Third Year Geography Fieldcourse
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| GEOG3060 | Geography | 3 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- GEOG3060
- School
- Geography
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module covers a range of Human and Physical Geography topics and involves a residential fieldcourse to enhance an individual learning experience and awareness of global geographical issues. Students enrolling on the module select (subject to cap and requisites) one fieldcourse from the list below:
* European Urban Geographies (Germany): providing an understanding of the evolution, and socio-economic, political, and cultural dynamics of the city of Berlin.
Open to all students on F800, L700, L7N1 degree programmes with relevant requisites.
Requisites: GEOG2034 (Urban Geography) or GEOG2072 (Political Geography) or a comparable Urban Geography module from a U21 institution. Cap = 30 students.
* European Landscapes (Italy): examining the principles of landscape history and historical ecology in Liguria (NW Italy).
Open to all students in the School of Geography, History and Archaeology.
Requisites N/A. Cap = 30 students.
* Living with climate change in the Yucatan (Mexico): using the lowlands of the Yucatan peninsula to explore the relationship between climate, environment and society including the region's archaeological record of the Maya culture.
Open to all students with relevant requisites.
Requisites: One of GEOG2074, GEOG2003, GEOG2006, GEOG2020 or BIOS2013 (Climate Change Science). Cap = 15 students.
* Mt St Helens field course (USA): examining river processes and dynamics in the Pacific Northwest USA within the context of the post-1980 eruption landscape of Mt St Helens.
Open to all students on F800, L700, F759 and LV74 with relevant requisites.
Requisites: GEOG2003 (Techniques in Physical Geography) OR GEOG2008 (Rivers in the Landscape). Cap = 15 students.
Fieldwork costs will be kept to a minimum and announced before or during the module enrolment period.
Target Students
Please see Summary of Content for details. Student eligibility will be handled by the School.
Classes
The number, frequency and type of class will vary depending on the specific fieldtrip. The duration of the fieldtrip (the main method of teaching delivery) will vary for each fieldcourse to account for their different travel time and field activities. All trips will either happen during the School of Geography’s fieldwork weeks and/or outside of term time.
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: 2,000 words
- 60% Coursework 2: 4,000 words
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
An interdisciplinary module which enables experience of geographical fieldwork in a research environment. All field trips provide practical and specialist skills that involve group and individual work through the collection, analysis and integration of different forms of data. The Berlin fieldcourse provides an understanding of the evolution, and socio-economic, political, and cultural dynamics of the city of Berlin, building on foundation principles taught during Part I of the geography degree in pre-requisite modules. The Italy fieldcourse examines the principles of landscape history and historical ecology drawing on a wide range of sources including historical maps and documents, field survey of vegetation and landscape features and oral history. The Mexico fieldcourse explore the relationship between climate, environment and society, include environmental degradation due to population pressure and overexploitation of natural resources and long-term drought. The USA fieldcourse enhances understanding of the consequences and impacts of severe and rapid disturbance to fluvial systems and the requirement for ongoing management of such environments in light of other human and ecological pressures.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
- With reference to each field course location, demonstrate a comprehension of the changing human and physical geographies of the world.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the spatial and temporal relationships of variables that act upon the human and physical geography environment.
- Demonstrate a comprehension of the different types of theories and geographical datasets that can be collected and utilised to understand geographical processes at various scales.
Intellectual Skills:
- Illustrate and discuss the contested and provisional nature of knowledge and understanding in the fields of human and physical geography.
- Synthesise information and recognise relevance.
- Develop a sustained and reasoned argument.
- Evaluate and articulate weaknesses in the arguments of others.
- Articulate and communicate personal views about geographical issues raised during the field course activity.
Professional Practical Skills:
- Evaluate the diversity of specialised techniques and approaches involved in collecting and analysing geographical information.
- Engage in verbal and written communication with peers.
- Develop management, teamwork and communications skills through group project work and the oral presentation of these findings.
- Develop analytical writing and research skills.
Transferable Skills:
- Communicate geographical ideas, principals and theories effectively and fluently by written, visual and verbal means.
- Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
- Group problem solving skills.
- Team working skills.