2023/24 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Geography (For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

Part time variant at level 1 is the Certificate in Human Geography. Upon successful completion of this candidates are allowed on to level 2 of the BA Geography programme.

Total credits: 360

Entry requirements:

AAA or AAB including a social science/humanities subject.

Accepted social science/humanities subjects: Ancient History/History; Business/Business Studies; Classical Civilisation; Economics; English; Geography; Government and Politics; Law; Media Studies; Modern Languages or Ancient Languages; Philosophy; Politics; Psychology; Religious Studies; Sociology. Extended Project Qualification - We recognise the value, effort and enthusiasm applicants make in the Extended Project but do not currently make alternative offers based on the inclusion of the EPQ.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Geography

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of Geography

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

Geography

Programme specification:

We are currently refreshing our courses to make sure students have the best possible experience. Where there is no module code link below the full module details are not yet available. Before you are required to enrol on a module full details will be provided. 

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2023. For students who entered the programme before September 2023, you can find the details of your programme: BA Geography

BA Geography at Leeds seeks to provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand and shape our rapidly changing world, including international development, population growth, urban transformation, sustainability, global geopolitics, human rights, globalisation, and patterns of inequality (ethnicity, class and gender). BA Geography is a broad-based, flexible programme that addresses key global challenges. Each year of the programme is designed around a combination of compulsory core modules, and a selection of optional human and physical geography modules, as well as opportunities to take optional modules in transport studies and discovery modules across the University. Through this wide choice of modules, students can tailor their degree to specialise in what they want to learn.

As well as specialist subject knowledge, BA Geography has a strong focus on the development of transferable skills, with the aim of producing graduates that can identify and solve problems using state of the art tools and techniques. BA Geography helps students to build skills in presenting ideas in reports and orally, in data collection, presentation and analysis, in the use of specialist mapping and statistical software, and in time- and project-management in both team and individual settings.

Structure and content

Students will study 360 credits of modules over their degree, split evenly between Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Level 1 develops a grounding in the foundational concepts and themes of human geography, plus key skills in academic writing, digital learning and data analysis. Core modules worth 60 credits explore different geographies of a changing world, including planetary environmental crisis and urbanisation, plus a foundation in digital skills. Students have an additional 40 credits of optional modules in human and physical geography, and transport studies, and 20 credits of discovery modules from across the University.

At the end of Level 1, students have the opportunity to request a place on our BA Geography with Quantitative Methods course, subject to meeting the entry requirements. The course enables students to develop advanced spatial and statistical skills, which are in high demand across the public, private, and third sectors.

Level 2 provides a core programme of research and career skills training worth 40 credits. Students supplement this from a minimum of 60 credits of optional modules that cover geo-politics and international development, service planning for changing populations, economic geography, the development of modern cities, citizenship and identity, natural resource management, sustainable transport, and ecosystems. An additional 20 credits of discovery modules can be taken from across the University.

Opportunities for work-based learning include an optional year in between Levels 2 and 3, during which students can either studying abroad at one of our partner institutions around the world; or gain full-time work experience in a paid industrial placement. Both of these options will extend the degree by 12 months.

At Level 3 students undertake a significant independent final year project worth 40 credits - currently a dissertation - alongside a minimum of 60 credits of optional modules that cover subjects such as urban social movements, creating alternative futures, population and health geographies, retail location p lanning, global insecurities, the Mediterranean migration crisis, healthy transport, water science, the cryosphere, and sustainable development in tropical forests. Students also have the choice of a research, work or teacher placement module with an external organisation, and an additional 20 credits of discovery modules can be taken from across the University.

Fieldwork is an important feature throughout the degree programme and puts theory into practice by allowing students to experience real world learning. Fieldwork is designed to encourage students to develop their own research, plan and manage projects, and to develop teamwork skills. Fieldtrips include both residential and day trips; and travel to destinations across the UK and Europe.

All students are assigned a personal academic tutor to guide them through each year of their studies, as well as support from fellow students through our peer mentoring scheme. Students also benefit from support to develop their academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

Assessment

Students are assessed using a range of methods throughout the course. Dependng on options taken tThere will be timed examinations, essay and report writing, presentations, practical exercises, posters, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, research-based projects (such as the dissertation) and reflective logs.

All assessments are closely tied to the learning objectives of the course to ensure students graduate equipped with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, as well as being structured to help develop the key transferable qualities that employers are looking for within the workplace.

Assessments are reviewed annually to ensure they remain fair and inclusive, and to maintain an element of flexibility within module choices such that students can select a package of learning to best reflect individual learning styles and long-term career goals.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates must take 60 credits of compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates must study a MINIMUM of 40 credits of optional modules from Baskets 1-3 below

Basket 1: Candidates must choose at least ONE and may choose TWO of the following optional human geography modules:

Basket 2: Depending on choices in Basket 1, candidates may choose ONE of the following optional physical geography modules:

Basket 3: Depending on choices from Basket 1-2 , candidates may choose None, ONE or TWO of the following optional transport studies modules:

Discovery modules:

All candidates take 20 credits of Discovery options. This can include modules in Baskets 2 and 3

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

UG Centred 40cr compulsory modules.
Candidates have 80 credits of optional modules (including 20 credits of discovery).

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates have 80 credits of optional modules (including 20 credits of discovery).

Basket 1: Candidates must choose at least ONE and may choose TWO of the following optional human geography or integrated geography modules:

Basket 2: Candidates must choose at least ONE and may choose TWO of the following optional human geography modules:

Basket 3: Depending on choices from Baskets 1 and 2, candidates may choose NONE, ONE OR TWO of the following optional physical geography or integrated geography modules:
Natural Hazards, Human Disasters 20 credits

Basket 4: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-3, candidates can study NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional transport studies modules:

Discovery modules:

All candidates can take 20 credits of Discovery options. This can include modules in Baskets 3 and 4.

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

UG Centred 40cr compulsory modules.
Candidates have 80 credits of optional modules (including 20 credits of Discovery).

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:

Optional modules:

Candidates have 80 credits of optional modules (including 20 credits of Discovery).

Basket 1: Candidates may choose NONE, ONE, TWO, THREE or FOUR of the following optional human geography modules:

Basket 2: Depending on choices from Basket 1, candidates may choose NONE, ONE, TWO or THREE of the following optional human geography modules:

Basket 3: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-2, candidates may choose NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional physical geography modules:

Basket 4: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-3, candidates may choose ONE of the following optional placement modules:

Basket 5: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-4, candidates may choose NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional transport studies modules:

Basket 6: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-5, candidates may choose ONE of the following optional field class modules. However, there is a pre-enrolment process for modules in this basket and therefore students cannot directly enrol on the module. They must complete an expression of interest survey and will be offered a place on a fieldtrip.

Discovery modules:

All candidates can take 20 credits of Discovery options. This can include modules in Baskets 3 and 5.

Last updated: 05/09/2023 11:46:26

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