GVMCEM: Coastal and Estuarine Management

Module code: GVMCEM

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Jonathan Dale , email: j.j.dale@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: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will give students the opportunity to explore changes in coastal and estuarine environments in response to sea level rise, climate change, and anthropogenic pressures. Students will explore the processes driving the formation and evolution of coastal  and estuarine environments, the geomorphic and hydrodynamics response to external forcing mechanisms, and the consequences for the natural and anthropogenic environments. Students will evaluate the strategies implemented to manage coastal environments, and will be encouraged to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different coastal management approaches in relation to future coastal and climatic change. 

Module learning outcomes

On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to: 

• Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the importance of, and interactions between, different: spatial and temporal scales, forcing mechanisms, landforms, habitats.  
• Critically evaluate the role of humans, climate, sea level, morphology and hydrodynamics as drivers of change within coastal and estuarine environment. 
• Develop a detailed understanding of methods of assessing both historic and future coastal and estuarine change. 
• Discuss and analyse critically the suitability of different coastal defence and management schemes. 

Module content

This module will cover geomorphological, sedimentological and hydrological processes found within coastal and estuarine environments, for example saltmarshes, mangroves, beaches and barriers, at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The associated methods of assessing change at these scales is considered, as are the forcing mechanisms and drivers of change such as waves, tides and sea level change. Temporal change because of these processes will be evaluated, from the Late Quaternary to modern day, with a focus on the impact of future change on the natural and anthropogenic environment. This is discussed in terms of the value and importance of coastal environments, and the range of different groups of people with an interest in coastal environments and how they are managed. Different approaches to coastal management, based on the different process and infrastructure involved, forms an important part of this modules, with different scenarios and case studies evaluated. This module also provides students with the opportunity to visit a coastal management scheme to develop a detailed understanding of the design, implementation and limitations of different approaches. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Students will encounter a wide range of T&L methods on this module. Key theories and concepts will be delivered during lectures. Learning will be applied in class and in the field. 

Study hours

At least 37 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 50% 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 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