Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• to provide students with an intellectually-stimulating environment within which they can develop the skills to enable them to comprehend, interpret and analyse the social and physical worlds;
• to enable students to learn about the key concepts, theories and methods within the discipline of  geography;
• to provide students with the opportunity to study a broad curriculum in human and physical geography;
• to achieve, through the student learning process, a progressive improvement in academic performance over the degree programme;
• to enhance students’ career and employment prospects on graduating by developing a range of transferable skills embedded in the programme.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The QAA Benchmark Statement for geography

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• a range of environments, environmental processes and the impacts of these processes on human activities and vice versa;
• the ways in which representations and interpretations of the world are socially-constructed, and the forms of geographical difference;
• the determinants of temporal and spatial variation in the physical, social, economic and political worlds; and the significance of spatial and temporal scale on physical processes, human processes and on their interactions;
• past patterns of environmental and social changes, and of the processes and conditions that have determined those changes, and the implications for the future;
• the idea of Geography as dynamic, plural and contested; developed within the broader disciplinary frameworks of the natural and social sciences and the humanities;
• the potential applications of geographical concepts within a broader critical framework;
• the main methodologies used in the analysis and interpretation of geographical data.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

1. Develop a reflexive approach to learning.
2. Abstract and synthesise information.
3. Assess the merits of contrasting theories, explanations and arguments.
4. Critically evaluate and interpret a range of evidence, including data and text.
5. Undertake problem-solving and decision-making.
6. Develop a reasoned argument.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

1. Combine and interpret different types of geographical evidence.
2. Recognise and critically debate moral and ethical issues underpinning particular geographical debates or enquiries.
3. Undertake safe and effective field and laboratory work.
4. Employ a range of survey skills for the collection of qualitative and quantitative data relevant to geographical enquiry and use appropriate methods for the analysis of these data.
5. Prepare effective maps and diagrams using a range of appropriate technologies.
6. Design and execute a piece of research and produce a report.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should demonstrate competence in: 

1. Verbal and written communication skills.
2. Numeracy and computational skills.
3. Field and laboratory skills.
4. Spatial awareness and observational skills.
5. IT and information handling and retrieval.
6. Independent study and group work.
7. Time management.

4. Programme structure

Candidates must take a total modular weight of 120 in each Part with a minimum modular weight of 50 in each semester, taking into account both compulsory and optional modules.  Individual modules taught and assessed over both semesters with a modular weight of 10 may count against either semester 1 or semester 2, depending on the balance of other modular weights between semesters.  Where the modular weight of a module taught and assessed over both semesters is 20 or 40, this shall be split equally between semesters.

Due to timetabling constraints, not all option combinations may be available.

4.1       Part A - Introductory Modules

Candidates must take all designated compulsory modules and have the option of taking a 10 credit Language module in each semester. Students not taking a language module will take compulsory modules and option group A. Students taking a language module may choose a preference for human (Option Group B) or physical geography (Option Group C) in each semester.

Semesters 1 and 2

 (i)        COMPULSORY MODULE                        (total modular weight 10)

Semester 1

 (i)        COMPULSORY MODULES                        (total modular weight 30)

(ii)         OPTIONAL MODULE GROUPS                   (total modular weight 30)

Semester 2

 (i)         COMPULSORY MODULES                        (total modular weight 10)

(ii)         OPTIONAL MODULE GROUPS                   (total modular weight 40)

4.2       Part B - Degree Modules

Semesters 1 and 2

 (i)         COMPULSORY MODULE                          (total modular weight 20)

(ii)        OPTIONAL MODULES

In addition to compulsory the module GYB327, candidates must choose a minimum modular weight of 60 from Group 1 modules over semesters 1 and 2, this must include at least ONE human geography module (GYB210/GYB220) and at least ONE physical geography module (GYB230/GYB240).  The remaining 40 modular weights may be chosen from modules in Groups 1, 2 and 3 over semesters 1 and 2, of which a maximum of 20 can be from Group 3.  Fieldcourse modules GYB328 and GYB901 in Group 2 are mutually exclusive.

Group 1

Semester 1

 (i)         OPTIONAL MODULES

 Group 2

Group 3

Modules from other Departments/Schools within the University's Module Catalogue, subject to availability and School approval.

Semester 2

 (i)        OPTIONAL MODULES

 Group 2

Group 3

Modules from other Departments/Schools within the University's Module Catalogue, subject to availability and School approval.

4.3       Part I

Four year programme – Candidates registered on the four-year programme will undertake one of the following approved study and/or work placements leading to the Diploma in International Studies (DIntS) or Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) in accordance with Regulation XI.

4.4       Part C - Degree Modules

Semesters 1 and 2

(i)         COMPULSORY MODULE                          (total modular weight 40)

The modular weight of GYC500 must be split equally (20:20) between semesters 1 & 2.

Semester 1

(i)         OPTIONAL MODULES

Candidates must choose a modular weight of 80 over semesters 1 and 2, of which a maximum of 20 can be from modules offered by other Departments/Schools.  Fieldcourse modules are mutually exclusive. 

plus modules from other Departments/Schools within the University's Module Catalogue, subject to availability and School approval.

Semester 2

(i)         OPTIONAL MODULES

plus modules from other Departments/Schools within the University's Module Catalogue, subject to availability and School approval.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B, from Part B to C, and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40% : Part C 60%  to determine the final percentage mark.