About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: L700
- Applications: UCAS
- Level: Undergraduate
- Tariff points: 300
- Department: Geography and Environmental Management
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: Three years full-time; four years sandwich
- Delivery: Part-time, full-time, sandwich
- Study Abroad: Yes
- Programme leader: Dr Simon Arlidge BA, PhD
Introduction
This course concentrates on developing critical themes and issues in human geography. The course examines contemporary issues such as the globalisation of economies and cultures, sustainability, forestry and water resources, health and much more. It gives you a solid understanding of the geography of the modern world and the complexity of the interactions which bring about changes in human society within the physical environment.
The course draws together economic, political, social and cultural issues through what can be called the 'geographical imagination'. This requires you to think through social and other processes as they impact upon particular places. The course is especially concerned to explore and explain contemporary geographies through the analytical lenses that emphasise environmental and social responsibility, community based action and ideas relating to cultural identity and social cohesion. In your first year some physical and environmental processes that underpin socio-economic and cultural geographies are also studied to provide a holistic appreciation of the human and natural worlds.
An important element in our approach is that we specifically integrate skills training designed to enhance your job opportunities within the workplace. We have listened to what employers want from geography students. Consequently, you will learn skills such as GIS and mapping, environmental assessment, geographical statistics, and urban analysis. You will also have the opportunity to gain credit through work-based learning either through volunteering or part-time work. These are in addition to the broader academic and personal skills that you will develop, such as presentation and report writing, time management, independent learning, research and analysis, and team working.
The flexible modular structure is highly dynamic and can allow you to specialise. For example, you might choose urban geography and the development of 21st century cities, or rural geography in selected African countries. Indeed you can select from a range of exciting options across a broad range of geography modules.
Finally, reading Geography is also about learning in the field and we have residential field trips to local and international destinations such as Majorca, China and Iceland as well as day trips throughout each year. Enjoy!
Structure
Content
Year one
In the first year, you will develop your geographical knowledge and learn the methods and skills of studying geography at university level through several core modules. These modules will be largely issues based - i.e. focusing on an issue and then teasing it out from a geographical perspective. The skills element is taught in modules covering geographical analysis and field study, and you will also pursue themes such as earth science, environmental challenges, and globalisation. The modules will cover the following areas:
- Field study - developing practical and analytical skills on a week-long residential field trip
- Geographical skills - practising analytical and communication skills through the investigation of a range of numeric and written geographic information
- Environmental challenges - developing a critical understanding of key environmental issues, including climate change, resource management and ecosystem endangerment
- Geographies of globalisation - understanding how important economic, political and environmental issues are influenced by the process of globalisation
- Culture, Society and Place - rural and city landscapes, social identities and space, mobilities, understanding culture
Year two
In year two you develop higher level geographical skills and more specialist geographical knowledge. Two core modules enable you to pick up important skills by engaging in academic research and receiving training in specific skills that will improve your employability. The remainder of your second year is made up of four modules that you select from a wide range of options. This enables you to design a degree course that suits your personal interests and career ambitions. These optional modules are driven by the research specialities amongst the lecturers within the department. The modules cover the following areas:
- Researching Human Geography - developing higher level practical and philosophical skills through engagement with a series of small research projects, some of which will be undertaken on a week-long residential field trip.
- Professional development for Geographers and Environmental Managers - this involves both developing a series of key skills that improve employability prospects for geography graduates and also practising aspects of the graduate recruitment process.
Option modules – you will choose four modules from the following topic areas:
- Rural Change and Development
- Geographies of Security
- Migration, policy and Society
- Culture, Geography and Tourism
- Managing global resources
- Regenerating Cities
Optional placement year
At the end of your second year we encourage and support students to take the placement option. The Placement module is a 30-credit option that gives you the opportunity to get out into the workforce and further develop your skills and abilities. Undertaking a placement is a fantastic opportunity to get yourself a foothold on the employment ladder!
Final year
The content of your final year on this degree is driven by your personal geography-related interests and career ambitions. Unless you choose to do the Work Placement module (which has its own project), you will undertake a one-to-one, supervised final year dissertation on a geographical topic of your choice. You will also select three other modules from a range of options related to human geography, tourism and environmental management. The third year options are designed to offer you the opportunity to further develop your interests following from your second year module choices. The modules cover the following areas:
Optional modules – you will choose three modules from the following topic areas:
- Environmental Management in the Global South
- Managing National Parks
- Water and Energy Futures
- GIS and remote sensing applications
- Advanced geographic expedition
- Society, Youth and ageing
- Placement
- International development, Tourism and the Environment
- Transforming Cities
Modules are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, so some of them may change before the course starts or whilst you are on it, but the overall aims and broad content of the course will remain the same.
"I had a brilliant experience at UWE and I think that's mainly due to the fact that I really enjoyed the course content and the modules I chose. I was so chuffed when I found out that I got my first; it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't encouraged me to 'think of the wider picture' on so many occasions." Ellie King
Teaching and learning
The teaching staff provide a friendly, enabling environment for learning. They are active researchers aware of modern advances within the discipline and they combine research with teaching to provide a stimulating learning experience.
You will have lectures, seminars, small group work, practical work, including IT and internet skills, and conference organisation. Laboratory classes and fieldwork are important elements of all years of study. The course team is committed to the promotion of active learning and independent thought, so that you discover your own way of becoming an effective learner. You are assessed through various combinations of examinations, essays, projects, presentations and field exercises. Most coursework is undertaken individually but there are some group assignments. Examinations take place at the end of the first, second and final years.
Study time
The course is normally studied full-time. If you study part-time, you can choose how many modules to study each year. Your timetable will be constrained and determined by the teaching pattern for those modules.
Special Features
Placements
After your second year, you can choose to take a year out gaining experience, and to qualify for a 'sandwich' degree. Some students undertake voluntary work abroad whilst others seek work in the UK. Some organisations will pay or offer some financial support to students, whilst other students work for voluntary organisations, financed with a period of paid employment before they start. We offer support and guidance to help you find a placement, and you may be visited by a tutor who will also be available if you have any problems.
Study facilities
The Department is based in a large modern building with physical geography laboratories equipped for soil and water analysis, microscope analysis, geological analysis and surveying.
Additionally, a range of specialist facilities is provided by the Department. A suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis and presentation, and spatial enquiry. They provide e-mail and internet access for all students, including access to the Department web site which harbours a wealth of module resources.
A Project Room provides space for students to work on individual and group assignments, together with a range of resources, services and supplies.
Student representatives sit on a wide range of committees, where they influence discussions and decisions which affect your learning experience.
"The Geography and Environmental Management Department was fantastic - the facilities in Q block [where the Department is based] are great! The Project Room held good resources. The teaching staff were well organised and inspiring, so I really enjoyed lectures. The course broadened my thinking, built my confidence in speaking and communication with a wide range of people. It taught me a disciplined approach to coping with multiple challenges, and helped me identify my strengths." Elizabeth Elford
Careers/further study
You could use the geographical skills which you acquire on the course to pursue a geography-related career, or seek one of the traditional graduate occupations, where employers recognise the personal and academic qualities of geography graduates. For those wishing to teach geography at secondary school level, this degree course is a good foundation for a postgraduate teaching qualification.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating- includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Read how Robert won the award for Xcel Student of the Year.
Read about Guy's experience on a Graduate Development Programme with the Scott Wilson Consultancy.
Useful links
UWE - graduate occupations
Guardian - what to do with a degree in environmental science/physical geography
Guardian - what to do with a degree in human geography
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 300
- GCSE: Maths and English Language at grade C or above required.
- Specific subjects: None specified
- Relevant subjects: Geography, Environmental Studies
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of level 2 credits in Maths and English Language.
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about entry requirements.
Fees
Details regarding fees and funding are available on the Money matters webpages.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
We welcome applications from students without the conventional entrance requirements but who do have substantial relevant work or other experience and whose motivation and skills would enable them to succeed on the course.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the Department.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Measure distances and sizes of buildings, materials or sites
- Team working and negotiation
- Laboratory work involving observations and physical manipulation
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation. Please ask for details. For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Simon Arlidge (Course Leader) Simon.Arlidge@uwe.ac.uk or the Admissions team fet.admissions@uwe.ac.uk +44 (0)117 32 84242.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011