Chester
Natural hazards, such as flooding, land instability, windstorms, earthquakes and volcanoes, are some of the most significant global challenges facing humankind today. The 2010 Haiti Earthquake and 2011 Japan tsunami/earthquake is a stark reminder of the destructive power of these natural phenomena. Even in the UK, around 2.3 million properties in England and Wales are estimated to be at risk of flooding. The floods of 2007 and 2012 demonstrate the widespread impact floods can have on the built environment, lives and livelihood. The Natural Hazard Management (NHM) programme presents you with opportunities to gain practical (field and laboratory) experience of hazard assessment in British and overseas settings, and to develop the ability to apply geospatial mapping technologies (e.g. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Remote Sensing (RS)) to evaluate/manage natural hazards and risk.
All this ensures that your knowledge and skills from your Natural Hazard Management degree are relevant to today’s employment market in a variety of planning and environmental management contexts.
Year 1 (Level 4)
This year is designed to give you a balanced introduction to key geographical knowledge and skills. You study modules in three core areas:
- Introduction to Physical Geography and Geology (20 credits)
- People, Hazards and Resources (20 credits)
- Foundations for Successful Studentship (20 credits)
The latter is designed to help you make an effective transition into your higher education studies and includes a residential field course based in Devon to develop foundation field and laboratory methods that can be employed to study hazard processes and help design management strategies.
Year 2 (Level 5)
This year gives you the opportunity to progress to more specialist work. You take modules in two core areas:
- Hazard Processes and Human Vulnerability - this involves exploring in greater depth the mechanisms behind key geomorphological and hydrological hazards such as landslides, soil erosion, coastal erosion and flooding, as well as influences upon individual and community hazard perception and response. There are fieldtrips to various UK locations (40 credits)
- Geomatics and Research Design - which provides an introduction to the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) - including digital mapping, GPS, satellite remote sensing and aerial photo interpretation - in hazard management, before designing your final year Dissertation research project (20 credits).
In the summer term several opportunities are available for all students to take part in work-based or experiential learning:
A six week Work Based Learning placement. This can relate to your geographical interests (e.g. work for an environmental body, the GIS unit of a local authority in the UK or abroad), or explore a specific career path (e.g. teaching)
Their fieldwork applications experiential learning module involves a trip to Spain for you to develop you research skills in a hazard related project
Their optional Norway Expedition at the end of Year 2, for students interested in completing a final year Dissertation on hazard processes such as rockfall or avalanching.
Year 3 (Level 6)
In Year 3 Combined Honours Natural Hazard students have the option to major in Geography (80 credits), minor in Geography (40 credits), or to continue to study your two subjects in equal proportions (60 credits each).
The core Year 3 module is Natural Hazard Assessment and Mitigation (40 credits). This module includes a week-long field trip to Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples to explore earthquake and volcano hazard management and emergency planning in a large urban environment. The second part of this core module focuses on UK coastal, slope and river management in the context of climate change and the pressure to develop land (e.g. for housing).
Combined Honours student majoring in natural hazard management complete a Dissertation (extended research project, 40 credits) or Independent Project (20 credits) on a hazards topic of your choice. The remaining modules at Year 3 are a selection of taught options reflecting the research interests of the lecturers and the diversity of the subject.
- Sustainable Futures (20 credits)
- Geomatics Applications (Remote Sensing and GIS) (20 credits)
- Climate Change: Recent record and future prospects (20 credits)
- Geoconservation (20 credits)
Most final year modules involve collaboration with external agencies/practitioners.
UCAS points
A minimum of 240-280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels, including a grade C in one of the subjects recommended by the department (below)
A Level- The department requires one of the following subjects as essential for entry
- A level: Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, World Development
BTEC National Diploma/Certificate (Applied Science - Environmental):
- Merit/distinction profile
Irish/Scottish Highers:
- B in 4 subjects, including Geography or Geology
International Baccalaureate:
- 26 points, including 5 or above in Geography
QAA
- QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma (Science/Life Science/Social Science), Open College Units or Open University Credits
OCR
- OCR National Extended/Diploma: merit profile plus one of the GCE A level subjects listed above
Extra Information: The Advanced Diploma: acceptable in combination with one of the GCE A Level subjects listed above
Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer
For detailed instructions on the application please visit: http://www.chester.ac.uk/undergraduate/nhm-combined
Dr Servel Miller, Programme Leader, [email protected]