Geography BSc (Hons)

What makes places and landscapes different? What will happen if we continue to drain all our natural resources?

Geography is an exciting, dynamic subject that has, at its core, a concern for the integrated study of the Earth’s places, peoples, environments and societies. In these times of environmental and economic concerns, it is now more relevant than ever.

With its wide range of modules, opportunities for specialisation and a practical emphasis throughout, the Geography course at Worcester is a great way to learn about the world in which we live. There are numerous opportunities for fieldwork, both local and residential, and this is a distinctive feature of the programme. Resource provision is excellent, and includes river monitoring installations, 24-hour access computer rooms, a brand new digital mapping and survey suite, and a range of field mapping technology – including a remote control helicopter with camera attachment.

The first year of the course offers an introduction to the breadth of the discipline, with fieldwork and practical activities featuring from the outset. The second and third years provide increasing opportunities for specialisation, with the content of many modules benefiting from staff research and consultancy activities. Throughout, you will find enthusiastic staff and a friendly and supportive learning environment. At the University of Worcester, you are not just another face in the crowd.

View the Geography Programmes Overview.

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views
Earn as you learn

UCAS code

Geography BSc (Single Honours) L700 BSc/Geo

For the latest information, check the UCAS website at www.ucas.com

Study options

It is also possible to study Geography as a joint degree with another subject.

The combination subjects available are: Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Ecology, Environmental Management, History, Physical Education and Sports Studies.

The University of Worcester’s degree combinations add breadth to your studies and enhance your employability.

Get in touch

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Lisa Hopkins
Departmental Office
01905 855201
l.hopkins@worc.ac.uk

Dr Derek McDougall
Head of Geography and Archaeology
01905 855440
d.mcdougall@worc.ac.uk

280-300 UCAS tariff points

The University will consider each application on its individual merits and will recognise a range of qualifications not currently included in the Tariff, including Access courses, European Baccalaureate and pre-2002 qualifications such as GNVQ.

If your qualifications are not listed, please contact the Admissions Office for advice on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from http://www.ucas.com

Modules

Year 1

Mapping the Environment
Field Investigations
Earth Systems & Processes
Landforms & Landscapes
Introduction to Geology
People & Place
Unequal World
The Country & the City
Science & Politics of Climate Change

Year 2

Residential Field Course
Research Methods
Geographical Information Systems
Human Geographies of Global Change
Geographies of Development
Urban Geography
Rural Geography
Heritage Tourism & Place Promotion
Natural Hazards
River Processes
Mountain Geomorphology
Meteorology & Climate
Environmental Geology
Hydrological Monitoring

Year 3

Independent Study
Changing Places Field Course
Mountain Environments Field Course
Applying Geography
Work Placement
Applied GIS & Remote Sensing
Political Geography
Countryside Conservation & Agricultural Change
Town & Country Planning
Developing Countries
Environmental Geology
Ice Age Britain
Hazard Mapping
Mountain Glaciers & Landscape
River Conservation & Management

Assessment

A range of learning and teaching methods is employed within Geography at the University of Worcester. These include lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, role play, laboratory and computer practicals and field work.

A particular feature of the course is the range of assessment methods employed. These support your learning by providing assessment procedures that reflect the nature and learning experience of each module, and by ensuring you are able to demonstrate ability in a wide range of skills.

There is a wide range of assessment types, including essays, field and laboratory reports, video podcasts, seminar presentations and research projects.

David Housely

Student, Geography BSc (Hons)

"I'm in the third year of my geography course. I am specialising in Human Geography, which is a fascinating subject. My studies have been supported with plenty of interesting trips to places like Scotland, France and Switzerland."

Academic department

Institute of Science and the Environment

“The Institute’s acclaimed research in areas such as rivermanagement, rural issues, forensic biology, nutrition andarchaeology has a common thread: our belief that scienceshould be centred around its impact on people.”
Professor John Newbury, Head of Institute

Employability

This course will prepare you for a range of interesting and diverse careers, including environmental consultancy, geographical information systems (GIS) management, local government and planning (e.g. town and country planning, regeneration managers, tourism officers, climate change development officers, data managers, community service managers), conservation, working with the wildlife Trust or Civil Service, research and teaching. Alternatively you may wish to continue to postgraduate study and other professional qualifications.

Geography graduates have a good track record in gaining employment in a wide range of professions and organisations, as a result of the broad range of skills developed through hands-on learning activities centred on the analysis of real world issues and processes.

There are many opportunities to extend one’s experience and enhance one’s CV by carrying out voluntary work. Staff members in the Institute have links with several local government (such as local authority planning departments) organisations and other environmental and conservation agencies and can help organise voluntary work (which can feed into Independent Studies projects in the final year of study). Numerous undergraduates have volunteered to assist in the collection of River Science field data in recent years and have gained experience in using our state of the art river monitoring equipment. This has helped some of them gain employment after graduation in the water industry, with environmental consultancies and the Environment Agency.

The skills acquired by students suit them well for field work with a range of local organisations with whom the University has developed links. For example, paid employment has been available to some students acting as survey assistants collecting data for the Dudley Healthy Town Programme in 2010 and 2011.

Staff members in the Geography area are active in applying for Vacation Research Assistantships which allow selected students to engage in real research projects for 8-10 weeks during the summer (normally between Years 2 and 3); applications may be made to the University’s own scheme but also to national organisations.