Geography
Aims of the course
A-level specifications in Geography should encourage you to:
- develop and apply your understanding geographical concepts and processes to understand and interpret our changing world
- develop your awareness of the complexity of interactions within and between societies, economies, cultures and environments at scales from local to global
- develop as global citizens who recognise the challenges of sustainability and the implications for your own and others’ lives
- improve as critical and reflective learners aware of the importance of attitudes and values, including your own
- become adept in the use and application of skills and new technologies through your geographical studies both in and outside the classroom
- be inspired by the world around you, and gain enjoyment and satisfaction from your geographical studies and understand their relevance.
What will I learn?
A-level specifications in Geography should encourage you to:
- develop knowledge and understanding of selected physical, human and environmental processes that underpin key geographical concepts
- develop a knowledge and understanding of the key concepts of place, space, diversity, interdependence, people – environment interaction, the processes associated with these, and change over time
- study at a range of scales and understand the importance of scale as a geographical idea
- use a range of skills and techniques, including the use of maps and images at different scales, necessary for geographical study
- carry out research and out-of-classroom work including fieldwork, as appropriate to the topics selected
- use modern information technologies, including geographical information systems, as appropriate to the content
- develop understanding of the application and relevance of geography.
- extend your understanding of geographical ideas, concepts and processes
- identify and analyse the connections between the different aspects of geography
- analyse and synthesise geographical information in a variety of forms and from a range of sources
- consider new ideas and developments about the changing nature of geography in the 21st century
- critically reflect on and evaluate the potential and limitations of approaches and methods used both in and outside the classroom.
Highlights
- The five day fieldtrip is an excellent opportunity to strengthen and make new friendships, have fun and further enhance geographical knowledge, skills and understanding.
Future Opportunities
- This specification has been chosen as a good basis for geography or a related subject in higher education as well as being of value to you going directly into employment.
- Geography is a broad-based subject with links to many other subjects. It can be studied as a single subject in higher education whether in the field of arts or sciences depending on options chosen by the individual. Geography can also be studied in a great variety of combinations with other subjects. It is a subject valued by employers for various reasons including the subject’s emphasis on problem solving skills and analysis and synthesis of a variety of types of data. Geography students go into a very wide range of types of occupation for example in the areas of planning, leisure and tourism, journalism and management.