Geography

People and places; cultures and regions; society and nature; landscapes and processes; environmental systems: Geography has it all in a changing world.

A wider world

Globalisation, global warming, environmental economics, conservation and ecology, resource use and abuse, hurricanes, coastal geomorphology and sea–level rise, volcanoes, the future of Africa and other developing areas, AIDS and the geography of health, glacial and hydrological processes, social and economic inequalities, cultural differences. These are just some of the topics which concern geography today.

"I chose to study Geography as I enjoyed it at school, and still do! I particularly like the self–teaching part of my course; you’re encouraged to explore the ideas yourself, which is really helpful in forming opinions." – Elsa

All societies rely on their relationships with each other and on the physical environment. Increasingly these are fragile interdependences presenting intellectual and practical challenges of the highest priority; they're central to the problems of modern geography. If these issues interest you, come to Cambridge and study Geography. Our course tackles these issues from a broad base, but also allows you to specialise. This means your degree can be science–based or arts–based, or both. As with all Cambridge degrees, you graduate with a BA (the University doesn't award BSc degrees).

Diversity, then specialism

In the first year, students study two core papers designed to provide a broad introduction to key themes and issues in both human and physical geography. Topics include globalisation and the historical geography of the modern world; Fordism and welfare; ecological, economic and political perspectives on resources; atmospheric, marine, coastal and hydrological processes; and environmental change.

In Part IB, you can begin to specialise. Theoretical issues are addressed by means of a 'take home' examination paper. Training in practical techniques is provided and assessed by project reports, including one derived from a residential field trip.

In Part II, you can either specialise further or maintain a balance across the subject as a whole. You also complete a dissertation, which can be in any specialist area of the discipline.

Teaching and resources

On average, you have seven to eight lectures each week (with associated reading). You normally have three supervisions a fortnight, at which a small group meets with a lecturer or researcher to discuss a topic. These usually involve reading and essay–writing but supervision work isn't formally assessed.

Cambridge's Geography course encourages research into original literature, and isn't based on textbooks. In the first and second years you also have laboratory or practical classes, and field classes in which you gather information from practical exercises. Recent examples include survey design and interview methods, examining relationships between soils and vegetation, and water quality analysis. The Department's intranet provides online resources and teaching materials.

There are currently 38 academic staff, about a dozen support staff and more than 100 graduate students.

Our facilities include one of the largest geography libraries in the UK containing about 17,000 books, journals and periodicals. The Scott Polar Research Institute is an integral part of the department and there are extensive computing resourceswhere you receive formal teaching in geographical information technology including geographical information systems and remote sensing.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an important part of our course. There are a number of one–day excursions and field trips that contribute to practical work in Years 1 and 2. A compulsory field class in Part IB leads to a piece of assessed practical work. Recent locations include Switzerland, Berlin, Morocco, Portugal and Mallorca. Please note that students are required to contribute to the cost of these field trips although some financial help is available.

Your Part II dissertation requires basic research in the summer vacation at the end of your second year. This allows you to apply what you've learnt and to study in detail something that really interests you. Dissertation subjects and locations vary widely: some students travel abroad, while others stay in the British Isles. It's possible to obtain some financial support for your fieldwork.

Addicted to travel?

Outside the course, many geographers organise their own overseas expeditions, often with the Cambridge University Expeditions Society. A number of departmental travel awards are available and some Colleges also offer travel awards to their students.

What are we looking for?

It doesn't matter which subjects you've studied previously; Geography is broad enough to encompass those whose primary interests are in the humanities, the social sciences, the natural or the environmental sciences, or any combination of these.

It isn't even essential to have studied Geography at A Level/IB Higher Level (although in practice nearly all our students have done so). Economics, English Literature, History and Sociology are helpful for contemporary human or historical geography; while Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics and Physics are useful supporting subjects for physical geography. However, there's no distinction between 'human' and 'physical' geographers in terms of their A Level/IB Higher Level subjects. A foreign language is also of help in this international discipline.

A wide span of careers

Our graduates enter many different careers, including industry and commerce, planning, teaching, finance, social work, environmental management and conservation, the media, politics, and the Civil Service. While Geography isn't directly a 'vocational' degree, Cambridge Geography graduates are trained to deal with multivariate problems, are skilled in information retrieval, data management and computing, and are used to working on their own initiative, and as such are highly employable in a variety of professions.

Course outline

Year 1 Part IA You study the following two papers, which are assessed at the end of the year by written examinations (one three–hour examination for each paper): Human Geography Physical Geography You also take the Geographical Skills and Methods paper that covers numerical methods; survey and interview techniques; documentary and archival data; spatial data; and field, laboratory and desk–based skills. Year 2 Part IB In Part IB, all students take a core paper covering geographical ideas and themes relating to global change. This paper is assessed through both coursework and an end of year examination. In addition, students select three papers from a choice of six, which are also assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. Each year three papers based on human geography topics and three relating to physical and environmental geography will be available. The lists below give examples of the papers that may be offered at Part IB: Human Geography Cities Understanding the Economy – Contemporary Geographies of Capitalism Development Geography and Public Policy Culture and Society Physical and Environmental Geography Processes in the Climate System Glacial Processes, Landforms and Sediment Environmental Hazards Biogeography Rivers and Coasts Building on the Part IA Skills and Methods paper, you also undertake project work involving a range of field, laboratory and computer skills and techniques. All second–year students participate in a one week residential field class. Held during the Easter or summer vacations, the field class is essential for your final year dissertation research, both in terms of inspiring you in your choice of topics and in teaching specific field research skills. A piece of submitted work on the field class forms part of your second–year assessment.

Year 3 Part II You select four papers, from a choice of 12, which are assessed by either three–hour written examination or by a combination of two–hour written examination and coursework project. Papers on offer vary each year but those available in 2010–11 include: Europe and Beyond: Politics, Societies and Economies Political Geography: Geographies of Post–Colonialism The Social Engagement with Nature The Human Geography of the Arctic Regions Contemporary India: The Politics of Society, Environment and Development Geographies of Discipline and Social Regulation in the Nineteenth Century Biosedimentary Coastal Systems Biogeography Glacial Environments Volcanology You're also required to write a dissertation of 10,000 words on a topic of your choice. During the summer vacation between your second and third years you need to start work on your dissertation. The topic must be defined by the second term of your second year and the proposal is assessed as part of second–year coursework.