Cornwall HE Advisers’ Day
Progressing into
Geography
James Ryan
University of Exeter, Cornwall
Campus, Tremough
Presentation Outline
Why study geography at university?
What will I learn?
How will I learn?
What a typical course looks like
What careers can it lead to?
How do I choose the right course?
Making a successful application
Questions?
Why study geography?
You enjoy learning about people and their societies,
economies, cultures and the environment
You enjoy working at the interface between social
sciences, humanities and environmental sciences
You are keen to learn and develop a wide range of skills
You are seeking a broad based academic degree, offering
above average graduate employability
You want to make new friends and visit new places
You want to make a difference to your world!
Michael Palin,
President of the Royal
Geographical Society,
guardian.co.uk 18 Aug 2011
“So many of the world's current issues – at a global scale and locally boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help
us understand them.”
“Many employers prize the knowledge and skills that studying
geography can provide ...
...Geography students are among those gaining greatest satisfaction
from their studies”
Programme pathways and choices
BA (Bachelor of Arts) Geography
Investigates the social and cultural processes underpinning human
understandings of environment and landscape.
BSc (Bachelor of Science) Geography
Explores the natural and physical processes shaping the Earth’s
surface over different temporal and spatial scales.
Many other options eg:
BSc Environmental Science
BA/BSc Geography with European Study
BSc Conservation Biology and Geography
BA Geography and English
BA History and Geography
BA Politics and Geography
What will I learn about?
Why our human and physical environments and
landscapes appear as they are, and the causes, rates
and patterns of change in different contexts.
The dynamic interaction between human society and
the environment, including the integrated study of
contemporary issues such as climate change, land use,
energy policy and sustainability.
The importance of different spatial scales–global
to local–and time scales for physical and human
processes, and the significance of
interdependence.
What other skills will I gain?
• Intellectual skills, such as critically evaluating
•
•
•
theories and judging evidence in order to make
informed decisions and to develop reasoned
arguments.
Research skills, including how to use a range of
technical methods for the collection and analysis of
spatial and environmental data.
Transferable skills, such as teamwork, problem
solving, IT skills, communication skills
(presentation, writing, debating).
Personal skills, such as time-management,
development of responsibility, coping with
uncertainty, self-reflection, motivation,
flexibility, and creativity.
How will I learn?
Lectures
Labs and Practicals
Seminars
Tutorials
Field Study
Independent Study (Dissertation)
Average 10-15 contact hours a week
Transition to University
HE Geography is:
Broad in scope and diverse in topic
Reflects interests and expertise of staff –
look at websites and attend open days
Assessed using range of outputs
Transition to University is a big step…
In general it requires:
motivation (from inside and outside)
maturity
mentoring and support (from friends,
family and university staff)
embracing as a holistic experience
University in UK today is akin to
specialist gym membership,
not a package holiday…
Learning approaches
Geography involves a variety of lecture, field and
laboratory environments, including the study of techniques
such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
In the first year of a geography degree you will usually
begin with more general courses, advancing to more
specialised research-focused courses in years 2 and 3.
Your skills will grow in parallel, so that by the end of
your degree, you can shape your course to
reflect your strengths and interests.
Level One – foundational modules
Tutorials
Analysis of environmental data
Investigating social and spatial environments
Approaches to geographical knowledge
Earth system science
Global issues in environmental science
Environment and society
Fieldclass (eg. West Penwith)
Level Two – modules
increase focus and depth
• Environment, place and the past
• Society, nature and space
• Applied environmental management
• Atmosphere and ocean systems
• Environmental policy and politics
• Fieldclass and lecture course
eg. California
Level Three – specialist and
research-informed modules
• Sustainable Rural Futures
• Wastelands
• Issues in Climate Change
• The Carbon Cycle
• Energy for a Low Carbon Economy
• China
• Environmental Geomorphology
• Landscape and Environmental Modelling
• Environment and Empire
• Histories of Science
• DISSERTATION
Geography dissertations allow variation and
specialisation. Eg Recent dissertation topics:
• Historical geography of Francophone Methodism in
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jersey, 1900-1950
Policy responses to climate change in the domestic arena
Influence of rural politics on wind farm development in
rural South Devon
Biogeomorphology of a saltmarsh: Saltash, Cornwall
Conflict in leisure spaces: surfing and the dynamics of
localism
Renegotiating Cornish identity on the border
Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes
in Northern Patagonia
Historical geography of the submerged
forest in Mount’s Bay, Cornwall
Regional and overseas field study
‘The California
fieldtrip was
incredible! The
places we
visited were
amazing and the
coursework that
we did there
was challenging
but really
interesting, and
provided training
in a lot of
techniques that
could be used
for dissertation
research’.
Multiple geographical career paths
Development and Global Issues
Environment and Sustainability
Business
Teaching
Travel, Tourism, Leisure and Culture
Physical Systems
Geographical Techniques
Research
Media and broadcasting
Where could a geography degree take
you?
Sam Stibbs
Programme: BSc Geography &
Environmental Management, 2010
Now: Remote Sensing Technician
Company: Network Mapping
Where could a geography degree take
you?
Sam Gillchrest
Programme: BSc Geography,
2010
Now: Cartographic assistant
Company: UK Hydrographic
Office
Where could a geography degree
take you?
Abi Brady
Programme: BSc Geography
Year of graduation: 2010
2011 Sustainability Assistant Internship;
part-time Ambassador Project Assistant
Now: Sustainablilty Advisor,
Investec Bank plc;
Where could a geography degree take
you?
James Lythgoe
Programmes: BA Geography, 2010;
MSc Energy Policy, 2011
Now: Internship
Company: Good Energy
Recent graduate destinations
Remote Sensing Technician, Network Mapping
European Mobility Administrator, Unilever
Assistant Town Planner, David Lock Associates
Recruitment Consultant, Allen And York
Quantity Surveyor, Chartered Surveyors
Environmental Consultant, RPS Group
Project Manager, Coastline
Section Coordinator, Marks & Spencer
PhD Studentship, Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
Cartographic Assistant, UK Hydrographic Office
Transport Planner, Scott Wilson Ltd
Relay Worker, UCCF
Choosing a course
There are approximately 80 Universities with
1600 geography-related degrees in the UK!
BA or BSc? (how much flexibility?)
Joint honours (Geography and….?)
Do the modules offered reflect your interests?
How is the course taught and assessed?
How many taught classes per week
compared with independent learning?
Are staff experts in their field?
What are fieldwork opportunities?
Study abroad schemes?
What are the facilities like?
How big is the department?
How many students per staff member?
Will you get plenty of face-to-face contact?
What are the entrance requirements?
What is the reputation of the course/university?
What opportunities are they for extracurricula activities?
How expensive will it be? What are
the opportunities for part-time
work? Is living at home an option?
Making a successful application
Know what you want from a course
Know what the course requires from you
Work hard to get your grades!
UCAS personal statements are important to show
your passion for the subject, but your 3 best Alevels are everything!
Examine prospectuses and online info – eg for
preferred subjects (generally open for Geog)
Open days – attend as many as you can
Speak to admissions officers
Speak to students
Talk to your teachers
Sources of information
• UCAS – see course search and entry profiles
www.ucas.ac.uk
• Royal Geographical Society
www.rgs.org
• Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subject Centre,
http://www.gees.ac.uk/home/students.htm
• National Student Survey
• Times and Guardian University Guide
• Other online info:
www.ukstudentlife.com
www.thestudentroom.co.uk
www.opendays.com
Good luck and thank you
for listening!
Any questions?
Contact:
James.ryan@exeter.ac.uk