Geology (BSc with Distance Learning option) (Part-time) - 2013/2014 entry
Accredited by the Geological Society as a recognised professional qualification, this course provides an introduction to a range of disciplines, from geophysics to palaeontology, and from volcanology to sedimentology. You will be taught by internationally distinguished researchers who are experts in their field. As well as attending this course at Birkbeck in central London, you can also study by distance learning via our online learning environment. So you can access course materials and recordings of lectures wherever you are in the world – and whenever it suits you.
This course is also available for full-time evening study.
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Professional bodies that recognise this course
- Accredited by the Geological Society as a recognised professional qualification.
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Course structure
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
- Assessed Field Techniques 1
- Earth History
- Foundations of Mineralogy
- Introduction to Geochemistry
- Introduction to Geology
- Invertebrate Palaeontology.
Year 2
Compulsory modules:
- Assessed Field Techniques 2
- Geophysics
- Igneous Petrology
- Metamorphic Petrology
- Principles of Sedimentology
- Structural Geology I.
Year 3
Compulsory modules:
- Assessed Field Techniques 3
Option modules include:
- Chemistry and Pollution of Water, Air and Soil
- Earth's Resources and Raw Materials
- Global Tectonics
- Magmatic Processes
- Palaeoecology
- Structural Geology 2
- Volcanism in the Solar System.
You may also take modules in other subjects, chosen to complement your geological studies or to broaden your scientific background and skills.
Year 4
- Assessed Field Techniques 4
- a map and thesis or a field-based project.
You will also complete four 10-day Easter field classes, which will be assessed.
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Study resources
We are part of the Birkbeck/University College London Research School of Earth Sciences, providing access to a large research group on environmental and other issues.
Find out more about our research facilities.
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Further study opportunities
We offer an MRes/PgDip in Earth Sciences.
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Careers information
Graduates go on to careers as geologists, in industry, in engineering, in surveying and in education.
- To speak to an independent careers advisor, booking onto one of our Future Focus — Careers Workshops
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Further details
- What will studying at Birkbeck be like?
Many part-time programmes place a strong, if not sole, emphasis on independent study. At Birkbeck, students are immediately welcomed into a wider learning community. Whether it's sharing ideas, pooling resources or commiserating over a challenging assignment, we believe nothing can replace the benefits of interacting with like-minded enthusiasts.
Most of our students attend classes three nights a week from 6pm–9pm. A typical class opens with a one-hour lecture followed by a practical lesson with a coffee break in-between.
Third and fourth year students are encouraged to pursue their own individual interests in supervised project work. In recent years, students have conducted research at numerous sites within the British Isles, France and Spain.
Fieldwork
We are one of the few departments that meets the Geological Society's recommendation of a minimum 100 days fieldwork in the BSc programme. This is a commitment that many full-time courses do not match and at present we are the only part-time geology programme that does. It's one of the strongest features of our degree and gives our students added confidence compared to graduates of more classroom-based programmes. No amount of classroom discussion on the subject of ancient sea-beds, for example, can really compare to the experience students have when they discover for themselves the evidence of wave ripples and fossils in a landscape.
Each year, students attend one major residential field course of 10–14 days. They also attend numerous one-day and weekend field trips and are encouraged to undertake a substantial amount of independent field research. Read all about our fieldwork opportunities.
Field courses are designed to complement the lecture programme and laboratory-based practical classes. In the field, students have the opportunity to cement their theoretical understanding of geology with practical experience. At the same time, they develop the skills they need to pursue independent research. We regularly update our field itineraries to keep up with changes in our curriculum. Currently, we take students to the Isle of Skye (Year 1), North-West Scotland (Year 2), Cyprus and Spain (Years 3 and 4).
Not only do field classes provide an invaluable opportunity for students to learn in a hands-on environment, they are also an important social occasion, where students have a change to get to know each other and enjoy informal contact with their tutors. Many a topical geological debate has continued into the wee hours in a hotel bar-room in a remote location of the globe.
- What will studying at Birkbeck be like?
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Apply now
- Application deadlines and interviews
- We suggest you apply as early as possible.
- Interviews mainly June–September.
- Online application
You can apply online from the link below. - Our Application Workshop will give you an overview of what Birkbeck looks for in an undergraduate degree application and includes practical writing exercises to help you write a more effective personal statement
- Application deadlines and interviews
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Key information set
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Welcome to Birkbeck, London's evening university: Number 1 in London for teaching and student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2012).
Birkbeck specialises in part-time, evening study. The Key Information Set has been developed for full-time, daytime courses. We are providing some additional information about our evening courses to help you make an informed choice.
Fees:
The Key Information Set (KIS) for this degree course shows the annual fee for a 3-year, full-time degree. This is a 4-year, part-time evening degree and the annual fee is lower than the fee shown in the KIS. See 'Fees and funding' in the left hand menu for the correct fee for this course.Years of study:
The KIS presents all degrees as 3-year courses. Birkbeck's standard part-time, evening degree is a 4-year course.
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