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Natural Sciences course catalogue 2023/4


USSC-AFB01: BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Environmental Science stream)

Leading to the award of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NATURAL SCIENCES

Mode of attendance: Full-time

Normal programme duration: 3 years

[Page last updated: 27 October 2023]


This course is for students who will be in Year 2 or later in 2023/24


Assessment Regulations
Applicable assessment regulations:
Undergraduate assessment regulations - https://www.bath.ac.uk/publications/undergraduate-assessment-regulations/
Approved exemptions:
None
Coexistent Masters course?:
No
DAPS and exit awards:
Diploma of Higher Education [exit award]
Certificate of Higher Education [exit award]
Weighting towards final award by stage:
Stage 1: 0%
Stage 2: 32%
Final Stage: 68%

Please consult your course handbook or contact your Director of Studies for further information on assessment regulations


Natural Sciences students must take units totaling 60 credits in each programme year, usually comprising five blocks of 12 credits each, although some final year projects are worth 18 or 24 credits. Students must choose a major subject stream to follow and must take two blocks of units in this major subject each year. For further information on the structure of the programme, please see the Natural Sciences Course Guide.

Year 1

This course is being replaced by a new version so Year 1 of this version is not available in 2023/24.

Notes:

  • Courses and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this course, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
  • Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.


Year 2: Stage 2

Students following this subject stream must take the following during this programme year:
  1. All units in Environmental Studies block Env2.1, Physics block P2.1, and Mathematics block M2.1;
  2. One all-year Chemistry unit.

Units which must be taken within this subject stream

Compulsory units for Environmental Studies block Env2.1, Mathematics block M2.1 and Physics block P2.1

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
AY PH20107 Mathematical methods for physics 212 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY XX20239 Introduction to environmental sciences and sustainability12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
S1 PH20060 Quantum & atomic physics [WL]6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S1 PH20067 Thermal physics (WL)6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH20061 Electromagnetism 1 [WL]6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH20063 Condensed matter physics 1 [WL]6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]

One unit to be selected from this list for Chemistry blocks C2.1, C2.2 & C2.3.
  • You may only select CH20150 from this list if you took CH10135 (block C1.1) in Year 1;
  • You may only select CH20148 from this list if you took CH10133 (block C1.2) in Year 1;
  • You may only select CH20152 from this list if you took CH10137 (block C1.3) in Year 1.

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
AY CH20148 Inorganic synthesis, structure and reactivity (NS/CwM)12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY CH20150 Organic synthesis, reaction mechanisms and spectroscopy (NS/CwM)12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY CH20152 Principles of physical chemistry (NS/CwM)12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]


Skills units

Optional skills unit

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
AY XX20251 Skills for Natural Scientists II credits       [equivalent to 0 CATS credits]


Notes:

  • Courses and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this course, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
  • Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.


Year 3: Final Stage

Students following this subject stream must take the following during this programme year:
  1. One Physics project unit (PH30036, PH30096 or PH30099)
  2. All units in block P3.1;
  3. Two units in each semester from block Env3
  4. Six credits in each semester from Physics block P3.2;Students may take a maximum of 12 credits of non-science options in place of Physics block P3.2.
  5. Further information on DoS approved options Director of Studies approved option allowed: Students may be permitted to take Director of Studies approved units as an alternative to a maximum of 12 credits during this programme year.

Units which must be taken within this subject stream

Compulsory units for Physics block P3.1

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
S1 PH30030 Quantum mechanics6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH30077 Electromagnetism 26 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]

Physics majors must choose one of these project units during this programme year

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
AY PH30036 Final year project (BSc)12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY PH30096 Industry team project12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY PH30099 Communicating physics project12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
AY XX30253 Vertically integrated project (12 credits)12 credits       [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]

Environmental Sciences block Env3: Students must select two units in each semester

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
S1 XX30001 Renewable energy6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S1 XX30172 State of the planet6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 XX30213 Global challenges: Water6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 XX30252 The transition to sustainability6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]

Select six credits in each semester for Physics block P3.2

Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
S1 PH30028 Condensed matter physics 26 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S1 PH30035 Medical physics6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH20018 Programming skills6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH30032 Laser physics6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PH30078 Magnetism3 credits       [equivalent to 6 CATS credits]
S2 PH30079 Superconductivity3 credits       [equivalent to 6 CATS credits]
S2 PH30098 Networks3 credits       [equivalent to 6 CATS credits]


Optional units: Non science options
Period
Unit Code
Title
ECTS Credits
S1 ED30005 Science education in practice6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S1 MN20074 Digital business innovation6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S1 PS30115 Contemporary educational psychology6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 ED30006 Issues in science education6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 MN30076 Business strategy6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
S2 PS30156 Emotion science6 credits       [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]


Notes:

  • Courses and units may be changed in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • This course catalogue is applicable for all years of study for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this course, or its component units, will be delivered in future years in the format displayed here.
  • Assessment regulations are subject to review and update. Links given here will provide access to the latest versions of documentation. The regulations described in this documentation may not necessarily be those which applied in previous academic years. For detailed information on how assessment regulations were applied to this course in previous academic years, please contact the relevant Director of Studies.
  • Availability of units is subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.