BA Geography

Institution University of Leicester
Method At the institution
Location Leicester
Type Undergraduate
Course fee By request

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BA Geography

Objectives At the interface of the human and the physical environments, geography is an integrative discipline, offering degrees in two separate faculties (Science and Social Science) as well as a number of joint degrees. Geographers take a broad perspective on the problems of today’s world, but doing a degree in geography means that you can specialise within the breadth on offer.
Entry requirements Entry Requirements * A/AS levels: Any three A levels usually acceptable. Geography is not normally required, but is preferred for Geography and Archaeology. For Physical Geography, some supplementary subjects require prior study to AS/A level. Two AS levels may be considered in place of one A level. General Studies accepted. * GCSE: Mathematics and English Language normally required at Grade C or above. * European Baccalaureate: Pass with 75% overall (for Physical Geography, the selection of some supplementary subjects requires prior study to pass level). * International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 32 points (for Physical Geography, the selection of some supplementary subjects requires prior study to diploma level). * Access: Pass with the requisite credits at level 3. * BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with DDM. GCSE Mathematics and English Language to Grade C or above, or equivalent. * Other Qualifications: Other national and international qualifications welcomed. Mature students welcomed: alternative qualifications considered. * Second Year Entry: Possible for those with advanced qualifications compatible with our degree structure. If you have any queries about this, please contact the appropriate admissions tutor. * Applicants are not normally interviewed. * All applicants receiving an offer will be invited to the visit the Department.
Academic title BA Geography
Course description BA Geography

Programme

First Year

The first year provides students with an introduction to University Geography and a broad foundation after which they can choose which pathways to follow in years two and three. Modules cover the breadth of geography and are common to BSc and BA students. They include; Earth: A Dynamic Planet, Environment, Nature and Society, Exploring our Digital Planet, and Human Worlds of Difference. Approaches to university study and transferable skills are developed in Skills for Professional Geographers while Working with Geographical Information introduces students to geographical data analysis. A number of one day field trips in the region of Leicester are incorporated into the programme.

Second Year

In year two students take modules which are primarily grounded in human geography, combining core modules with free choice modules which make up ‘pathways’ of specialisation in particular areas. Core modules focus on the central approaches to human geography (Theory and Practice in Human Geography), while Planning Human Geography Research and the Human Geography Fieldcourse prepare students for their final year research project, the fieldwork for which is usually executed over the summer. Students are required to choose one of the human geography oriented fieldcourses, which have recently been to New York and Krakow in Poland. There are five human geography pathways which students can choose to follow, allowing students to combine modules to suit their interests. Pathways and modules include: The Digital Planet (Geographical Information Systems, Geographical Data Analysis, Remote Sensing); Globalization (Economic and Political Geography); Media and Culture (Cultural Geography, Rural Geography); Development (Rethinking Development Geographies); Environmental Issues and Change.

Third Year

The final year of the degree represents the interface between the Department’s teaching and research, allowing students to use the concepts and general areas of geography covered in year two and apply them critically to current issues within each pathway. Students also submit a dissertation which is an individual research project based on any area of human geography. Following on from year two, students can choose to continue to follow pathways through the degree, allowing them to combine complementary modules. Pathways and modules include: The Digital Planet (Geographical Information Systems Applications, Remote Sensing Applications); Globalization (Imagining Globalization, European Transformations, Spatialities of the Contemporary State); Media and Culture (Rural Cultural Geographies, Cultures of Empire, Geographies of Youth Cultures and Technologies); Development (Postcolonial Africa, Critical Resource Geographies); Environmental Issues and Change (Ecological Futures, Global Environmental Change).