Dear Colleague,
    You may be interested in what follows.  If you have any comments,
please get back to me.  If you know of any potential students - please draw
this to their attention.  No doubt we shall be drawing on the goodwill of
curatorial community - in various ways!  Be warned.
    Sincerely,
           Roy Clements (Department of Geology, University of Leicester,
                          [log in to unmask]
"University of Leicester

Geology, Museums and Earth Heritage
(BSc (3-year) and MGeol (4-year) degrees)

PREAMBLE:
The University of Leicester is pleased to announce its new Geology, Museums
and Earth Heritage degree programmes.  It is currently recruiting for its
first (September 2004) intake.

These degree programmes are designed for students who wish to gain a degree
that combines a thorough grounding in geology with a firm foundation in its
application to museum and field conservation work.  The courses are taught
by staff from the Department of Geology and from the Department of Museum
Studies and are unique in the UK.   Throughout the courses there is an
emphasis on practical- and field-based work, and on individual and group
projects.  From this broad experience students will develop an appreciation
of the importance of geological sites and museums in conserving the
material and data foundations of our earth science – earth heritage.

The nature of earth science and the materials it studies ensures that earth
heritage is concerned not just with local minutiae but also with global
issues.  The degree programmes are designed to reflect this breadth of
vision, and similarly we hope to recruit from around the world.

The 3-year BSc programme is designed for those who want to gain a degree by
combining a practical interest in geology with a concern for the
conservation of our earth heritage in museums and in the field.  This
degree provides a broadening education, and might particularly appeal to
those with a combined science/arts background.

The 4-year MGeol programme provides a unique training for professional
entry as a geologist into the museum world (it is recognised as such by the
Museums Association) or into other aspects of earth heritage work.
Emphasis is placed on practical experience in both geology and earth
heritage, with full attention to the theoretical background, and to the
development of personal skills through individual project work.  The final
year independent project revolves around a period of earth heritage work
experience.

WHY LEICESTER?
Although these are new programmes, graduates of these Departments have a
long tradition of achievement in earth heritage work – many now occupy
senior positions.  The Department of Geology has a curatorial facility
whose standards are second to none, which, with some 120,000 accessioned
items (and a similar amount of non-accessioned material), provides a key
resource for these degrees.  This Department’s other degree courses are
well regarded, and are noted for the emphasis placed upon practical work
both in the field (some of which is done outside the UK) and the
laboratory. The Department is involved in many international research
programmes. The Department of Museums Studies is regarded as a world leader
in museum training and has a long history in this field.  The Leicester
region is fortunate in having varied and accessible geology, with heritage
sites of regional, national and international importance.  Leicester, as a
centre, provides easy access to many important local and
national/international geological collections in museums and universities.
Leicester is the hotbed that gave rise to the Geological Curators Group.
The headquarters of English Nature (the national conservation body) and of
the British Geological Survey are nearby

COURSE OUTLINE:
The degrees combine a thorough grounding in geology with a firm foundation
in its application to museum and field conservation work, and they develop
an understanding of the importance and practice of conserving geological
sites and of the role of museums in preserving the foundations of our
scientific heritage.  The first and second year courses of both degrees are
largely taught by members of the Department of Geology and concentrate on
establishing the geological groundwork.  In the third (BSc and MGeol) year
a significant proportion of the teaching is undertaken by the Department of
Museums Studies and by the fourth year (MGeol only) most of the teaching is
undertaken by that Department with a consequent emphasis on the museums and
earth heritage components of the degrees.  In both of these years further
specialist geology modules are taken.

The first year course gives a broad introduction to earth science and our
modules cover:
the concepts of geological time and space; the formation of sedimentary,
igneous and metamorphic rocks; fossils and minerals; planetary geology; the
interpretation of geological maps.  There are also visits to museums and
conservation sites. Geological field training includes day classes from
Leicester, and a field course on the Isle of Arran, Scotland.

At the end of the first year, students undertake an independent geological
mapping and earth heritage project.

Second year modules concentrate on developing and advancing understanding
of earth science in practice and theory, in petrology, sedimentology,
mineralogy, palaeontology, stratigraphy and map interpretation, structural
and plate-tectonic geology.  The student’s earth heritage training
continues with tutorials, outside visits and a special geology-with-earth
heritage field course to the Welsh Borders and South Wales, UK.

At the end of the second year, students undertake an independent geological
and earth heritage project - a field-based combination of geological map,
site conservation and museum-related elements; the exact nature of the
project is tailored to suit their individual interests.

In the third year there is significant specialist earth heritage study with
a large module in Museums, Societies and Cultural Change (Geological), and
a Natural Sciences Summer School (Geological).  Students also undertake a
group curatorial project leading, for example, to the construction of a
museum display.  The students’ geological studies are continued by choosing
from the many specialist modules that are available such as those in
vertebrate evolution, palaeobiology, advanced micropalaeontology, applied
geology, etc.

The fourth year is only available to MGeol students. They are treated as a
research students and undertake a major, work-experience-based individual
research project broadly in the field of museum or earth heritage geology;
take major higher-level taught earth heritage modules in Strategic Resource
Development (Geological), and in Communications, Media and Museums
(Geological); and visit internationally important earth heritage sites and
museums on a field course (normally outside the UK).  Students are trained
in research methods and data analysis, and have access to high quality
analytical facilities for project work.  They also develop debating skills
through the discussion of current controversial geoscience topics in
the ‘Hot Topics’ module.  Specialist earth heritage study dominates this
part of the MGeol programme, although students have a choice of further
specialist geology modules.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
No previous knowledge of geology or museum or other earth heritage work is
required for this course at Leicester (although a previous interest will be
an advantage). We assume no formal training in geology, but expect one
science subject, at least, at A level (or equivalent).  [For details of
formal qualification requirements – see footnote.]

Since Geology, Museums and Earth Heritage is an inter-disciplinary study,
we prefer our students to have a broad knowledge base.  Our students will
have diverse scientific (perhaps combined with arts) backgrounds, and so we
provide tuition and other support to help fill in any gaps in the student’s
knowledge.  Earth heritage also implies concern and care, both emotionally,
and as practical skills.

It helps if you enjoy the outdoors, and are happy doing practical things.
Nevertheless, we plan that the course should be available to people with
mobility and other physical disabilities.  Additional useful personal
qualities include a high degree of motivation and an enquiring mind; a
systematic and ordered approach work; artistic skills and a sense of the
aesthetic; and, a commitment to independent and teamwork learning.

Some of our students will have had previous experience of a part-time job
or employment involving reliability and motivation; membership of local and
school clubs, teams or societies (even a local geological society, or Rock
Watch, or equivalent); work placements or experience (perhaps with a local
museum, wildlife trust, or RIGS group, or similar); travel in their home
country or further afield; natural history or archaeology; and, art, craft,
display and other communication techniques.


BSc OR MGeol?
For Geology, Museums and Earth Heritage, as in all Geology Department
degrees, the four-year MGeol and three-year BSc courses diverge at the end
of the second year.  Transfer to the MGeol is possible during the first
year subject to satisfactory performance in assessment.  Continuation on
the MGeol degree beyond the second year is conditional on performance in
the second year assessment.  Similarly it may be possible to transfer to
other of the Department of Geology degrees.


AFTER THE DEGREES:
The degree programmes provide sound, broad-based training, suitable for
many interdisciplinary career opportunities and postgraduate courses.  The
four-year MGeol programme is formally recognised as counting towards
Associateship of the Museums Association.  In particular both degrees (but
particularly the MGeol) will help meet a perceived need for graduates with
an integrated training in geology and earth heritage matters to help
service these aspects of the burgeoning ‘heritage’ business.

Potential Employers:  We would expect a proportion of graduates to gain
easy access as earth scientists into the museums profession at a national
and local authority level, etc., into the nature conservation/earth
heritage world in general, and into certain earth science exploration and
consulting companies. The degree may also lead to professional careers in
industry, teaching, management and administration.
Fields for Higher degrees: MSc courses or MSc/PhD research in appropriate
earth science topics, and in museum work, nature conservation, and natural
resource management.
Graduate destinations:  This is a new degree programme, but people with a
combination of an earth science degree (from this or other universities)
and post-graduate Museum Studies Department qualification (with geology
specialisation) have achieved prominence in the museum world, and indeed
many former students of the Geology Department now occupy prominent
positions in museum and nature conservation institutions, in the UK and
elsewhere.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
For more information about studying for a BSc or MGeol Geology, Museums and
Earth Heritage Degree at Leicester, please email us on
[log in to unmask] with questions and we will arrange for one of
our staff to reply.

Alternatively contact the Department of Geology Admissions Tutor:

Dr. Sarah Davies,
Department of Geology,
University of Leicester,
University Road,
Leicester, LE1 7RH,
UK
+44 (0)116 252 3912
http://www.le.ac.uk/geology
[log in to unmask]


FOOTNOTE:  Entry Requirements
A levels:  Tariff point range 260 –320 points. Generally offers will be
BCC, excluding General Studies, for BSc, and perhaps BBC for MGeol.  Two AS
levels welcomed in place of a third A level.  There are no A level subjects
which are a pre-requisite for entry. Normally one or two A level subjects
are required from the following preferred list: Geography or Archaeology,
Geology, Biology, Computing, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.  Candidates
with a foreign language, or English or another Arts/Social Science A level
subject in combination with one or more of the preferred subjects are
encouraged to apply.
Access to HE course: Normally a minimum of 18 points at level 3
BTEC: 4 Distinctions, 1 Merit
AGNVQ: Distinction plus an A or AS level
Leicester Progression Accord: 210-270 points plus full Accord credits
Irish Leaving Certificate: BBBBB at Higher level
Scottish Highers: BBBBB
European Baccalaureate: Pass with 62% overall
International Baccalaureate: Pass diploma with 28-30  points"