BSc (Hons) Astrophysics and Geology

Astrophysics is active wherever the laws of physics are being tested to the limit – and beyond. Keele will help you use astronomical observations, mathematical models, and computer simulations to develop theories explaining some of the most complex phenomena. Alongside this, you will be studying Geology. The combined honors geology course at Keele covers a range of topics that may include looking at rocks, minerals, fossils, and geological processes. This course aims to focus particularly on applied research skills that will encourage you to collect, analyze, and interpret different types of geological data and carry out your own research using specialist software and equipment. It may also cover geological processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate tectonics, and how these processes produce different geological materials. Geology is a practical subject with applied problem-solving laboratory classes and field courses where you will learn how to interpret and map geological features, and explore future geological resources. You will acquire a wide range of transferable skills, including communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, evaluate and synthesize information from diverse sources. You will also explore subject specific-skills like the ability to manipulate, analyze and present geospatial data using industry-standard GIS and drawing software.

Semester 1

• Practical and Academic Skills in Science
• Foundations of Mathematical Methods
• Foundations of Physics
• Foundations of Geography, Geology and the Environment

Semester 2

• Advancing Physics
• Advancing Mathematical Methods
• Advancing Geography, Geology, and the Environment

Employability

Geology graduates are likely to be high in demand as modern society requires increasing amounts of energy, raw materials, and other resources such as water, the vast majority of which are discovered by geoscientists. Geologists are also needed for civil engineering in designing foundations and tunnels and in environmental projects such as carbon dioxide sequestration. You could go on to work in the mining, oil and gas, hydrogeology, or geotechnical sector.

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

• Research Scientist
• Geophysicist
• Science Teacher
• HE Lecturer
• Medical Physicist
• Operational Researcher
• Software Engineer
• Radiation Practitioner
• Geophysicist
• Wellsite Geologist
• Hydrogeologist
• Seismic Interpreter
• Mudlogger
• Geochemist
• Engineering Geologist
• Geoscientist