Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geology (Applied Geophysics)

at Keele University United Kingdom

Our Medicinal Chemistry graduates have excellent employment prospects, whether at the cutting edge of drug discovery or in a wide range of related fields. You might go to work for a pharmaceutical company, either as a research scientist or in a more business related role. Alternatively, you might work in a different organisation as a development chemist, a research assistant, or a site chemist.

Modern industrial society depends on geologists to find natural resources such as minerals, hydrocarbons, metals, aggregates and water, for designing foundations, tunnels and other engineering projects, and environmental projects such as radioactive waste disposal or carbon dioxide sequestration. You will acquire a wide range of transferable skills, including communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, evaluate and synthesise information from diverse sources. You will develop subject specific-skills like the ability to manipulate, analyse and present geospatial data using industry standard GIS and drawing software. You might choose to work in geological, geophysical or environmental consultancy, in construction, mining, in the energy sector, planning or insurance. Many of our graduates go onto further study at Master's/PhD level.

Studying Geography and History at Keele will enable you to develop your appreciation of various global histories, and an array of world issues whilst enjoying the rich history of our local area. In your spare time, you might find yourself exploring the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon metalwork most likely deposited in the 7th century in the then Kingdom of Mercia. The Staffordshire Hoard provides a window to England in the 6th and 7th centuries and also to the warrior elite that existed during these times and now rests less than 5 miles away from Keele.

The History element of the programme will carry you chronologically from the medieval period to the present, and span the globe. You will be introduced to a wide range of history – from political, social, economic and cultural history to the history of gender, health, sexuality and religion. Throughout your first year, you may engage in modules that encourage you to explore topics such as how European rulers tried to strengthen their authority with the increase of military power between the late fifteenth and late seventeenth centuries, or some of the key defining moments in History which may include the 1720 South Sea Bubble in Britain, the 1791 Haitian Revolution or the 1933 Bauhaus movement.

Throughout the Geography element of the degree you'll focus specifically on your preferred area of human geography. This highly interdisciplinary course provides you with a strong theoretical and practical background in human geography giving you the understanding and professional geographical skills to explore an array of world issues from different perspectives. Our staff's diverse research interests and creative methods reflect a modern human geography that can develop your skills to address contemporary societal issues such as climate change, sustainability, health and migration from political, economic, social and cultural perspectives. What you learn here will equip you for future employment and for a lifelong appreciation of the world around you.

Our Single Honours programme builds upon the core topics defined by the UK Institute of Physics to provide breadth of study, modules informed by the research of our astrophysics staff, with additional emphasis on mathematics and computing as tools for (astro)physical problem-solving.

The language of the universe is physics and mathematics. You will explore these, along with computational and statistical techniques, and apply these skills to tackling problems as diverse as stellar interiors, galaxies, black holes and the evolution of the universe itself.

You will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of physics and the essential ability to plan investigations, analyse results and present your work. Regular laboratory sessions, including access to our on-campus observatory, enable you to investigate unfamiliar phenomena and develop valuable transferable skills such as scientific writing and programming.

Throughout your studies you will:

• follow a full research training programme leading to the completion of an original dissertation in a topic of your choosing;
• take core modules designed to deepen your understanding of methodologies appropriate to the study of literature from the Renaissance to the present;
• choose an optional module from a variety of disciplines, including English or American Literature, Creative Writing or Film, or you can choose to take a Work Placement module;
• work with a research-active supervisor to develop and pursue your dissertation, and participate in the academic life of the School of Humanities more generally;

Astrophysics is active wherever the laws of physics are being tested to the limit – and beyond. Keele will help you to use astronomical observations, mathematical models and computer simulation to develop theories explaining some of the most complex phenomena.

You’ll develop your mathematics and computing skills, and apply them to solving a range of problems in the laboratory and beyond (you’ll have access to Keele’s own on-site observatory). We are committed to supporting you throughout your studies, providing you flexible access to our staff to seek advice or feedback.

For the Forensic Science element of the course, you will be taught by academics and forensic professionals, and gain valuable lab and crime scene experience, helping you to stay ahead in this fast-moving science. You will be taught in our modern laboratory facilities and have access to equipment and our dedicated Crime Scene House.

This course will provide you with a broad education in the core areas of forensic science. Your studies may explore key topics in forensic chemistry, analytical science, forensic biology and criminalistics science. You will develop your analytical science skills, enabling you to analyse a variety of evidence. This is complemented by additional emphasis on professional practice and an understanding of the roles of the crime scene investigator and the forensic scientist as an expert witness in the court.

Our forensic science combined honours programmes are recognised by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. 

International Business will help you to appreciate the diversity of international work cultures and acquire the skills to help manage them. You’ll learn about the global business environment, international business strategies, supply chains and cross-cultural management. In Marketing you will learn how to plan and implement successful marketing strategies. There are exciting opportunities to explore branding and digital marketing and how to implement these in the context of international business. There’s also a firm grounding in the wider social context of organisation and a broad reflection on the ethics of business and marketing. The variety of optional modules available on this course will also enable you to further develop your skills and insights. 

Explore contemporary issues in international relations and diplomacy, international business and international law and develop a genuinely international mindset. You will analyse the major political, business and legal aspects of how international processes work and study the relationships between national governments and other international players. transnational corporations, international governmental organisations (e.g. the United Nations), and non-governmental organisations, such as businesses, charities and pressure groups. 

This course broadly follows the Single Honours Psychology modular structure with additional modules focusing on counselling theories, skills and personal development, delivered by School of Psychology staff with expertise in Counselling and Counselling Psychology.

The psychological content of the course will develop your critical thinking and research skills with an emphasis on how psychology impacts on everyday life. You will learn how to design and conduct your own psychological studies in our well-equipped labs using a range of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Our students graduate ready to use their psychology skills and knowledge to make a real difference.

The Counselling element of the course guides you in exploring concepts and debates in counselling, as well as developing practical skills in effective listening, communication, self-reflection and the theory of person-centred counselling.

Please note the course is not a practising qualification but provides the first steps towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist or Counselling Psychologist. It will help students meet the entry requirements for the MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy at Keele or elsewhere.

For the Forensic Science element of the course, you will be taught by academics and forensic professionals, and gain valuable lab and crime scene experience, helping you to stay ahead in this fast-moving science. You will be taught in our modern laboratory facilities and have access to equipment and our dedicated Crime Scene House.

This course will provide you with a broad education in the core areas of forensic science. Your studies will focus on key topics in forensic chemistry, analytical science, forensic biology and criminalistics science. You will develop your analytical science skills, enabling you to analyse a variety of forensic of evidence. This is complemented by additional emphasis on professional practice and an understanding of the roles of the crime scene investigator and the forensic scientist as an expert witness in the court. You may be able to study abroad for a semester (dependant on subject scheduling) or year at one of our partner universities.

The Psychology element of the course, which is accredited by the British Psychological Society enables you to explore why humans think, feel, communicate and act in the ways that they do. At Keele you will find out what the latest research tells us about human behaviour and learn how to design and conduct your own psychological studies in our well-equipped labs using a range of techniques.

Natural Sciences allows you to study a broad range of disciplines within a Single Honours programme. You choose one core discipline as a named route, accounting for half of your learning, that ensures you have a solid grounding in an established discipline. The remaining half of your learning is through an even mix of programme-specific interdisciplinary modules that cover the full range of disciplines offered by the programme and your own choice of elective modules that allows you to mix and match different subjects.