This degree focuses on the study of marine sediments within an Earth system science context. It is concerned with sedimentary processes (the origin, transport and deposition of sand mud, and other particles in the marine environment), and with marine sediments and rocks, in particular those formed in the past 2 million year, but also further back in time. Geological Oceanographers are required to tackle issues such as climate and sea-level change, coastal erosion, marine pollution, waterway siltation and offshore engineering related to cable/pipelines routes, renewable energy infrastructure and oil and gas exploration.