This course allows you to study both the physical and human aspects of Geography, whilst challenging your perceptions and stimulating your investigative and analytical skills.
The physical section of the course focuses on earth’s systems and processes including water and carbon cycles, coastal environments and major hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms and wildfires. The human section of the course focuses on changing places including the case studies of Farnham, Stratford and Detroit; population and the environment including disease, population ecology and global environmental change; and globalisation including international trade, trans-national corporations and the case study of Antarctica.
Fieldwork is built into the course. It combines well with a wide variety of other humanities and science subjects.
Modules covered –
- Water and carbon cycles
- Coastal systems and landscapes
- Hazards
- Global systems and global governance
- Changing places
- Population and the environment
All 16-19 year olds on full-time programmes will be required to retake GCSE English and Maths, if they have not already attained the equivalent of a GCSE grade C in these subjects, every year of their course, until they complete their studies.
Anyone who has an interest in the world around them and current social, economic and environmental issues and who may be thinking about a career in these fields should consider studying A Level Geography.
The results are excellent and there are opportunities for fieldwork enabling you to develop ICT, statistical and investigative skills, which provide a good basis for Higher Education and future employment.
What you'll learn
Specialist Academic Skills
- Field work skills and methodologies
- Presentation
- Remote sensing and GIS
- Processing, presenting and interpreting evidence
- Choosing appropriate sampling techniques
- Geographical statistical skills
- OS maps
- Cartographic skills
- Interpreting Photographs
Essential Skills for Progression
- Research
- Independent enquiries
- English/ICT
- Maths – statistics
- Presenting and Discussing
Subject Specific Enrichment
- Four-day residential fieldtrip to Slapton Sands in South Devon to complete primary data collection for the coursework
- Day trip to 2XS Watersports centre, West Wittering, to take part in a range of water-based activities, including windsurfing, SUP and surfing
How you'll learn and be assessed
You will investigate geographical issues through a variety of teaching and learning styles, including group discussions, case studies, presentation and written work. Fieldwork covering aspects of human and physical geography forms an integral and compulsory part of this course. There are 2 exams at the end of the 2nd year of the course, one in Physical Geography and one in Human Geography. A written coursework project of 3000-4000 words makes up the remaining 20% of the qualification.
Progression
Degrees in Geography, Environmental or Earth Sciences, but increasingly students are progressing into related fields such as leisure and tourism management, business, marketing and finance.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including English, maths and geography.
Additional information
This subject involves a compulsory fieldwork element. The cost of this is approximately £300 which covers all costs associated with the 4-day residential fieldtrip to South Devon.
