Undergraduate Programme Specification
BSc Geography
Academic Year 2023/24
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.
| Programme Title | BSc Geography | Final Award (exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes) |
Bachelor of Science | |||||||||||
| Programme Code | GEO-BSC-S | UCAS Code | F800 | HECoS Code |
100409 - Geography - 100 |
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| ATAS Clearance Required | No | |||||||||||||
| Mode of Study | Full Time | |||||||||||||
| Type of Programme | Single Honours | Length of Programme |
Full Time - 3 Academic Years |
Total Credits for Programme | 360 | |||||||||
| Exit Awards available | No | |||||||||||||
Institute Information
Teaching Institution |
Queen's University Belfast |
School/Department |
Natural and Built Environment |
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Quality Code Higher Education Credit Framework for England |
Level 6 |
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Subject Benchmark Statements The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies |
Geography (2022) |
Accreditations (PSRB) |
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Royal Geographical Society (RGS) |
Date of most recent Accreditation Visit 01-12-22 |
Regulation Information
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Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations None |
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Programme Specific Regulations N/A |
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Students with protected characteristics N/A |
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Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations (Please see General Regulations) No |
Educational Aims Of Programme
The overall aim of the programme is to offer a high quality, supportive teaching and learning environment that gives students the opportunities to develop intellectual and practical skills through an understanding of physical and human environments and through analysing and interpreting geographical data and knowledge. The programme aims to prepare students to move beyond their degree, be that to employment or further study. It encourages them to contribute to the wider community by applying their geographical knowledge and understanding.
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Assess contrasting ideas, explanations and policies |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Communicate geographical material by written, oral and visual means |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Critically interpret and evaluate data and texts |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Abstract and synthesize information |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment |
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Develop a reasoned argument |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Undertake independent study and engage in reflective learning |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment including dissertations |
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Perform assigned tasks within a group setting |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessments |
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & UnderstandingOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Appreciate the theory and practice of geographical enquiry |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand and interpret contemporary geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Interpret environments and environmental change |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork |
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Understand and utilise GIS |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand landforms, physical processes, landscape representation and interpretation within physical geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Understand major issues and debates in human geography |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Understand socially constructed ways of representing and interpreting the world |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework and fieldwork assessment |
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Appreciate the significance of temporal change |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Carry out routine investigations |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessment |
Learning Outcomes: Subject SpecificOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Geographical methodologies and data collection (through fieldwork, instrumentation, maps, digital data and imagery, textual and archival sources and written records, social surveys, observation, GIS) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, workshops, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Representation of geographical data (maps, GIS, remote sensing, statistics) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Field techniques for data collection |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork Methods of Assessment Assessed fieldwork |
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Laboratory skills for data collection and analysis |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, supervised research Methods of Assessment Coursework assessment, dissertation |
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Ethics and values; integrity and inequalities |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Supervised research |
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Environments being affected by physical processes and human activity |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Spatial awareness including the significance of scale |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
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Communication skills: oral, numerate, literate, graphical and visual |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Coursework, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Problem solving |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Workshops, coursework, supervised research, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork, coursework assessment |
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Research design |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation |
Learning Outcomes: Transferable SkillsOn the completion of this course successful students will be able to: |
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Decision making and decision taking |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Dissertation, assessed fieldwork |
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Team work and group interaction |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops, tutorials Methods of Assessment Assessed presentations |
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Independent thought and self-reflection |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Essays, fieldwork, supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation, field notebooks |
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Time management |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Groupwork, fieldwork, experiential learning Methods of Assessment Exams, assessed fieldwork |
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Planning, designing, executing independent research & study |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Supervised research Methods of Assessment Dissertation |
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Field techniques |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork Methods of Assessment Assessed fieldwork |
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Recognizing moral and ethical issues |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, tutorials, supervised research Methods of Assessment Exams, dissertation |
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Presenting and communicating data (graphicacy, numeracy, oral, written work) |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Essays, coursework, tutorials, fieldwork Methods of Assessment Exams, fieldwork, dissertation |
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Collecting geographical information |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Fieldwork, workshops Methods of Assessment Coursework and fieldwork assessment |
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Quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysis |
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Lectures, coursework Methods of Assessment Exams, coursework assessment |
Module Information
Stages and Modules
| Module Title | Module Code | Level/ stage | Credits | Availability |
Duration | Pre-requisite | Assessment |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | S2 | Core | Option | Coursework % | Practical % | Examination % | ||||||
| Physical Geography: Earth, Fire and Ice | GGY1007 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Human Geography: Society, Economy and Population | GGY1012 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Human Geography: Society, Power and Culture | GGY1011 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| World Politics | PAI1006 | 1 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Physical Geography: Earth, Wind and Water | GGY1009 | 1 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| Geography and Employability | GGY2059 | 2 | 0 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Global Environmental Change | GGY2058 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Mitigating Environmental Hazards (Fieldwork) | GGY2062 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Gender, Culture, and Representation – Backwards & in Heels | AEL2001 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 40% | 0% |
| Geomorphology | GGY2052 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Space, Culture and Mobility (Fieldwork) | GGY2063 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Urban Landscapes (Fieldwork) | GGY2064 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Planning and Climate Change | EVP2009 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| Geographies of Economic Restructuring and Social Change | GGY2044 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Landscapes and Geographical Information (GIS) | GGY2002 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland | ARP2045 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 0% | 40% |
| Contemporary Approaches to Geographical Enquiry | GGY2056 | 2 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographical Research Skills | GGY2055 | 2 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Maps and Mappings | GGY3090 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographies of Outer Space | GGY3075 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 75% | 25% | 0% |
| Environmental Catastrophes | GGY3095 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Remaking Cities: Comparative Urban Research | NBE3001 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Environmental Geopolitics | GGY3084 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Ice Cold Environments | GGY3097 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Health Geography | GGY3096 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Spaces of Urbanisation in Emerging Economies and Sustainable Development | GGY3063 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 60% | 0% | 40% |
| Geography Dissertation | GGY3081 | 3 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | Y | YES | -- | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geoforensics | GGY3049 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 50% | 0% | 50% |
| Geography At Work | GGY3065 | 3 | 40 | YES | YES | 24 weeks | N | YES | -- | 85% | 15% | 0% |
| Geography, Science and Society | GGY3066 | 3 | 20 | -- | YES | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Advanced Geographical Information Systems | GGY3060 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Geographical Independent Research Essay | GGY3083 | 3 | 20 | YES | YES | 12 weeks | Y | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Climate Change | GGY3073 | 3 | 20 | YES | -- | 12 weeks | N | -- | YES | 100% | 0% | 0% |
Notes
Level 1: Two other modules (40 units) must be taken, outside the four core geography modules, from the following options (subject to availability and timetabling): BIO1305 Biodiversity [S1], BIO1309 Environmental Sciences [S2], SPY1005 Themes & Issues in Social Policy [S2], ARP1013 Introduction to World Archaeology [S1], ARP1007 Environmental Change [S2], ARP1006 Ancient Humans and Landscapes [S1], ARP1010 Themes in Historical Archaeology [S2], ARP1008 Themes in Historical Archaeology [S2], ARP1008 Europe in Prehistory [S1], ANT1003 A World on the Move [S1], ANT1001 Being Human [S1], ANT1006 Understanding Northern Ireland [S2], PHL1001 Philosophy and Human Nature [S1], PHL1004 Philosophy and the Good Life [S2], PAI1006 World Politics [S1], PAI1001 Contemporary Europe [S2], PAI1009 Comparative Politics [S1], PAI1007 Perspectives on Politics [S1], ECO1007 An Introduction to Economics [S2], EVP1013 Contemporary Issues in Urban & Rural Planning [S2], EVP1001 Planning Health & Wellbeing [S1].
Level 2: Students may take only one optional module out of GGY2061, GGY2062, GGY2063 and GGY2064. These are field-based modules, and as such only one may be taken.
Levels 2 and 3: At each stage of study at least 100 units of modules taken must be GGY and/or NBE coded modules. One other module (20 units) can be taken instead of a GGY/NBE coded module each year. These can be chosen from the following options (subject to availability and timetabling): For Level 2: BIO2108 Marine Systems [S1], BIO2204 Introduction to Environmental Economics [S1], ARP2051 Palaeoenvironmental Techniques [S1], ARP2045 Historic Ireland: St Patrick to the Plantation [S2], EVP2009 Planning and Climate Change [S2], AEL2001 Gender, Culture & Representation [S1]; For Level 3: ARP3089 Critical Thinking [S1], BIO3109 Policies for Environmental Sustainability [S1], ARP3080 Volcanoes: Environmental & Social Impacts [S2], ARP3053 Society, Death & Disease [S2], EVP3004 Conservation of the Built Environment [S2]
GGY3065 and GGY3081: One of these modules must be taken but both cannot be taken
GGY3083: This module is not a standard option but is provided in the Geography (BSc) programme: (i) to accommodate students on Study Abroad placements at L3 and (ii) to provide an alternative to the double-weighted Dissertation (GGY3081) as advised by supervisor.