科克大学

Geographers examine the cultures, economies, societies, physical landscapes and environments of the Earth using a unique combination of the humanities, social and natural sciences. We view the Earth, its inhabitants and the processes that form and transform the world we live in using a spatial perspective. This particularly geographical way of looking at the world allows for an inter-disciplinary exploration of processes operating in specific places. As a student of geography, you will learn to view the world using this geographical lens. Geographers examine geographical processes in a variety of thematic areas within geography including landscape, heritage, migration, culture, food, tourism, environment, economy, cities, climate, geomorphology and development.

Year 1 Modules

Modules provide a critical overview of geography. Lectures, tutorials, practicals and other related activities are designed to encourage the development of skills over and above those specifically related to a specialist training in geography.

Students take 15 credits from Geography and an additional 45 credits from three other First Arts subjects (with the exception of Italian).

Years 2 and 3 Modules

Courses become more specialised and you will have an opportunity to delve deeper into specific sub-branches of geography.

In Years 2 and 3, you can opt to take geography as a major (40 credits), joint (30 credits) or minor (20 credits) subject.

You will have opportunities to further develop your specific interests by taking optional courses in Years 2 and 3. A key aim of the final year programme is to expand your understanding of geography as a discipline with analysis and explanation of how different kinds of physical materials, peoples, institutions and ideas interact, impinge and co-exist with one another in regional combinations of varying complexity over the earth's surface.

In Years 2 and 3, all students must take at least one module of both physical and human geography.

The breadth of this programme means our graduates are more able to exploit a wide range of employment opportunities. The integrative nature of geography has become a major asset in a world of constant change, in which many employers seek adaptability and flexibility.

Our graduates develop competencies in a number of transferable skills including:

• spatial analysis
• problem solving
• critical thinking
• independent learning
• self-directed research
• report writing
• public presentations.

Skills and Careers Information

Our students acquire technical geographical skills including:

training in computer cartography and geographical information systems
remote sensing
quantitative and qualitative research methods
social surveys and analysis
landscape evaluation/planning.

Geography is a discipline rich in diversity, with many interesting career paths. These include:

• planning
• local/community development
• environmental assessment and management
• housing policy
• regional development
• TV news production/research/media
• geo-informatics
• journalism
• diplomatic service
• financial services and global business
• public relations
• European space agency
• market research
• teaching
• public service
• tourism
• academic teaching and research
• museum/heritage management.

Possible career paths are