Undergraduate study

Overview

97% of the students stated they were happy with the overall quality of the course (NSS 2012) 

One of the top five UK courses nationally in "Geography & Environmental Studies" (2013 Guardian League Table)

Geography is a broad-based subject, uniquely positioned at the interface between the physical and the social sciences.

The Geography degree routes provide students with the opportunity to explore the full range of this dynamic discipline as part of either a Single Honours or a Dual Honours pathway.

In both cases, the first year involves a broad-based introductory programme that provides a platform from which knowledge, understanding and skills can be developed.

The second and third years of study provide a variety of choices enabling students to specialise in the areas of Geography that they find most interesting. In the final year for example, students have a free choice of broad range of specialist option modules that reflect staff members’ research activities in both Human and Physical Geography.

Fieldwork is an essential and enjoyable aspect of any Geography degree programme and field trips visiting both the spectacular scenery surrounding Keele as well as a series of exciting overseas destinations are integral to the programmes. Students also carry out an independent research project on a topic of their choice in the final year.

What we offer

• Varied and flexible programmes that are responsive to students’ and employers’ requirements
• Small-group teaching, a personal tutoring system and easy access to full-time staff who are both research active and committed to the undergraduate teaching programme having won a series of institutional and national teaching excellence awards
• Practical sessions that provide first-hand training in a range of specialist skills relevant to future careers pathways and which make use of Keele's expansive campus environment
• Access to a broad range of modern computing and laboratory facilities and one of the country's largest campuses
• Flexible student choice of modules and assessment methods
• Exciting fieldwork opportunities to a variety of UK and overseas destinations
• The opportunity to study abroad at a variety or partner institutions

Course Options

Geography at Keele can be studied in a variety of different ways:

Single Honours: Students study Geography as their sole subject for all three years
Dual Honours: Students take Geography in combination with another principal option for all three years
Geography (Major): Students read a second subject alongside Geography for the first two years of the course and then focus solely on Geography during their third year

Geography can also be taken as part of the Foundation Year programme. This is designed for students who wish to study Social Science or Science subjects at Keele but lack the necessary background qualifications.

Course Content

First Year
Modules taken in the first year involve varied combinations of lectures, practical classes, tutorials and fieldwork. A range of core concepts and skills are introduced, establishing a firm foundation upon which the subsequent years can build.

Small-group tutorials help support your transition into University through regular meetings with a full-time member of academic staff and a small group of students on your course. They will also enable you to develop key study skills and to discuss in greater detail the issues covered in the other modules.

Lecture-based modules taken by all Geography students include:

Human Geographies illustrates the diversity of approaches and content of present-day Human Geography, exploring issues ranging from the social construction of identity to the geographies of consumption.

Fundamentals of Physical Geography provides an introduction into the role played by key processes at varying spatial scales, paying particular attention to the importance of global environmental change.

People and the Environment develops an understanding and appreciation of a range of current environmental issues including pollution, natural hazards and sustainable development.

In addition, practical sessions throughout the year introduce students to a range of geographical techniques including cartography, surveying and the use of Geographic Information Systems.

Field excursions throughout the year to a variety of scenic and historically-significant local sites offer an opportunity to practise newly-acquired skills and provide first-hand training in the use of field methods and techniques.

Single Honours Geography students take three additional modules to those listed above. The Practice of Physical Geography and The Practice of Human Geography explore professional practice, career opportunities and research developments in Physical Geography and Human Geography respectively, whilst Geography & Geographers encourages students to consider the influential roles played by key figures in the development of Geography as an academic subject.

Second Year
The second year provides the opportunity to examine a series of geographical topics in greater depth and critical detail, and to acquire a range of specialist subject skills of relevance both to their final-year research and future career opportunities. Dual Honours Geography students have the opportunity either to maintain a broad base or to specialise in either Human or Physical Geography, whilst Single Honours geographers continue to explore the full breadth of the subject. All students have an opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Europe or North America in the Autumn Semester.

In the Autumn Semester, Dynamic Geographies provides an opportunity for students to examine a series of subjects that currently include Hydrology and Oceanogrophy, Geomorphology and Meteorology, Population Geographies and Nature & Society and Representing the World. In addition, Practical Physical Geography or Practical Human Geography provide first-hand experience of specialist research techniques associated with the two branches of Geography. These modules also stress the 'real world' relevance of these techniques and highlight related careers opportunities.

In the Spring Semester, Regional Landsystems investigates global variations in geomorphic processes and the reasons behind the generation of the earth’s diverse physical landscapes, while Space and Society explores how societal relationships and formations shape spaces and places. Finally, Geographical Research Training introduces students to independent research methods and culminates in an overseas field course to one of a variety of destinations.

Third Year
In the final year you will carry out an independent research project with one-to-one supervision, based on a topic of your choice that will showcase the broad range of skills you have developed during the degree programme. You then choose a number of specialist option modules on topics that reflect staff members’ research expertise (Dual Honours students select two or three whilst Single Honours and Major students select six). Current options include:

Water Resources
Glaciers and Glacial Geomorphology
Global Environmental Change
Natural Hazards
Coastal Environments
Families and Communities
Applied Environmental GIS
Cultural Geographies of the Everyday
Space and the City
Inspirational Landscapes
Post-Colonialism in South Asia
Economic Development and Environmental Transformation

(it should be noted that the availability of option choices can be subject to change).

Codes and Combinations

All students who study a science subject are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science (with Honours) (BSc Hons).

Dual Honours Course can be combined with:

 * subject to approval

Single Honours, Major and Foundation course available:

Teaching and Assessment

The Geography degree programmes are delivered by full-time staff who are committed to providing the best possible learning experience for our students. As a consequence, staff who contribute to the programmes have been awarded six teaching awards between 2006-11 including two presitgious National Teaching Fellowships.

The Geography degree programme involves a diverse combination of lectures, practical classes, tutorials and fieldwork. All modules provide a mix of face-to-face teaching and independent learning that are supported by a variety of online resources, discussions and exercises provided through Keele’s virtual learning environment. Assessment is based on a combination of coursework and examinations, with the varied nature of the coursework seeking to develop a broad range of generic and subject-specialist skills that are of value to future employers. As such, rather thans simply relying on traditional essays, coursework assessments include group projects, technical reports, web pages, posters, reflective diaries, practical assignments, fieldwork activities and seminars.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an essential component of the degree programme and the aspect students frequently find most rewarding and memorable. In the first year all students attend field excursions in the local area that take advantage of the spectacular scenery surrounding Keele.

In the second year, all students take part in an overseas field course that both introduces them to an unfamiliar geographical environment whilst providing first-hand experience of independent project work in advance of the final year dissertation project.

Currently students choose between field courses to Barcelona or Singapore (focusing on Human Geography), and the Andalucía region of Spain, and Iceland (focusing on Physical Geography). Financial assistance towards meeting the cost of compulsory fieldwork is provided to UK students.

Programme specifications (new window)

Skills and Careers

A range of both specific career-related and generic transferable skills are embedded throughout the three-year programme. Generic skills include the ability to locate, assess and synthesise a variety of information sources; to acquire, handle and interpret a range of data; to communicate effectively both in oral and written presentations; and to devise, execute and write up independent research projects.

In addition, the programme provides the opportunity to acquire and develop specialist techniques related, for example, to the use of GIS, surveying, the analysis of water and soil samples, questionnaire design and the interpretation of remotely-sensed imagery.

Consequently, on graduation, Geography students are well trained in a range of practical and applied skills and are well positioned to take advantage of careers opportunities within various fields including transport and planning, teaching, environmental consultancy and the retail industry, or to embark on postgraduate courses.

Visit our Careers pages (new window)