GV1GC: Global Challenges: a Planet in Crisis

Module code: GV1GC

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Hilary Geoghegan, email: h.geoghegan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Planet earth is in crisis. This module offers first-year Geography and Environmental Science students a broad introduction to the interrelated global challenges facing the planet and humanity today. Students will become familiar with academic debates and human geography, physical geography and environmental science perspectives surrounding a number of key challenges. This module will equip students with the skills to use academic literature to support critical discussions of contemporary global geographical and environmental challenges. During the course, collaborative teaching in lectures, interactive discussions in climate café sessions, and a departmental photo exhibition will showcase research-teaching synergies across Geography and Environmental Science. By the end of the module, students will realise the significance of their chosen degree programme. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of key global challenges facing our planet in crisis
2. Critically discuss academic debates and multiple disciplinary perspectives relating to contemporary global geographical and environmental challenges
3. Choose and apply academic literature to support critical discussions in verbal and visual presentations and written coursework

Module content

The module will consider the current state of the planet with respect to contemporary global geographical and environmental challenges. Content examines academic debates and multidisciplinary perspectives surrounding key challenges and their drivers, impacts and responses across scales. Themes include, and are not limited to,: climate change; biodiversity; water; soil; air; disease; food; economic growth; sustainable development; inequality; and participation.

Enabling a smooth transition from school/college to university, global challenges already familiar to Geography and Environmental Science students are contextualised within academic debates offering cross-cutting perspectives from human geography, physical geography and environmental science. The module will comprise weekly lectures and seminars. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

GV1GC combines in-person whole cohort weekly lectures with smaller seminars to critically discuss key global challenges.

In-person methods

• 10 x 2 hour weekly lecture on introduction, key topic and assessment
  • Whole cohort
  • Guest speakers
  • Small group discussions based on key readings
  • Each lecture contains an overview of the challenge; critical discussion of the issue combining human geography, physical geography and environmental science; a personal research story from the lecturer/department; and case studies on a range of scales (individual/body/national/international).
  • 2 key readings and podcast will be associated with each session for independent study

• 2 X 1 hour lecture on assessment
  • Whole cohort
• 12 x 1 hour weekly seminar relating to critical discussions, skills development and assessment
  • Cohort divided into 4 groups

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Peer feedback on 1 critical discussion journal entry using marking rubric 

Reassessment

Additional costs