GG1001 Welcome to the Anthropocene: Society, Population, Environment

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 7

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lectures: 11.00 am Tue, Wed, and Thu

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr I T Lawson

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

As the global population speeds past 7 billion, mounting evidence about resource depletion and climate change, and global economic inequality and social injustice, suggests current human development is unsustainable and that we are now living in the Anthropocene - an era in which human activity has, for the first time, become the dominant driver of environmental processes, and is causing unprecedented global change. The module shows how Geography, a discipline that draws on knowledge that spans the social and natural sciences and the humanities, is uniquely placed to understand our changing world. Its combination of lectures and tutorials are relevant to students across the University.

Assessment pattern

100% continual assessment

Re-assessment

100% continual assessment

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3x 1-hour lectures (x 10 weeks) + 4x 1-hour tutorials + 4x 2-hour practical class and 1x half day optional field trip conditions permitting

Scheduled learning hours

46

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

154

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate comprehension of the concept of the Anthropocene and its connections with a range of environmental and social issues
  • Demonstrate clear appreciation of the principles of geography and their relevance to understanding the world
  • Understand basic laboratory techniques in physical geography, and apply these to problems in geography
  • Convey written information clearly and in a style appropriate to the audience
  • Discuss and debate key issues in geography in a small group context