helping you build the skills and knowledge needed to tackle real global challenges and make a positive impact.

An optional Foundation Year is available if you would benefit from extra preparation before starting your degree. It offers an exciting introduction to higher education and helps you build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to progress. After successfully completing the Foundation Year, you will move on to Year 1 of the BSc.

You will study in a stunning natural setting, with our Singleton Park campus overlooking Swansea Bay and sitting right on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You will be joining a department with outstanding student satisfaction and strong subject rankings across Environmental and Geographical Sciences.

Following early compulsory modules including the earth’s changing face, global environmental change, and global shifts, you will be able to craft your own personalised path throughout the degree.

You will select from a wide range of optional modules, with the chance to mix human and physical geography modules, leading to a dissertation in your final year.

Examples of typical modules in Year 1 include:
Botany and Ecology
Life in the Oceans
Sustainability and the Climate Emergency

Examples of typical modules in Year 2 include:
Geographical Fieldwork Skills
Introduction to Field Ecology
Sustainable Land Management

Examples of typical modules in Year 3 include:
Glaciology
World Cities
Wildfires

On the course you will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes, and field classes. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework, practical work, fieldwork, and continuous assessment from tutorials. You will also complete a dissertation in Year Three.