Programme Specifications

• To develop a broad and deep understanding of geography, its content, methods and philosophy

• To provide a structured programme of delivery that is academically rigorous and meets current and future benchmarking requirements

• To encourage selected specialist knowledge and understanding through Level 3 optional modules in those areas where the Institute has expertise

• To produce graduates with a wide range of analytical, critical and technical abilities within geography

• To develop powers of critical, analytic thinking and logical argument

• To develop competence in a range of subject-specific and transferable skills including literacy, numeracy, computer literacy, graphicacy, problem setting and problem solving, report writing, laboratory and fieldwork skills

• To encourage independent study and thought, enquiring minds, and a commitment to personal scholarship of the highest standard

• To enable students to combine a primary interest in Geography with a significant secondary interest in their ‘minor’ subject.

• Sections 10 to 16 of this form relate to the Physical Geography component of the Joint Honours programme. This is a generic programme specification for BSc Physical Geography Joint Honours degree schemes.

This programme caters for a degree scheme which allows the student to take a course in which one-half of the content is in Mathematics and the remainder in another subject.

The educational aims of the programme are:

· To provide students with knowledge and understanding in a range of topics in Mathematics, which may include some topics in Statistics.

· To develop skills in the application of such knowledge and understanding to the solutions of problems in Mathematics.

· To develop the ability to transfer subject-specific skills to a range of topics in Mathematics.

· To allow students to develop subject-specific knowledge and skills in another discipline in parallel with their studies in Mathematics.

· To prepare students for careers in which a combination of the skills developed in Mathematics and another subject is particularly appropriate. 

· To develop analytical reasoning skills, team-working skills, information technology skills and other skills appropriate to a wide range of careers.

On completion of the programme students should: 

• Be able to evaluate critically geographical ideas, concepts and approaches across the whole of the subject and within particular branches of Geography
• Be able to carry out independent research, applying a range of cartographic, computational, literary and technical skills
• Have developed a range of geographical skills and be able to apply them to a variety of geographical issues
• Be able to recognize that their learning experience has been positively reinforced by exposure to research
• Be able to evaluate their own performance in a range of learning contexts and under different modes of assessment
• Be able to work independently, in a team and with a social awareness of the contribution made by scholarship and applied research in their discipline to social and environmental policy
• Have the necessary skills and awareness to seek employment in a variety of professional careers or to begin postgraduate research and study.

The programme provides opportunities for  students to  develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills,  qualities and other  attributes  in the following areas:

NB: Details of the delivery of the learning outcomes listed below in our current portfolio of modules are indicated on the attached Curriculum Map.

On completion of the degree scheme, students will be able to: 

• A1   Demonstrate appreciation of the reciprocal relationships between human activity and the physical environment, including the impact of human activity on landscape form and environmental quality.

• A2   Describe and account for spatial variations in the distributions of human phenomena at a variety of scales and temporal contexts. 

• A3   Account for the varied ways in which spaces, places, landscapes and environments are constituted and continually remade through a variety of social, economic, political and cultural processes, in a range of contexts from the local to the global.

• A4   Demonstrate and account for variation in the outcome of processes and be familiar with a range of interpretations of the processes which create geographies of difference and inequality 

• A5   Demonstrate understanding of how particular geographical ‘ways of seeing’ are produced, theorised and interpreted, including the representation of places through academic, policy and lay discourses. 

• A6   Develop insight and understanding into the contribution that geographical study makes to an informed concern about the Earth and its people, in academic, practical and policy terms. 

• A7    Account for and evaluate the development of Geography as a dynamic, plural and contested discipline, and discuss the relationship of Geography with other disciplines in the arts, humanities and social sciences. 

• A8   Critically evaluate the range of philosophical and methodological approaches employed by geographers in their analysis and interpretation of human society.

•  A9  Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the different forms of representation of the human world – from maps, through texts and visual images to digital technologies.

•  A10    Demonstrate an awareness of the range and nature of data sources available to the human geographer and employ and evaluate a substantial range of observational, recording and analytic strategies used in geographical field enquiry and data analysis.

•  By selecting a pathway of modules which involves elements of Physical Geography, students may also develop the capacity to: 

• A11    Describe and account for spatial and temporal variations in the distributions of physical phenomena at a variety of scales.

•  A12    Account for the varied ways in which places, landscapes and environments are constituted and continually remade through a variety of physical, environmental and biotic processes in a range of contexts from the local to the global.

•  A13    Conceptualise patterns, processes, interactions and changes in the physical world as systems operating at a range of scales. 

• A14    Critically evaluate the range of philosophical and methodological approaches employed by geographers in their analysis of the natural environment.

•  A15    Demonstrate a knowledge of the different forms of representation of the physical world, including maps, scientific texts and digital technologies (GIS and Remote Sensing).

•  A16    Synthesise contributions from Human and Physical Geography to address issues of environmental management.

Teaching and Learning

 At Level 1, student development towards learning outcomes A1–A8 is promoted via the core BSc Physical Geography module programme, delivered through lectures and supported by field-classes, independent study and student reading. Issues relating to learning outcomes A5-A8 are addressed through core lecture-based modules supported by directed student exercises and reading. Student development towards learning outcomes A5-A8 and A15 is also promoted in a practical sense through a combination of practical/laboratory classes and field classes and their related exercise-based assignments.

At Levels 2 and 3, the teaching programme consists of four elements. (i) Core Knowledge and Understanding Modules in Level 2 develop student capacities relating to outcomes A1-A5 through lectures supported by independent study and reading by students. (ii) Core Skills Modules at Level 2 promote learning outcomes A5-A8 through a combination of lectures, practical classes and field classes, variously supported by fieldwork exercises, group or individual exercise-based assignments and independent reading as appropriate. Field classes also address issues related to A1 and A15, while independent research undertaken by students towards their Dissertation may also contribute towards the development of knowledge relating to some or all of outcomes A1-A8. (iii) Optional modules taken at Level 2 and Level 3 and delivered through lectures and seminars supported by independent study and reading, contribute to student development towards some or all of outcomes A1-A8. (iv) Small group teaching in both Level 2 and Level 3 cover themes relating to outcomes A1-A9.

Assessment

At Level 1, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1-A9 (and, where appropriate, A10 to A15) are assessed through unseen examination essays, unseen short-answer examinations, exercise-based coursework assignments and project work. Student capacities relating to outcomes A5 and A6 are assessed through practical, laboratory and field exercises.

At Levels 2 and 3, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1 to A16 may be variously assessed as appropriate through coursework assignments, the Dissertation project, fieldwork assignments, oral presentations, coursework essays, project essays, seminar presentations, and seen, unseen and free-time examination essays.

Knowledge and understanding

A1. Of fundamental concepts and techniques of calculus, algebra, analysis and selected topics in geometry, mathematical modelling, probability and statistics.
A2. Of more advanced concepts in abstract algebra, real and complex analysis and selected topics in numerical mathematics, fluid dynamics, probability and statistics.
A3. Of a selection of specialist topics in Mathematics and Statistics.
A4. Of software for the analysis of numerical data.
A5. Of software supporting presentations and producing reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Formal lectures (A1-A5), tutorials (A1-A4), examples classes (A1-A4), practical classes (A4 - A5), help-desk encounters (A1), student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers (A1-A4), coursework (A1-A4). Project consultations (A1-A4) for students who have chosen the appropriate module.

Assessment – unseen written examinations (A1-A3), open-book practical examinations (A1 - A4), coursework (A1-A4). Project reports/presentations (A1 - A5), if appropriate.

10.2.1      Intellectual skills 

On completion of the degree scheme, students will be able to:

•  B1  Abstract and synthesise information 

• B2  Critically judge and evaluate evidence 

• B3  Critically interpret data and text

• B4  Make justified decisions

• B5  Assess the merits of contrasting theories, explanations and policies 

• B6  Develop a reasoned argument 

• B7  Find ways to overcome problems

• B8  Write in an appropriate academic style in reporting, reviewing and discussing geographical themes

• B9 Appropriately and critically employ material from academic literature and correctly cite and reference sources 

• B10  Take responsibility for their own learning and review and reflect upon that learning

Teaching and Learning

Student development towards outcomes B1 to B10 is primarily promoted through small group sessions (Levels 1-3), and practical classes (Levels 1-2). Learning is supported through personal tutorials and practical exercises. The application of these skills in the context of specific areas of geographical enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at Levels 1, 2 and 3.

For example, skills of abstracting and synthesising information, critically judging and evaluating evidence, critically interpreting data, making justified decisions, assessing the merits of contrasting theories and explanations, developing a reasoned argument and finding ways of overcoming problems may all be developed as part of projects undertaken during the Level 2 field course.

Assessment

Assessment of student capacities in relation to outcomes B1 to B10 are central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme. These include tutorial assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, project essays, seminar and oral presentations and seen, unseen and free-time examination essays.

10.2.2      Professional practical skills / Discipline-specific skills

On completion of the degree scheme students will be able to demonstrate competence in the following professional geographical skills:

• C1  Planning, designing and executing a piece of rigorous geographical research or enquiry, including the production of a final report

• C2  Presenting geographical data effectively through the use of appropriate media including maps, diagrams, statistical tables and academic prose.

• C3  Combining and interpreting different types of geographical evidence.

•  C4  Analysing the geographical implications of current events, policy decisions and social, economic, political and cultural processes.

•  C5  Interrogating and interpreting the production and presentation of policy documents, print and broadcast media, landscape and textual material.

• C6 Recognising the moral and ethical issues involved in geographical and social scientific debates and enquiries

• C7 Undertaking effective fieldwork (with due regard for safety and risk assessment, research ethics and equality, diversity and inclusion)

Depending on module choice, students may also be able to demonstrate competence in:

• C8 Employing a variety of social survey and interpretative methods for the collection, analysis and understanding of information from the human world, including questionnaire surveys and interviews.

Teaching and Learning

The teaching of discipline-specific professional and practical skills is delivered in a number of contexts. Small group sessions at Levels 1, 2 and 3 address issues relating to outcomes C1 and C3-C6 inclusive; whilst outcomes C4 to C6 are also addressed at Level 1 through lectures on core modules and related exercise-based assignments. Depending on module choice, practical classes at Levels 1 and 2 contribute to the development of skills C2, C3, C5 and C8, supported by practical group and individual exercises. C7 is achieved through fieldwork integrated into the programme at Level 1, 2 and 3.

Additionally, the application of these skills in the context of specific areas of geographical enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Assessment

10.2.1.      Intellectual skills

The ability to

B1. Calculate and manipulate data obtained from, or related to, the bodies of knowledge studied.
B2. Apply a range of concepts and principles in well-defined mathematical or statistical contexts, showing judgement in the selection and application of tools and techniques.
B3. Develop and evaluate logical arguments.
B4. Abstract the essential elements of problems, formulate them in a mathematical context and obtain solutions by appropriate methods.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Formal lectures, tutorials, examples classes, practical classes, revision workshops, help-desk encounters, student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skills B1-B4 are developed in all these learning situations.

Assessment – unseen written examinations, open-book practical examinations, coursework, presentations. Project reports, if appropriate. Skills B1-B4 are assessed by all these assessment methods.

10.2.2.      Professional practical skills

The ability to

C1. Present arguments and conclusions effectively and accurately.
C2. Use computer software to analyse and interpret the data.
C3. Use computer software to support presentations and produce reports.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Formal lectures, tutorials, examples classes, practical classes, revision workshops, help-desk encounters, student-initiated informal meetings with lecturers. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skill C1 is developed in all these learning situations, skills C2-C3 in practical classes. Some, but not all, of the skills C2-C3 are acquired by all students on this programme, since the modules in which they are developed are optional.

Assessment – unseen written examinations (C1), open-book practical examinations (C2), coursework (C1 - C2), project report/presentations (C1-C3), if appropriate.

On completion of the programme the student will be able to take responsibility for themselves and their work. The student will be able to demonstrate ability in the following key skills which are transferable to a non-academic context: 

• D1  Working independently

• D2  Working as part of a team 

• D3   Respecting the views, beliefs, opinions and values of others 

• D4   Listening to and engaging with other speakers 

• D5   Effective verbal communication in a range of settings, including group discussions and debates and formal presentations. 

• D6   Effective written communication in a variety of forms 

• D7 Use of information technologies to process, store, present and communicate information, including spreadsheets, databases, word processing, e-mail and the internet

• D8 Identifying, retrieving, sorting and handling information from conventional and digital sources.

• D9   Time management and self-regulation of work regimes. 

• D10  Research issues and solve problems 

• D11  Adapting to change 

• D12  Reading comprehension and interpretation of a range of written material 

• D13  Observational skills. 

• D14  Identifying appropriate career pathways and developing the capacity to compete effectively for employment opportunities. 

• D15  Collating, processing, interpreting and presenting numerical data.  

The programme aims to promote, develop and nurture students’ awareness of and competence in these key transferable skills, many of which students will already possess in a greater or lesser degree of competence. Some of these skills are integral to teaching and learning activities across the programme (D1, D4, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12). Others are developed through specific modules and learning activities, including practical classes and exercises (D15) and oral presentations (D5). Most significantly, skills-based modules have a progressive syllabus from Level 1 to Level 3 (culminating in the major project) which specifically addresses a number of these skills, including D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12 and D14.

Assessment of student capacities in relation to many of the above outcomes (D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D12) is central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme. These include coursework essays, practical exercises, project essays and seen, unseen and free-time examination essays. In addition, a number of the above skills are explicitly assessed at various points during the programme through a range of methods, including project work (D1, D2), oral presentations (D5), study skills assignments (D7, D8), and practical exercises (D13, D15). .

The ability to

D1. Apply general mathematical skills to the interpretation of numerical data.
D2. Work as a member of a team.
D3. Use information technology effectively to manage information.
D4. Manage time and resources effectively.
D5. Develop effective learning skills.
D6. Be aware of the need to plan for employment and of need to develop various skills for such employment.
D7. Work independently.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Skill D1 is developed in all learning environments in the Department of Mathematics and assessed by all assessment methods. Skill D2 is developed during practical classes. Skill D3 is developed primarily in practical classes and assessed by open-book examinations and coursework. Project consultations for students who have chosen the appropriate modules. Skill D3 is also developed through the use of e-mail, which is a normal means of communication between staff and students. Skills D4 and D5 are developed in an induction course on study skills, in preparing set coursework and submitting it by given deadlines.  Skills D4 and D5 are not explicitly assessed. Skill D6 is developed at meetings with Personal Tutors, at occasional recruitment meetings arranged for final-year students in the Department of Mathematics and in interactions with the Careers Advisory Service. Skills D4, D5 and D7 are developed by independent study for an optional project.