Welcome to Dual Honours Geography at Keele

I’m delighted that you have chosen to study Geography here at Keele and look forward to meeting you when you come to register in late September. I am confident that you will have an enjoyable, rewarding and stimulating time here at Keele, and that during your three-year programme you will be introduced to a range of new concepts and active research debates, learn a range of new skills, visit some exciting new parts of the world and make friends that you’ll keep for life.  If you work hard and engage fully with the course, previous experience indicates that the programme will enable you to take advantage of a variety of career opportunities when you graduate.

These web pages will help you prepare for your arrival, covering various issues such as the books you might like to purchase and what you will be doing during your initial induction week. Our aim in Geography is to be as helpful as possible before you arrive, whilst you’re studying at Keele and even after you’ve moved on to pursue greater things. Therefore if you have any questions or concerns regarding Keele in general or the degree programme in particular, please feel free to get in touch.

Richard Waller My colleagues and I look forward to meeting you when you arrive at the start of the new academic year and would like to wish you the very best in your studies here at Keele.

Best wishes,

Richard Waller

Email: r.i.waller@keele.ac.uk
Telephone: (01782) 733179

Whilst everything you need to know will be explained during your initial induction week at Keele, the first week can seem rather hectic and therefore there are some things you can do to help you prepare for the programme and university study prior to your arrival.

In addition to the following subject-specific list, please also make sure you have a look at University's welcome page, which contains all kinds of useful information about the local area, the University, what to do before you arrive, events taking place in the first week.

Clock House Drive 1. Find out about the degree programme

I will explain exactly how the degree programme works during an “induction lecture” in your first week. However, if you have the time, it’s worthwhile having a quick look through the  Course Handbook before you arrive so you’re familiar with the “key features” of the programme (see additional info page).

2. Things to bring with you

You should aim to bring the following essential items that will be of use throughout the programme:

  • Diary  - an invaluable tool for organising your “academic life”. Alternatively, you can use an electronic diary if you prefer.
  • Modern atlas – so you can find out where things are located!
  • 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey map of the local area (landranger map 118)  - so you can get your geographical bearings.
  • Calculator – with basic scientific functions (approved Casio models include FX-83, FX-85 and FX-350).
  • Basic drawing equipment – pens, pencils, ruler, protractor and stapler.

3. Consider purchasing some key texts

In the first year in particular, much of the wider reading we’ll expect you to do as part of your studies will relate to a series of core textbooks. Whilst multiple copies are available in the library, it’s worth considering purchasing some of these books for your own convenience and interest:

  • Daniels, P., Bradshaw, M., Shaw, M. & Sidaway, J. (eds.) 2008. An Introduction to Human Geography (3rd edition). Pearson Prentice Hall, Harlow. ISBN: 978-0-13-205684-7. Cost: c. £30.
    Provides background reading to the Year 1 Human Geography modules.
  • Holden, J. (ed.) 2012. An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment (3rd edition). Pearson Prentice Hall, Harlow. ISBN: 978-0-27-374069-8. Cost: c. £36.
    Provides background reading to the Year 1 Physical Geography modules.
  • Knight, P.G. & Parsons, T. 2003. How to do your essays, exams and coursework in Geography and related disciplines. Nelson Thornes, Cheltenham. ISBN: 0-7487-6676-6. Cost: c. £17.50.
    Key text covering the various study skills covered as part of the Year 1 tutorials.
  • Matthews, J.A. & Herbert, D.T. 2008. Geography: a very short introduction. OUP, Oxford. ISBN: 978-0199211289. Cost: c. £6.
  • Thomas, D.S.G. & Goudie, A.S. (eds.) 2000. The Dictionary of Physical Geography (3rd edition). Blackwells, Oxford. ISBN: 0-631-20473-3. Cost: c. £25.
    Useful resource on key terms and concepts covered in the Year 1 Physical Geography modules.
  • Johnston, R.J., Gregory, D., Pratt, G. & Watts, M. (eds.) 2000. The Dictionary of Human Geography (4th edition). Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford. ISBN: 978-0631205616. Cost: c. £16.

During your first week at Keele, you'll focus on settling in, finding your way around, registering with both the university and your principal subjects and taking part in a range of activities that form part of Keele's "Welcome Week", an extended induction week that is designed to help you find your feet and learn what university life is all about. 

International Students: If you are an International Student, then the following link provides details about what to do on your arrival at Keele.

The main welcome week activities for Geography are as follows (please note you will have an additional range of events and activities associated with your other principal subject):‌

Students in the field Monday 30th September, 12-1pm (Room DH0.51)  - Introduction to Geography & Subject Registration
This initial session will introduce you to myself as the course director and to the other students taking Geography as a Single or a Dual Honours subject. I will provide a brief introduction to the degree programmes, but will focus on ensuring you know what you're meant to be doing during your first week at Keele, how your timetable timetable works and what your goal is for the first year. It will also provide an initial opportunity for you to ask any questions and identify any teething troubles you've encountered.

Tuesday 1st October, 1.30-3.30pm (Room DH0.51) - How to make a Success of your Degree Programme
Life at University is different in many ways to life at school of college and this can appear daunting when you first arrive. This session will focus on the ways in which you can get off to a flying start and ensure that you make a success of your time studying Geography at Keele. We will in particular cover the key skills you will need to develop in order to make an effective "transition" into Higher Education.

Friday 4th October, 10am-1pm (Room CBA1.099/100) - Finding your Geographical Bearings
People often say that "Geography is all around us" and this self-guided field trip will encourage you to discover for yourselves the geographical highlights of Keele's campus. In so doing, you'll learn about the different resources and images we use as Geographers and hopefully find your "geographical bearings". We'll finish with a free lunch that will provide an opportunity to meet the other geography students and staff.

Personal tutor meetings: During your first week, you will be expected to meet up with your personal tutor who for a quick chat and to check that you're settling in OK. I'll check that you know who your personal tutor is in the introductory session and you should be contacted by them to arrange an initial meeting during the first week.

 

Please note: Full details of what you need to do during your first week at Keele can be found in the undergraduate handbook sent to you as part of your Freshers' pack.

Iceland Depending on your other principal option, you may need to take one or more modules offered as part of the University’s “electives” programme. These are designed to enable you to diversify your year 1 programme by choosing from a broad range of options offered from the various academic schools at Keele.  In order to check whether you will need to subscribe to an elective, and if so how many you’ll need to choose, please take a look at the year 1 electives page.

You may have already received information on the elective programme as part of the University’s registration process and you can select elective modules either before you arrive (this will maximise your choice),  or during your first week at an elective help desk open during the first week of the semester.

Geography, Geology the Environment offer a number of modules as part of the elective programme that may be of particular interest. A list of these modules and links to further information is provided below:

Study abroad

Please note that if you are interested in taking part in the study abroad programme in year 2, then you will need to take module CIE-10001 "Intercultural communication". This can be taken as an additional module over and above your required 120 credit year 1 requirement if you wish to subscribe to other electives.

 

Further information you might find useful can be accessed via the following links: