BA (Hons) Human Geography and Environment

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Human Geography and Environment degree combines insights from human geography and environmental studies to explore the complex relationships between people, places, and environments. It equips students with the knowledge, skills, and capacities to understand and develop solutions for social and environmental challenges, preparing them for careers in environmental conservation, policy analysis, and other fields. The program features field-based learning, research-led teaching, and opportunities for independent research projects.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) Human Geography and Environment degree:

• Aims to train the next generation of human geographers to help create equitable places, communities, and environments.
• Combines insights from human geography and environmental studies to explore complex relationships between people, places, and environments.
• Equips students with knowledge, skills, and capacities to understand and develop solutions for social and environmental challenges.
• Focuses on issues like inequalities in global development, achieving inclusive and sustainable change, creating sustainable food and transport systems, and adapting to climate change.
• Offers a dynamic and intellectually stimulating learning experience.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Introduces the basics of human geography and environment.
• Provides a foundation for advanced material in later years.
• Includes core modules on:
• Environment, Development and Society
• Geographical Perspectives for Environmental Issues
• Equitable and Sustainable Futures 1: Sites of Global Change
• Introduction to Global Challenges
• Introduction to Research Skills
• Our Dynamic Earth
• Also includes an online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2:

• Develops knowledge of human geography and environment through core modules.
• Allows students to tailor their degree with a choice of option modules.
• Core modules include:
• From Foundations to Innovations in Human Geography Research
• Equitable and Sustainable Futures 2: Knowledge, Power and Place in the Global South
• Engendering Change
• Research Skills and Project Design
• Option modules examples include:
• Megacities and Urbanisation
• Ecosystem Management and Conservation
• Food, Space, Culture and Society
• Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation
• Geographical Information Systems
• Solving Environmental Problems with Code

Year 3:

• Allows students to specialize further with an independent research project and a range of core and option modules.
• Core modules include:
• Research Project
• Equitable and Sustainable Futures 3: Inequalities, Change and Hope
• Sustainability Clinic
• Option modules examples include:
• Energy Transitions and Low Carbon Futures
• Atmosphere and Ocean Science
• Biodiversity and Society
• Pollution Monitoring Assessment and Control
• Land Use Change and Management: A Global Perspective
• Tackling Britain’s Environmental Challenges (field course)

Assessment:

• Assessment methods include coursework, closed or open examinations, or a combination of both.
• Assessments are designed to be practical and solutions-based.
• Coursework examples include:
• podcasts
• policy briefings
• practice write-ups
• reports
• reflective exercises
• oral presentations
• portfolios
• essays
• Final year includes an independent research project based on individual interests and career aspirations.

Teaching:

• Taught by academics who are active researchers, experts in their field, and passionate about their subjects.
• Teaching approach aims to provide students with the knowledge, opportunities, and support they need to grow and succeed.
• Teaching format includes:
• field-based learning
• research-led teaching
• traditional lectures, tutorials, and seminars
• practical work in individual and group projects
• residential field trips
• Residential field trips currently include:
• Castleton and Whitby (Year 1)
• The Netherlands (Year 2)
• Optional UK-based field trip in Year 3.

Careers:

• Equips graduates for roles tackling environmental issues at local, national, or international levels.
• Develops transferable skills applicable beyond the geography and environment sector.
• Career opportunities examples include:
• Environmental conservationist
• Graduate policy analyst
• Flood risk officer
• Graduate environmental consultant
• Environmental engineer
• Energy analyst
• Graduates can find employment with organizations such as:
• Network Rail
• Environment Agency
• Anglian Water
• Atkins
• Department for International Development
• WSP│Parsons Brinckerhoff Consultancy
• Defra

Other:

• The program is designed to provide a clear and ambitious learning experience.
• Learning outcomes define what students will be able to do at the end of the course.
• Students gain independent learning, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• The program is informed by topical issues and has strong links with government, industry, and policymakers.
• Students can participate in free online courses to get a taste of university-level study.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

UK (home) fees: £9,250 per year International and EU fees: £28,800 per year UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status. Fees for subsequent years UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can. International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%). Additional costs Field work is integral to your course and comprises both residential and day trips. In year 1 and 2 there are core residential and day field trips. The travel and accommodation costs of these trips are included in your student fees.

• Optional field trips are not paid for, and you will be asked to contribute to the cost of these.
The destination of our residential field trips are changing. In the first and third year they will be based in the UK; the second year trip will be at an international location. Previous locations include Newcastle, Whitby, Tenerife, Prague, Iceland and Austria.
• The Department covers the costs of flights up to a maximum based on typical flight costs from regional airports bought in good time