Undergraduate courses Earth Sciences
field(s) of training :
Science, Technology, Health
diploma level :
Grade de Licence (Bac+3)
duration of the program :
3 years
Course units
The Bachelor in Earth Sciences provides a progressive and diversified programme allowing students to build a professional or study project.
- The first year is devoted to the introduction to geosciences in addition to the courses in biology, physics/chemistry, English and computer science,
- The second year is devoted to strengthening geoscience knowledge based on a progressive specialization of the teaching with 6 major courses in geosciences (sedimentary petrology and stratigraphy, paleontology and geochronology, French geology, endogenous petrology, physics of the Earth, GIS and statistics), and fundamentals in physics/chemistry, English and computer science.
- The third year program is predominantly devoted to classical geoscience disciplines (sedimentology, tectonics and geodynamics, basin geology, geophysics). Knowledge of modern working methods and tools (GIS, numerical modeling, remote sensing and image processing) is deepened. Field training is an important part of the students' training: a cartography field school in Normandy during the fifth semester and a field school in the French Alps at the end of the sixth semester. The teaching provided in the 3rd year also aims to offer the student a culture in geosciences with courses related to applied geosciences (geotechnics, hydrogeology) and involves research work carried out in Caen (Continental and Coastal Morphodynamics lab). Key courses (continental and coastal geomorphology, geotechnics) allow students to prepare for further studies in the Master's degree in Environment Management, with specialization courses in engineering and coastal geosciences (IGL) provided by the Science Department.
Course overview
The Bachelor's Degree in Earth Sciences is one of the four Bachelor's degrees in Biology - Earth Sciences.
This degree aims to provide students with a fundamental and methodological background in Earth sciences, physics, chemistry, computer science and environmental sciences. This background is essential for the study and understanding of modern geosciences and their implications in terms of preservation and management of the environment and natural resources.
It provides a modern education with a focus on geosciences that takes into account the emergence of new technologies in the field of earth sciences (digital tools, geophysics and geochemistry).
Registration process
First registration at university.
Re-registration at university.
Level
A levels
Entry requirements
- A-level with major in science (biology and earth sciences, Maths, Physics-Chemistry) is strongly recommended.
Applicants with an A-level Degree with non-scientific majors shall be aware of the significant effort required to assimilate the missing notions.
Application process
Tuition fees
The administrative registration includes the payment of the Student Life and Campus Contribution and the payment of registration fees. Details can be found on the course portal.
Course structure
The course is provided in presential mode.
Some of the digital skills and English courses will be provided in distance mode.
Internships and placements
At the end of the 3rd year, students are offered the opportunity to carry out an "introduction to research" internship for a maximum of 6 weeks. This work is proposed within the framework of an optional "Introduction to research" course. It is not compulsory, does not involve any graded evaluations and does not provide ECTS credits.
Coursework and assessment
Each teaching unit will be subject to a knowledge test.
For lectures and tutorials, students will be assessed through continuous and final assessment, or through Integral Continuous Assessment. For practical works and field training, students will be assessed through continuous assessment.
The grades obtained in a semester can compensate each other.
The teaching unit will be considered validated when the grade is at least 10/20; a semester will be considered validated when the average semester grade is at least 10/20, and the year will be considered validated when the grade is at least 10/20.
Course arrangements for eligible students
The Relais Handicap Santé provides personalised support to people with disabilities throughout their training to facilitate their educational integration.
Language
French
Study abroad
Student exchanges are regular: we receive 1 to 2 foreign students per year and per Bachelor's level. Some of our 3rd-year students (1 to 2 per year) leave for a year or a semester as part of the CREPUQ program (Quebec, Laval, Chicoutimi) or in Norway (Bergen), the USA...
Learning outcome
The disciplinary skills acquired at the end of the Earth Sciences degree include:
- Fundamental concepts in geodynamics, tectonics, petrology, geophysics, geotechnics, cartography, sedimentology and paleontology,
- The recognition and characterization of geological objects at all scales,
- The use of scientific field equipment,
- Validation of a model by comparing its predictions with experimental results,
- The manipulation of fundamental mechanisms at the microscopic scale, the modeling of macroscopic phenomena, the link between a macroscopic phenomenon and microscopic processes,
- The use of data acquisition and analysis software with a critical mind.
Further study
- Master's degrees in Earth and planetary sciences, environment or georesources, geohazards, geotechnics.
- Master's degrees in Water Sciences, Astrophysics, Astronomy, Planetology, Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate Sciences or Marine Sciences
- Master's degrees in Environmental Management
- Master's degrees in Education Sciences
Careers
The career opportunities after completion of this degree are the following:
- Technician in natural risks,
- Scientific animator,
- Photo-interpreter and controller,
- Quality, health, safety, environment coordinator,
- Geotechnical engineer,
- Engineer in charge of coastal development studies, marine environment and coastal engineering engineer, maritime and port engineering studies officer,
- Hydrogeological engineer,
- Technical support engineer,
- Geologist analyst/preparer,
- Junior geologist in oil exploration and exploitation,
- Assistant to the operations manager of the wastewater treatment plant,
- PhD student.
Address
Université de Caen Normandie
UFR des Sciences
Boulevard Maréchal Juin · CS 14032 · 14032 Caen Cedex 5
France
Course leader: Pierre WEILL | pierre.weill@unicaen.fr First year coordinator: Sandric LESOURD | sandric.lesourd@unicaen.fr Second year coordinator: Daniel AMORESE | daniel.amorese@unicaen.fr Third year coordinator: Pierre WEILL | pierre.weill@unicaen.fr
School / Faculty
scolarite.sciences.bst.licences@unicaen.fr
Course leader
Pierre Weill · pierre.weill@unicaen.fr