Earth Sciences (Geology): University of Oxford

What is Earth Sciences (Geology)?

The Earth Sciences are changing rapidly in scope and nature. The course at Oxford reflects these changes, and aims to provide earth scientists with a sound and broadly based scientific training. Earth Sciences courses at Oxford cover not only the central subject areas of geology, training students in the unique skills required for the interpretation of rock materials and geological phenomena, but also the more recently developed disciplines that apply theory and techniques from physics, chemistry, materials science and biology to the study of the earth and its history.

A typical weekly timetable

During years 1–3, your work is divided between lectures (about ten a week), tutorials (one or two a week), and practical classes, occupying about a third of your week. In year 4 you have the opportunity for independent work on special topics or in a research laboratory.

Fieldwork/international opportunities

The Earth Sciences course includes a number of excursions, both in Britain and abroad (see table opposite). These are designed to link closely to material covered in lectures, and to convey the practice of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and palaeontology in the field environment. This work culminates in an independent project to study and map an area chosen by the student (with advice from lecturers) and in a field trip to the volcanic island of Santorini and actively deforming regions of mainland Greece.

Admission requirements

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses....

Application procedure

Tutors will not require the submission of written work.

Course summary

1st year  Courses

Introduction to the Earth

• ES1: Chemistry and physics of the earth
• ES2: Geological materials
• S3: Earth surface processes
• Mathematics for materials and earth sciences or elementary mathematics

Fieldwork

• Oxfordshire (day trips)
• Pembrokeshire (weekend)
• Assynt, Scotland (nine days)

Assessment

• First University examinations (preliminary): Four written papers; satisfactory practical record; measuring and documenting earth processes

2nd year Courses

• Fundamentals of geology
• Topics in earth sciences

Fieldwork:

• Dorset (seven days)
• Castellane, France (eleven days)
• Mendips (weekend)
• Independent summer mapping

Assessment

• Second University examinations

3rd year Courses

• Earth resources
• Geochemistry and earth materials
• Geophysics
• Palaeobiology and environments

Fieldwork:

• Greece (ten days)

Assessment

• Third University examinations: Summer mapping report; extended essay on a topic in Earth Sciences

4th year Courses

Advances in Earth Sciences

Independent research project Plus, the choice of four taught options from:

• Anatomy of a mountain belt
• Planetary chemistry
• Seismology
• Records of major environmental change in earth history
• Palaeobiology
• Environmental, rock and palaeomagnetism
• Geochemical history of earth's environment
• Patterns and processes in Pleistocene climate
• Continental tectonics
• Topics in vulcanology

Assessment

• Final University examinations: Independent projects