Geography

Course summary

Geography is not only up-to-date and relevant; it is one of the most valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world’s current problems boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them: Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the reasons for migration, and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers. During the AS Course, you will study a range of human and physical geography topics and consider the values and attitudes of decision-makers: Unit 1 will cover: – Hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tropical storms – Coastal environments and hot desert environments and their margins – Contemporary urban environments focusing on questions of opportunity, equity, and sustainability Unit 2 will cover: – Global governance such as understanding the problems associated with globalisation – Changing places: understanding changes happening locally and how this compares to other places in contrasting areas of the world – Geographical fieldwork & skills At the A2 level, you will continue to study human and physical topics as well as apply your knowledge and understanding of the AS course to encourage you to think synoptically – that is, to think like a geographer and prepare you for Higher Education or employment. The topics covered during the A2 course are: Unit 1 will cover: – Water and carbon cycles and their significance for human populations – Coastal environments or hot desert environments – Hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and tropical storms; ecosystems under stress; or cold environments Unit 2 will cover: – Global systems and governance – Changing places – Population and environment or contemporary urban environments or resource security Unit 3 will cover: – Individual fieldwork investigation The new AS and A2 Level specification offers a wider variety of fieldwork opportunities which will be completed as part of a range of residential experiences either in the UK or abroad.