Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
Module Title
Foundations for Life
Academic Year
Semester 1
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery



Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Report  (2,000 words)  50%
Semester Exam 1.5 Hours   50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Recognise, interpret and explain the common geological materials, structures and processes and their influence on the British landscape and human activities.

2. Recognise, interpret and explain the geomorphological processes responsible for creating features in the British landscape and describe the influence of these processes on habitats and human activities.

3. Describe how the changing nature of climatic and environmental conditions over a range of timescales has influenced the geology and landscape of Britain.

4. Outline the major phases in the evolution of life on earth and describe key events as preserved in the fossil record.

5. Describe the evolution of major groups of organisms and identify the anatomical links between extinct and living life forms.

Brief description

The underlying geology is a major influence on soils, habitats, species distribution and human activities. The module introduces the student to the different rock types, geological structures and geomorphological processes that contribute to the varied landscapes of Britain. Set alongside the story of Britain through geological time we will explore the evolution of life through the fossil record and outline links to the taxonomy of modern species.


Tectonics. Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; their formation, types, structures, uses and influence on soils, habitats and landscapes. Folds and faults. Mass wasting. Weathering and erosion. The hydrological cycle and rivers. Glaciation. Coastlines. Geological time and history. Evolution through the fossil record and taxonomy of modern lifeforms.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication Essay writing.
Improving own Learning and Performance Fieldwork and practical skills.
Information Technology Use of digital spatial resources in coursework.
Personal Development and Career planning
Problem solving
Research skills Information finding for essay.
Subject Specific Skills Identification and interpretation of geological specimens and features.
Team work May be involved in fieldwork/practicals.


This module is at CQFW Level 4