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AS/A2 Environmental Studies

The course is designed to enable you to: 

Appreciate how society makes decisions about scientific issues and how the sciences contribute to the success of the economy and society

Develop and demonstrate a deeper appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of How science works

Develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other.

 
Is it for me?  

The course suits those who have a genuine interest in the environment, who enjoy finding out their own answers and who are interested in global issues. Assessment is mainly exam based.

 

What's involved?

The Living Environment 

You will study an introduction to the biodiversity of life on planet earth. The reasons why the conservation of life on Earth is important are investigated, as are the methods which may be used to achieve effective conservation. Conservation in the UK, coral reefs, Antarctica and tropical rainforests are used to develop these issues further.

Life processes in the biosphere allows consideration of the ecological relationships between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environments in order to understand conservation problems further and how these may be managed.

Assessment: 1 hour written examination worth 40% of the total AS marks, 20% of the total A2 marks

The Physical Environment 

Study physical resources such as atmospheric gases, water and mineral nutrients and how essential these are for life on Earth. Students should understand how humans exploit and manage physical resources to provide higher material living standards and understand the use of many of these resources is unsustainable.

Assessment: 1 hour and 30 minutes written examination worth 60% of the total AS marks, 30% of the total A Level marks.

Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution

This unit examines future problems of energy supply and how these may be resolved. The properties of pollutants are considered to explain why some material or forms of energy cause environmental damage. These issues are developed through the study of a range of atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial pollutants. The strategies to deal with these pollutants are considered.

Assessment: 2 hour examination worth 25% of the total A Level marks

Biological Resources and Sustainability
 

Study the factors controlling human population growth and the demands placed upon the planet’s resources and life-support systems. Food production and forestry systems are analysed and systems to address these environmental problems considered with an emphasis on sustainability.

Assessment: 2 hour examination worth 25% of the total A Level marks.

 
Progression
 
Your interest in the environment and ethical issues could take you along a number of career paths, e.g. Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, Geography, Geology or Climatology. Maybe you’d like to work for a Charity, Teach, enter Politics, or use your A Level in Environmental Studies as the stepping stone for higher education or a degree in Environmental Science. The subject draws on many study areas including Geology, Geography, Economics, Politics and Sociology.