University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 8

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: Mon and Tue 5pm-6pm To be confirmed - 2hrs weekly.

"Sustainable Scotland" draws on Scotland’s unique landscapes, patterns of urbanisation, and the geography of population to examine interrelated issues of land use and social inequalities to the broader questions of sustainability here in Scotland. This theme is used to frame foundational teaching in core research methods relevant to students in both Geography and Sustainable Development. Using a mix of lectures and computer laboratories, students completing this module will have a broad understanding of the role of research in addressing issues of sustainability as well experience in Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Statistics, Survey Design, as well as Qualitative Methods. Each of these methods provides a prerequisite for individual specialist methods teaching modules at the honours level.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass GG2013 or pass SD2005

Co-requisite(s): You must also take GG2014 or take SD2006

Anti-requisite(s): You cannot take this module if you pass GG2011 or take GG2011 or pass GG2012 or take GG2012 or pass SD2001 or take SD2001 or pass SD2002 or take SD2002

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2x 1hr lecture (x 10 weeks); 1x 2hr computer lab (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 45

Guided independent study hours: 154

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% Coursework.


Re-assessment: 100% Coursework.

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr D McCollum
Module teaching staff: Dr David McCollum; Dr Mike Kesby; Dr Katherine Keenan; Dr Urska Demsar; and Dr Tobias Bolch
Module coordinator email David.McCollum@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Understand broader issues of methodology and appreciate research design principles
• Critically evaluate understanding of different kinds of data relevant to research in Geography and Sustainable Development
• Display familiarity with a range of research methods including Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Statistics, Survey Design
• Display critical appreciation of questions of ethic, power and risk in research