GG2013 Geography: Exploring the discipline 1

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lectures: 9.00am Tues, Wed, Thurs

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T J Young

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Tom Cowton; Dr Ale Boussalem; Dr Katherine Roucoux; and Prof Nina Laurie

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Building on the exploration of contemporary global social and environmental crises at GG1000-level, this is the first of two GG2000-level modules that develop students' appreciation of Geography as a discipline. Students will learn to think geographically and to use key conceptual lenses such as time, space, context, scale, and variation, to analyse processes of change in physical and human phenomena. The module will review the evolution of geography and prominent epistemological frames that guide research and understanding in the discipline. Students will explore a range of sub-disciplinary fields each of which will review a specialist area, reinforce broader geographic approaches to understanding the world, and lay the foundation for specialisation at honours. In addition to a lecture program, learning will involve field trips and labs together with opportunities to develop a range of transferable skills useful to both study and careers.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS GG1001 AND PASS GG1002

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU PASS GG2011 OR TAKE GG2011

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures (x 10 weeks), 1-hour tutorials (x 4 weeks), 2 x fieldtrip (half day), 2 hour laboratory practical (x4 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

50

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

150

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand Geography as a discipline and tradition and have an ability to think geographically about social and environmental issues.
  • Have both an understanding of a range of specialist sub-disciplinary fields within Geography and an ability to both move between them and connect them.
  • Have competence in a variety of study, research and communication skills including literature review, written argument, oral presentation, and field- and lab-work
  • Show a developing competence towards continued study of geography at a more advanced, honours Level