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Our Environmental Social Sciences degree focuses on the environment from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities. You are encouraged to engage with a variety of environmental understandings from a range of subjects, including: anthropology, politics, economics, philosophy, law, history, literature and the creative arts. You can also develop practical skills (for example, biodiversity monitoring) and can choose to do an independent research project on a subject largely of your choice.
Overview
In addition to compulsory modules covering social science approaches to environmental issues and environmental politics, policy and practice, you can also choose modules covering biodiversity and ecological sciences, the foundations of human culture, creative conservation and environmental law. You can also develop practical skills (for example biodiversity monitoring in Borneo) and can choose to do an independent research project on a subject largely of your choice in the UK or overseas.
Between stages 2 and 3, you spend a minimum of 24 weeks working in professional practice through one or more placements, either in the UK or abroad.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2016, the related subject of Anthropology at Kent was ranked 7th for overall satisfaction.
Anthropology and Conservation students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year in industry
The Year in Professional Practice involves a minimum of 24 weeks spent on placement at one or more organisations whose work is relevant to your degree programme. This contributes to 10% of your final degree classification.
It is your responsibility to find a placement, but the department offers help and support. If you cannot find a placement, your registration will change to the equivalent BSc (Hons) programme without the Year in Professional Practice.
During your placement, you work under the direction of a line manager within the host organisation with additional support via a member of academic staff from the University.
You work on one or more tasks agreed in advance; for example, a management plan, a policy report, consultation process, a piece of applied research, or development of a set of educational materials.
Assessment is via an appraisal by your designated line manager (10%) and a written report (80%) and presentation (10%) which are assessed by a member of academic staff.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is through a combination of lectures, seminars, field trips and laboratory-based practicals. There is also an opportunity to conduct a special research project in your final year. This gives you the opportunity to use a range of research methods in a variety of contexts to explore key environmental issues and participate in the advancement of knowledge. The type of approach may differ depending on the student’s preferred discipline. For most, it will mean using advanced methods to explore literature and other documents and, in some cases, there may also be opportunities for field research using the skills taught during the course.
Most modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and unseen exam. Some modules are assessed only by coursework which takes a variety of forms, including essays, short answer tests, presentations, advocacy, individual and team projects and research reports.
The year in professional practice is assessed by means of a written report and a short presentation, together with an appraisal from your manager.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- produce competent and flexible social scientists with an understanding of the social, economic and political processes affecting the environment
- to equip students with the skills, knowledge and abilities needed to contribute to understanding processes affecting the environment whether or not they are currently labelled as ‘environmental problems’
- to help students to understand the role of theories and values in research on processes affecting the environment
- experience of work in a professional environment relevant to your degree programme, in the UK or abroad
- employment-related skills, including an understanding of how to relate to the structures and functions in an organisation
- the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of professionalism, independent thought, personal responsibility and decision-making.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the changing meaning of ‘environment’
- the role of international and EC treaties, agreements and laws, and national laws and regulations affecting the environment
- the role of market forces and state action in the production of the environment
- the process by which environmental policy is made at all levels and the role of pressure groups
- why some issues are defined as environmental while others (often equally serious) are not
- the main concepts and theories used in understanding environmental problems
- how and why some places have more attractive environments and others less
- the typical conflicts that occur over environmental issues
- the options available to households, companies and local governments when faced with unsatisfactory environments
- the role of local governments and national regulatory agencies in shaping local environments
- the scope for citizen action to exert pressure for tougher action on the environment
- the rise in environmental consciousness and its main types.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- problem-solving and the knowledge to seek solutions to urban problems and individual needs
- research skills, including the ability to identify a research question and to collect and manipulate data to answer that question
- evaluative and analytical skills to assess the outcomes of policy intervention on individuals, communities and places
- sensitivity to the values and interests of others and to the dimensions of difference.
Subject-specific skills
You gain specific skills in the following:
- to identify and use theories and concepts to analyse environmental issues
- to seek out and use statistical data relevant to environmental issues
- to undertake an investigation of an empirical issue, either alone or in a group
- the ability to apply theoretical and technical knowledge to professional practice.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to study and learn independently using library and internet sources
- develop an appetite for learning and be reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach to learning
- make presentations to fellow students and staff
- communicate ideas and arguments to others in written and spoken form
- prepare essays and reference the material quoted according to scholarly conventions
- use IT to wordprocess, conduct online searches, communicate and access data sources
- develop skills in time management by delivering academic work on time and to the required standard
- develop interpersonal and teamwork skills to enable students to work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results
- professional teamwork
- effective use of information sources.
Careers
The conservation and environmental sector is an expanding area for employment opportunities. This programme aims to secure graduates with employment in high-level policy and practice positions, as well as more technical posts involving habitat management and species conservation, working with local people. Potential employers include local, regional and national UK government departments, voluntary organisations and the private sector, as well as international conservation and environmental organisations. Many also go on to postgraduate studies.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Mathematics Grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 overall or 16 at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.