BA (Hons) Geography

Geography graduates have high rates of graduate employment. The RGS notes 'there is no such thing as a geography job; rather there are multiple jobs that geographers do'. Employment areas directly linked to geography include working in consultancy, planning, tourism, local/regional/national government, NGOs and teaching; others find the social and numerical skills learned lead towards management and finance.

What can you do with a geography degree?

• Your degree pathway is flexible, as you can choose physical geography (GGP) modules, even if you have entered to study BA (hons) (human geography).
• A BA (Hons) Geography degree would comprise more human geography (GGH) option modules than physical geography option modules.
• Teaching is innovative and student-centred. You will learn through lectures, seminars, practicals, national and/or international residential fieldwork, tutorials and one-to-one dissertation support.
• Learn to use Geographical Information Systems to analyse and communicate complex spatial data.
• Take the opportunity to spend your second year studying abroad in Europe, Canada, Australia, USA or elsewhere through our exchange programme.
• Our focus on employability and applied geography supports students to pursue a range of career opportunities.
• Choose an optional work placement programme providing skills, experience and contacts in a wide range of employment sectors.
• Benefit from our unique location, in the heart of the historical city of Plymouth, bordered by Dartmoor National Park as well as the Tamar Valley and South Hams Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Devon and Cornwall have glorious beaches, coasts, rivers and estuaries.

• Year 1

• In your first year, modules will introduce you to the latest developments in human and physical geography. Undertake fieldwork and develop your practical and applied skills through lab work. You’ll also take part in small group tutorials.

  Core modules

  • Changing Places (GGH1202)

    Here we begin our overview of contemporary human geography. The module is structured around key themes that are prominent in geographical thinking about how society is organised spatially, and how it changes. Lectures provide a framework for understanding, and through fieldwork and follow-up practical classes, we explore examples these themes using quantitative data, graphic and spatial statistical analysis.

  • Culture, Society and Space (GGH1203)

    Here we continue our overview of contemporary human geography. The module is again structured around key themes that are prominent in geographical thinking about how society is organised spatially. Lectures provide a framework for understanding these themes, and through fieldwork and follow-up practical classes, we explore local examples using quantitative and qualitative data, and statistical analysis.

  • Environment and Climate (GGP1206)

    Here we continue our overview of contemporary physical geography (which begins in GGP1207). The module is structured around key themes that are prominent in geographical thinking about environment al processes and change. Lectures provide a framework for understanding these themes, and we explore in more detail local examples in laboratory and practical sessions.

  • Geographical Journeys (GGX1205)

    In this module we introduce geography as an undergraduate subject. Through lectures, residential fieldwork and a suite of tutorials we explore the interactions between human and physical geography, and consider the subject in relation to students personal and future professional development. The tutorials support students adjusting to university-level study, in relation to both subject and key / transferable skills.

  • Sustainable Futures (GGX1206)

    In this module we explore how geographers use the concepts and principles of sustainable development, and critically examine their application to a range of real-world issues. You enhance your subject knowledge and understanding, and develop your key skills, by investigating an aspect of sustainability in practice, and you are supported through a full programme of tutorials.

  • Water: Landscape and Environmental Management (GGP1208)

    Here we begin our overview of contemporary physical geography. The module is structured around key themes that are prominent in geographical thinking about the environment. Lectures provide a framework for understanding these themes, and through supporting laboratory classes we explore examples of their local manifestation using quantitative data, graphic and spatial statistical analysis.

• Year 2

• In your second year, you’ll deepen your knowledge with a wide range of optional modules in human and physical geography and core modules in theories, practical skills and careers development. You’ll also have the chance to take overseas field courses (recent courses have run in Morocco, USA, Iceland, Australia and Sweden).

  Core modules

  • Principles and Applications of Geography 1 (GGX2201)

    In this module students learn about and critically reflect upon various approaches to the production of geographical knowledge, and the different ways and contexts in which this knowledge is applied. The module develops students' awareness of the place and importance of geographical research in preparation for dissertation study and fieldwork modules, and identifies links between geographical research and employability.

  • Principles and Applications of Geography 2 (GGX2202)

    Students learn about, practise and critically reflect upon different research methods and techniques in the production of geographical knowledge. The module refines students' awareness of the place and importance of geographical research in preparation for dissertation study and fieldwork modules, and its links to employability. Tutorials are provided for additional, small group discussion of issues arising.

  • Fieldwork in Geography (GGX2204)

    This module enhances students knowledge and understanding of geographical patterns and processes in the field environment, using appropriate research techniques. Parallel field trips are run to overseas destinations, to a comparable academic format.

  • Placement Preparation (GEES2000)

    This module explores the role of placements, work experience and volunteering for enhancing employability whilst at university and as a future graduate. It considers placement options (types, durations) and supports students in developing applications and preparing for interviews.

  Optional modules

  • Weather and Climate (ENVS2005)

    Understanding weather and climate is essential for developing in-depth knowledge on how climate is changing today and will change in the future. This module will develop intellectual and practical skills in critical analysis of weather and climate data. In addition, an examination of the scientific evidence for current and predicted effects of weather and climate will be addressed.

  • Nature, Country and Society (GGH2206)

    This module explores the relationship of human societies to nature and the country. You will examine different understandings of nature and rurality, and how these affect the ways in which different cultures approach environmental problems.  We will consider how the countryside is changing and the implications for people and nature. The module will also ask you to think about your own lives in relation to these ideas.

  • Transport, Travel and Mobilities (GGH2207)

    We establish a framework for investigating how and why people move, and why this is important. After focusing on the politics and policy of mobility, we consider people’s everyday mobilities (such as walking, cycling and commuting) and uses of travel time, socialities and embodied encounters. We look at the mobility of specific groups, in particular domestic and international students, within their everyday communities.

  • Quaternary to Anthropocene (GGP2206)

    The Earth has undergone significant and fundamental changes during our current interglacial period (the last ~12,000 years), to the point of a new Geological epoch being suggested: the Anthropocene. This module focuses on deepening students’ understanding of how our planet has moved from one that was nature-dominated to the current culture-dominated environment we inhabit, at both local, continental and global scales.

  • Catchment to Coast (GGP2207)

    Practically all human-environment interactions take place within river catchments and the coastal zone. To address key environmental challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change and sustainable resource management, we need to understand how these integrated systems function. This module provides the process knowledge required to contribute to global and local debates, and includes field and laboratory work.

  • Geographical Information Systems (GGX2203A)

    Module provides grounding in theory and practical techniques of GIS. Lectures are on theory, methods and spatial literacy. Practical work covers stages of handling geospatial data, construction of GIS models and automation, provides exposure to a range of techniques in spatial analysis and visualisation, and gives context and experience to spatial literacy concepts. Knowledge and skills are developed in project work.

  • Urban Planning, Design and Security (GGH2208)

    Planning, design and security increasingly play a crucial part in developing and managing relationships between people and the built environment and in shaping the geographies of urban places. This module provides a critical understanding of the evolution and operation of urban planning, design and security across a range of global contexts.

• Optional placement year

• Choose an optional year working in industry to improve your knowledge of applied geography and gain invaluable work experience. Our employability service will help you find a placement from our extensive network across all sectors.

  Core modules

  • Placement (GEES3000)

    This module is a placement position, where a student undertakes a programme of work within a host company or organisation. The placement occurs within a yearlong period, meeting minimum duration requirements. Students experience applying their degree, experience professional practice, develop enhanced subject-related knowledge and skills, and undergo personal-professional development.

• Final year

• You’ll write a dissertation on any aspect of human or physical geography. There’s a wide range of optional modules in human or physical geography, plus the option of taking a work experience module to prepare you for your first job.

  Core modules

  • Dissertation in Geography (GGX3200)

    Students undertake a major piece of independent, investigative research into a geographical issue of their choice and report on this in a dissertation of ca.12,000 words. The report should establish the wider academic context for the investigation and demonstrate originality and the effective application of intellectual, subject-specific and key skills.

  Optional modules

  • Sustainable Cities (GGH3207)

    The aim of the module is to explore the challenges of sustainable urban growth in contemporary cities, in the UK and internationally. A key focus is understanding how spatial planning and urban governance can tackle sustainable development and climate change challenges in an increasingly urban world. Using geographical concepts, these issues will be explored through case studies and good practice from a range of cities.

  • Citizenship, Territory and War (GGH3208)

    As Brexit, climate-change protests and national independence movements demonstrate, politics and geography matter. Using contemporary case studies, this module explores the geographies of citizenship, territory and war. We identify and discuss varied forms of spatial governance, from local to national, maritime to global, as well as exploring contemporary processes and ideologies that challenge these forms.

  • Living Landscapes (GGH3209)

    This module introduces students to the geographic study of landscape. The module considers everyday practices of living in landscapes in terms of the construction of identity, memory, and power; how such landscapes come to be portrayed through a variety of media, including film, literature, and music. The module expands students’ understanding of the forms that landscapes can take and the complexity of living therein.

  • Environmental Politics and Governance (GGH3210)

    This module explores the main concepts and forces shaping environmental politics and governance. It examines how science, ethics, interests and power influence environmental debate and decision-making, using case studies of climate change, energy, deforestation, air pollution, marine protection and Antarctica to interrogate how governments and other actors have strived to address global to local environmental challenges.

  • Global Climate Change (GGP3205)

    This module is concerned with climate and environmental change in the past, present and future. Different timescales of climate change and their potential mechanisms are examined in detail. We critically review the process of future climate change prediction and review societal response options.

  • Dryland Change (GGP3209)

    Drylands comprise 47% of the world’s land surface and are home to > 2 billion people. They are highly susceptible to environmental change (human, climate, tectonic), and preserve archives of that change over human to Quaternary timescales. This module builds expertise in reading the geomorphological record of drylands (process and landform), and examines the challenges of living sustainably with these dynamic landscapes.

  • Long-term Environmental Change (GGP3211)

    Society is dependent on the environment for sustaining life as we currently know it. This module takes a series of environmental challenges and places them in a long-term perspective to place current disruptions in a longer-term context. The module focusses on how we can learn lessons from the past to manage our current and future environment.

  • Biological Conservation (ENVS3015)

    This module examines the pursuit of biological conservation. Drawing on a wide range of case study material, in temperate and tropical, terrestrial and aqueous environments, the module examines the drivers and rationales for biological conservation, and the role of stakeholders, policies, legislation and practices in achieving it.

  • Big Data & Spatial Analytics (GGX3204)

    This module provides an overview of advanced spatial analysis concepts and facilitates practice of data processing and management skills. Data manipulation through programming is introduced and the concept of big data is presented. Themes and practice around the acquisition, processing, analysis, visualisation and application of big data are explored, drawing on examples from across the natural and social sciences.

  • Work Based Learning in Geography and Sustainability (GEES3001)

    This module provides an opportunity for students to experience professional practice in environmental management and sustainability. Students will undertake a minimum of 100 hours service with a professional organisation (private, public or third sector). You will investigate the organisation's practice in environmental management and sustainability and further develop professional attitudes and behaviours.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA Geography ProgrammeSpecification September2023 1381

UCAS tariff

104 - 112