AD0FES: Environmental Sustainability

Module code: AD0FES

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Ms Rebecca Jerrome , email: r.m.jerrome@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Laura Girling, email: laura.girling@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module gives students the opportunity to explore the causes and consequences of global contemporary sustainability issues. Students will critique and evaluate both theoretical and actual methods used to minimise the harm caused through anthropogenic activities whilst recognise the interconnected nature of environmental problems.

Topics promoting sustainable lifestyles and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the concept fo sustainability including its definition, history, and the contested nature of the concept.
2. Use the Three Pillars of Sustainability to understand the complexity associated with the concept. 
3. Describe and discuss the causes and consequences for key environmental issues, with a focus on climate change.
4. Critique and evaluate responses to, and potential solutions for, harmful anthropogenic activities.
5. Collect and analyse data related to sustainability practices at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø.

Module content

• Population growth and degrowth
• Climate change (current evidence, consequence and future perspectives)
• Waste, waste hierarchy and the circular economy
• Energy resources
• Sustainable food production and food systems
• Urban greening and rewilding
• Fisheries
• Promoting sustainability at hte ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and beyond

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Knowledge content will be delivered primarily through face-to face lectures; suggested reading lists and online formative quizzes.

Seminars will provide students opportunity to further explore key themes and hear from experts in the field. Students will also have the opportunity to collect and analyse data and an off-site field visit will enable students to see community action around sustainable energy use.

Support for practical skills associated with the assessments will be delivered through a series of one hour sessions, which will include a number of drop-ins for one-to-one support.

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs