Geography

Course summary

Geography is a study of people and their environments. It’s a social science that looks at people’s attitudes and values; why and how decisions are made in society. It’s also a physical science - thinking about processes that shape our world and how the physical background creates advantages for, and constraints on, how people live. It is multi-skilled (handling and analysing data, evaluating evidence, drawing conclusions, writing reports) and is topical. It covers what is in the news and looks at them critically, applying theory, science and critical thinking to everyday life. Because of its breadth, Geography can be taken at university either as a BSc or a BA. It is often available as a joint honours degree, combining with subjects such as development, economics, and environmental and sports sciences. CAREERS It can lead to subject-linked career sectors such as town planning, surveying, geology, hydrology, energy, or meteorology, or it can be used as a basis for further training in any subject: marketing, advertising, finance and business, law, journalism, social work and psychology as well as into mainstream sciences, especially on the environmental side. It is highly thought of as a subject by universities and employers when applying for higher education or jobs. According to the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), geography graduates are among the least likely to be unemployed. More than 90 percent are in work or further study within six months of graduating. They are seen as employable due to their combination of transferable skills including problem-solving and critical thinking.