BA GEOGRAPHY
Overview
You will be introduced to the breadth and depth of 21st century geography in the first year, before going on to specialise in human geography over the next two years of study.
Modules cover areas such as international development, urban and regional planning, population and health, environmental management, political, social and urban geography. Popular field trip options are also available for each year of the course.
In addition, elective modules provide an opportunity for you to study other subject areas offered within the University as part of your course, and you may choose to do some elective study in each year of your programme.
First year
You will be introduced to key themes of human, physical and environmental geography during the first year, with the opportunity to develop both practical and transferable skills through lab work, computer practicals and working in small groups. You will be assigned a personal tutor, who holds regular tutorials in groups of around six, and who also acts as a key point of contact for pastoral support.
Field trips: Compulsory Yorkshire-based fieldwork.
Second year
From the second year onwards, BA Geography students specialise in human geography.
Compulsory modules focus on research methodology and research skills as preparation for independent study and research in the third year, and small group tutorials provide a forum for discussion, developing skills and preparing for research.
Increased optional module choice allows you to shape the programme to reflect your own geographical interests, making it as broad or as focussed as you wish. Optional modules are organised into a series of thematic strands that link modules in the second and third years. These are developed to reflect the research interests of our staff and to offer a balanced and wide-ranging syllabus.
You can additionally choose to take a Career Preparation for Geographers module, run in conjunction with the University’s Careers Centre, which focuses on career planning and the vocational relevance of your geographical skills.
Field trips: Optional field trip to France or Finland.
Third year
The dissertation is the only compulsory module in the final year and provides you with an exciting and challenging opportunity to design and execute your own piece of research.
Alongside the range of optional modules available, you also have the opportunity to undertake a vocationally-related project with an employer or organisation outside the University, or a teaching placement in a local school, as part of the Workplace Co-operative Project module. Alternatively, the Research Placement module provides the chance to gain new insights into the research activity of the School by working on a project with an academic member of staff.
Field trips: Third year field trip destinations reflect the research interests of our staff and include an optional trip to Athens (Greece).
Key facts
UCAS course code: L700
UCAS institution code: L23
Degree awarded: BA
Duration: 3 years
Typical A level offer: AAA including an A in Geography
BA Geography students can extend their three year programme to four years by studying abroad for a year or by undertaking a year in industry.
