BSc (Hons) Geography University of Winchester

Program Description

From glaciers to megacities, geography is the study of the earth’s processes, both natural and human. As a subject it has the capacity to take you almost anywhere, and field exploration is a major component of study. Our course explores some of the most pressing issues facing the planet in the 21st-century: climate change, pressures on the natural world and society and how these can be mitigated and managed. The course takes a hands-on, practical approach. You could be advising imaginary governments on globalisation, population growth, resource shortages, geopolitical instability and managing natural hazards. You could be planning and carrying out a day surveying a site subject to sea level rise and erosion threats, or gathering samples from the field to analyse past climates. We are set on the edge of the South Downs National Park half an hour from the coast and an hour by train from London. We are perfectly placed to make the most of the diverse and beautiful landscapes that surround Winchester, for both fieldwork and for recreation. Each year of study has a distinctive emphasis. In Year 1 you receive a broad introduction to geography and geographical issues. You receive detailed teaching on the climate emergency, consequences for society and responses. In Year 2, you are encouraged to develop your geographical practice through specialised modules including the option for international fieldwork, laboratory and technology-based elements. An international study abroad semester is available. Skills development (geodata analysis and GIS) and ‘cultural agility’ (the ability to understand and work across cultures and environments) are emphasised strongly. By the final year, you are ready to apply your expertise to understand complex geographical problems through original research and to understand the potential external impacts of your work. You will engage in critical thinking and more complex data analysis, building on your studies to date. A third-year project enables you to work alongside our highly respected research staff and showcase your skills to employers.

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