Environmental science
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This on-screen module spans biology, chemistry, earth science and physics, drawing them together in a holistic approach to studying the environment. You’ll investigate air, water, earth, life and cycles and explore the processes, interactions and feedback mechanisms operating within different environments. Practical experiences provided through multimedia interactive ‘virtual’ field trip activities and project work allow you to develop skills and apply your learning. By the end, you will be able to make critical analyses of environmental processes and structures, e.g. landforms, soils, water flows and habitats of flora and fauna, and comment on anthropogenic influences and their likely consequences.
What you will study
In this wide-ranging module you will learn about aspects of biology, chemistry, earth science and physics that can be applied to the study of the environment. But there is much more. The holistic nature of environmental science is stressed through studying the many links that operate between different environments.
To enrich and contextualise your studies, during each block you will apply what you have learnt to a series of topics which will allow you to explore specific environments, address environmental phenomena and processes or investigate environmental issues. These include: the oceans and ice, atmospheric chemistry, habitat conservation and eutrophication.
Online activities are used to support and reinforce your learning. Throughout your studies, you will take part in a virtual field trip to the catchment area of the River Teign in south Devon, in the UK. You will make observations and collect data about weather, landforms, rocks and soils, water flows and water analysis, and vegetation habitats, and assess the effect of human influences on the area.
The module centres on five subjects – Water, Air, Earth, Life and Cycles:
Block 1: Water
Water looks at the hydrological cycle, following the fate of rain as it falls, looking at different modes of interception and how they are measured. This is followed by a study of rivers: flows and changes in water composition as it moves from river source to ocean. Water also flows through and resides in the ground, and here you will investigate the interaction of this water with soils, at aquifers and springs. In this topic you will also look at water quality, water analysis and how we use water as a resource.
Block 2: Air
Air looks at the influence the atmosphere has on conditions at the earth’s surface. You’ll explore the components of air and how they interact with one another and with the earth, as well as the properties and phenomena that make up an everyday notion of the ‘weather’.
Block 3: Earth
Next you will look at aspects of earth: rocks, landforms and soils. The topic starts by seeing how rocks are formed with different compositions, in a variety of environments. This is followed by a study of weathering: rocks and the minerals of which they are composed undergo physical and chemical (and some biological) erosion, forming insoluble fragments and soluble ions. Natural environmental processes such as weathering and erosion are responsible for the evolution of landscapes and so this topic continues with an investigation of landforms. Finally, you will look at soils, which are more than simply a growing medium for plants; on land they are the critical interface between the organic and inorganic environments.
Block 4: Life
In this block you will study the variability of species distribution in different habitats, together with the fundamentals of sampling. In addition you will explore the requirements for growth for a variety of flora and fauna, along with the ability of an environment to supply these resources.
Block 5: Cycles
The last block widens the scope of the module to look at the earth’s overall systems. The rock cycle, biogeochemical cycles over short and long terms and the element cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus are some of the aspects you will cover in this block.
Practical work
This module has two practical projects. In one, you’ll undertake individual project work; in the other, you’ll undertake a virtual field trip to the desert of New Mexico, USA. You’ll predict the consequences of climate change on the region’s flora and fauna, drawing on the skills you’ve developed in the module, together with visual, numerical and other data.
A limited number of places may be available (at extra cost) for you to participate in outdoor exercises and follow-up laboratory work at a residential field school. Further details are in the Field school section below.
You may attend a residential field school instead of completing the practical projects. Satisfactory completion of the practical projects or the field schools or a combination of the two is required if you want to gain credit for this module.
Entry requirements
You need to have a good knowledge of science and basic maths – check if you’re ready for S206, with our self-assessed quiz.
You’d normally be prepared by completing OU level 1 study as part of one of our science qualifications. For this module we recommend that you’ve passed Science: concepts and practice (S112), as it gives a broad foundation in the relevant science, maths and IT skills. Questions in science (S111) and Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116) are also appropriate if you’re confident in your maths skills.
If you would like an idea of what the module involves before you register, you can access free from OpenLearn a section from the first block called ‘The oceans’.
If you’re not sure you’re ready, talk to an adviser.
What's included
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner
- course-specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assessment details, instructions and guidance
- online tutorial access
- access to student and tutor group forums.
The materials are also available in other formats including pdf, EPUB, interactive ebook (EPUB83), Kindle ebook and Microsoft Word should you wish to study on mobile devices.
You will need
You may need to draw diagrams or to annotate by hand diagrams that you download, and then use either a scanner or a digital camera to produce files of these diagrams for inclusion in your assessment.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11), or macOS (11 'Big Sur' or higher).
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop as described above.