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GeographyEntry 2012

Geography at Hull | 1

Your questionsanswered | 6

Our degree courses | 8BSc GeographyBSc Physical GeographyBA GeographyBA Human GeographyBA/BSc Environmental

ManagementMaster of Physical GeographyBA Geography and HistoryBA/BSc Geography and

ArchaeologyMajor/minor degrees

First-year modules | 22

Learning andteaching | 23

Degree course UCAS code Typical offer

BA Geography L700 BA/Ge 300 UCAS points

BSc Geography F800 BSc/Ge 300 UCAS points

BA Human Geography L720 BA/HG 300 UCAS points

BSc Physical Geography F840 BSc/PhyGe 300 UCAS points

BA Environmental Management F755 BA/EM 300 UCAS points

BSc Environmental Management F756 BSc/EM 300 UCAS points

Master of Physical Geography F841 MPhysG/G 340 UCAS points

BSc Geography and Archaeology FF84 BSc/GeA 300 UCAS points

BA Geography and Archaeology LV74 BA/GeA 300 UCAS points

BA Geography and History LV71 BA/GeH 300 UCAS points

BA Geography with Business F8N1 BA/GBus 300 UCAS points

BA Geography with Marketing F8N5 BA/GMkg 300 UCAS points

Entry requirements• Normally 300 points, including A level General Studies.• A mix of A and AS levels may also be acceptable.• Other qualifications, such as BTEC Nationals, OCR Nationals, Access to HE

Diplomas, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, Scottish qualifications andIrish Leaving Certificates, are welcomed. Some qualifications may permit entry tothe second or third year of our degree courses.

• The University encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Weconsider applicants on the basis of academic qualifications at Level 3 (A level orequivalent) and/or on the basis of other relevant knowledge and skills.Admissions tutors may interview some applicants.

• Applications from mature and international candidates are always welcome, andthese will be considered individually. Entry to the second or third year is possiblefor suitably qualified applicants.Further information

Admissions SecretaryDepartment of GeographyUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7Rx

01482 [email protected]/geog

If you have a UCAS number,please quote it in allcorrespondence.

Dates of semestersSemester 124 Sep – 14 Dec 2012

Semester 228 Jan – 10 May 2013

Key facts

Geographywww.hull.ac.uk 1

The Department of Geography is based in the attractive Cohen Building. Wehave a wide range of well-equipped teaching facilities, including lecturetheatres and seminar rooms, with new laboratories and networked computerareas.

The University Map Room, housed within the same building, provides excellentfacilities for private study and a resources service for geography students, while theUniversity’s main library, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the department,houses an extensive collection of geography books and periodicals along with thoseof allied subjects.

Geography has been taught at Hull since the University’s foundation in 1928. Our 22academic staff have a wide range of specialist interests and expertise, whichenables us to provide a variety of courses and more than 40 different modulesacross the breadth of human and physical geography.

Attentive, friendly and supportiveOur annual intake is around 130 students. This means that our staff–student ratio is1:17, which is very favourable by national standards and of obvious benefit to oursmall-group teaching. We are very friendly and supportive towards our students.

We are a leading department for our teaching and learning with extensive libraryand support facilities, offering a friendly and supportive environment. Our excellentreturn in the 2010 National Student Survey also showed that 93% of BA graduatesand 94% of BSc graduates were satisfied with their course.

A wealth of optionsThe modularised degree structure provides training in core areas of the subjectwhile offering you a wide range of choice across physical and human geography;but whatever you decide to choose, our aim is the same – to provide a stimulatingand supportive environment in which you can enhance your understanding of thisfascinating subject, and equip you with both academic and practical skills that willbe valued by potential employers.

Hull’s Department of Geography is recognised for the international standard of itsresearch. This expertise is captured to great effect in our teaching programmes,where staff are always ready to share their enthusiastic interest in their ownspecialist areas.

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Deepscience

The Deep isn’t just a spectacularaquarium and tourist magnet – it

also houses the department’s TotalEnvironment Simulator. This cutting-

edge experimental facility enablesour researchers to study water and

sediment transfer in pre-setconditions.

Geography4

The Geography SocietyGeog Soc is the department’s student society, organised entirely by students. It isone of the largest student societies at Hull, bringing students and staff together andgiving the department its renowned friendly atmosphere. The society also allowsstudents to make a valuable contribution to decision making within Geography,with representatives serving on the department’s Student–Staff Committee. Findour Facebook group under HUU GeogSoc.

Careers for geography graduatesTo help students plan their future after graduation, the University of Hull offers afirst-class Careers Service, whose success is demonstrated in the employmentsuccess rate of our graduates. The University is consistently near the top of leaguetables in this important area.

Our geography graduates in particular have an excellent employment record, notleast because of the breadth of skills that they acquire during both our subject-specific and our transferable skills modules.

The choice of careers is wide-ranging, including some where the ‘geography’ is putto direct use, such as environmental agencies and consultancy, GIS applications,planning, conservation and teaching, but many more where our graduates’ flexibleskills reap dividends in the wider job market – management, financial services,computing, marketing, public administration, transport, the media …

For some careers, further qualifications are important, and an increasing proportionof our graduates go on to postgraduate study – for example, MA, MSc and PhDdegrees, the PGCE teaching certificate, and various professional qualifications,especially in the financial services sector, business management, and town andcountry planning.

The variety of possibilities is illustrated by the range of careers taken up by some ofour recent graduates:

• biodiversity officer for a city council• scientist with the Environment Agency• town planner• secondary school teacher• environmental consultant• air traffic controller• BBC news reporter• landscape architect• exploration geologist• local government administrator• primary school teacher• management trainee with a water company• journalist on a local newspaper• countryside ranger• commercial property salesperson• GIS specialist

The views and experiences of some of our graduates are represented in thisbrochure.

‘The Physical Geography courseat Hull is a unique andinteractive subject, giving youinspiration to strive for what youwant. It is fascinating how thingsintegrate to form the changingworld, and reaching a balancebetween practical skills andtheoretical knowledge wasimportant.

‘I come from a family with noprevious knowledge of universityand achieved a Masters degree,giving me both broad andfocused skills to be employed inindustry. I came back to study anMRes as testament to the friendlyatmosphere and wide-rangingknowledge of staff and have nowachieved my dream job, whichwithout the skills I learnt duringmy degree I would not haveattained.’

Kate GarrickBSc Physical Geography


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Applying for geography at Hull –your questions answered

What geography degrees are offered at Hull?The Department of Geography offers seven single-subject degree courses:

• BA Geography• BSc Geography• BA Human Geography• BSc Physical Geography• BA Environmental Management• BSc Environmental Management• Master of Physical Geography

We also offer three joint degree courses:

• BSc Geography and Archaeology• BA Geography and History• BA Geography and Archaeology

And there are two major/minor combinations to choose from:

• BA Geography with Business• BA Geography with Marketing

All the BA and BSc degree courses are three years full-time but can also be studiedpart-time over a longer period. The Master of Physical Geography is a four-yearundergraduate course.

What qualifications will I need?Single Honours degree coursesFor entry to the BA and BSc Single Honours courses, our offers usually rangebetween 280 and 320 UCAS points either from three A level subjects or from two Alevels plus one or two AS subjects. We are also happy to consider other A and AScombinations and other types of qualification, and we welcome enquiries frommature and overseas students.

Geography at A level is not a prerequisite for any of our courses, though we doprefer geography to at least AS level, and for the BSc Physical Geography course ascience/technology subject to AS level is also preferred.

For entry to the four-year Master of Physical Geography course we usually require340 points, and applicants will normally be expected to have a stronger sciencebackground than for BSc entry.

Joint and major/minor degree coursesOur admissions policy for joint and major/minor degree courses is broadly similar tothat for the Single Honours degrees.

Do you encourage applications from mature or overseas candidates and fromthose with qualifications other than A and AS levels?Yes, we are always pleased to receive applications from both mature and overseascandidates. Qualifications other than A and AS levels will also be considered.(Follow the link at www.hull.ac.uk/undergraduate for alternative entryrequirements.) If you lack the usual entry qualifications, you are encouraged tocontact the department for informal discussion before submitting an application.


Will I be interviewed and may I visit the department?Decisions on most applicants are made without interview, on the basis ofinformation shown on the UCAS application. Applicants are then invited to attendone of our regular open days, which are held on Wednesdays or Saturdays duringthe period from February to April.

The open day allows applicants and their parents to meet and talk with staff andstudents informally and to tour the department and the University campus, and youwill be able to talk individually with a member of staff whose interests are relevantto the course for which you have applied. Parents can also take part in a question-and-answer session with a member of Geography staff.

If you are unable to attend an open day we will be happy to make alternativearrangements so that you can visit the department and speak to a member of staff.

How many places are available on the degree courses?We aim to admit a combined total of approximately 85 students to the BA and BScSingle Honours Geography courses. The BA Human Geography, BSc PhysicalGeography and Master of Physical Geography courses admit around 35 students.The joint and major/minor courses aim to admit collectively around 10 students.There are therefore expected to be about 130 new students next year in total,although the targets for individual courses can be varied.

What if I apply for a particular geography degree course but then wish tochange to a different course?BA and BSc Geography have a common first year, so there are no problems inswitching between the two courses at the end of the first year.

You can also transfer to the Master of Physical Geography course during the first twoyears of the BSc Geography or Physical Geography degree, subject to satisfactoryprogress.

Where can I get further information about admissions?Admissions SecretaryDepartment of GeographyUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX01482 [email protected]

If you have a UCAS personal ID number, please quote it in all correspondence.

Our open daysIf you receive an offer, you will be invited to an open day – when you can lookaround the University and the department and meet staff and current students.

Your open day will include

• tours of the campus and our student accommodation• talks on accommodation and finance• lunch in the department• an introduction to Geography at the University of Hull• a tour of the department• demonstrations of teaching facilities• individual meetings with teaching staff

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Our degree courses

The range ofspecialist interestsand expertise amongour staff allows us tooffer more than 40different modulesacross the breadth ofhuman and physicalgeography.

Below are summary outlines of the various choices available to you. Fulldescriptions of the degree courses can be found on pages 10-21.

BA and BSc GeographyThese courses begin with a common year of mostly compulsory modules, whichinclude both human and physical geography. In the second and third years the BAfocuses on human geography and the BSc on physical geography, but there is alsothe opportunity to maintain a broader mix if you wish, by taking some modules inthe other ‘half’ of the subject. You can also choose a module offered by otherdepartments. These courses therefore allow flexibility and are particularly suited tostudents who wish to keep their options as open as possible.

In the second and third years most of the modules are options – in humangeography these include historical and cultural geography, urban and ruralregeneration, and globalisation and development, while in physical geography theyinclude landforms and processes, ecological systems, and environmental change.Further options allow you to focus on environmental issues or on GIS (geographicalinformation systems), remote sensing and geographical modelling. In the third yearthere is also an optional work placement module, as well as the opportunity tostudy for part of your course at a university in the USA or in Europe.

First yearThe first-year programme has a strong core element, which gives a basic groundingin the subject. All students take modules in geographical methods, which include arange of transferable skills such as written, oral and graphical presentation,computing, data handling and methods of geographical enquiry. First-year modulesin human geography focus on the developed and developing world and issues ofglobalisation. Modules in physical geography focus on geomorphology, earthclimate, biogeography and natural hazards. You have the option to take a modulefrom outside the department in any subject, including modern languages.

Second yearIn the second year the core skills include field methods, project design, datacollection, analysis and presentation. Second-year option modules in humangeography concentrate on economic, social, historical, political and culturalgeography. Physical geography modules examine earth surface processes andlandforms, ecosystems, and environmental change. There are also moreenvironmental-based modules relating to urban and rural regeneration, landscapehistory and geographies of consumption. A number of optional overseas field-studymodules are available in the second year. Current locations for BSc student fieldtrips are south-east Spain and Tenerife, while destinations for BA students includeSpain and Italy.

Third yearIn the third year you choose modules which lead on from your second-yearprogramme, an arrangement which maintains progression by allowing subjects tobe studied in greater depth. Human geography modules focus on the political,economic, social and cultural transformations that the world is experiencing.Topics in physical geography include rivers, biogeography, environmental change,and GIS and remote sensing. Environmental-based options include climate change,applied environmental management, renewable energy and water resources.Advanced field-study modules based in Iceland and New York are available to BSc


and BA students respectively. An important and core part of the third year is thedissertation, a piece of individual research work on a topic devised by yourself andcarried out under the guidance of a supervisor.

BA Human GeographyThis course is similar to BA Geography but allows you to specialise in humangeography from the outset and to combine economic, social, cultural, political,historical and environmental geography with the study of particular world areasand/or a European language. The third year allows choice from a number ofspecialised options leading on from the topics studied in the first two years, andalso includes the dissertation.

BSc Physical GeographyThis course is similar to BSc Geography but allows you to specialise in physicalgeography from the outset, along with related aspects of the earth andenvironmental sciences. The first two years provide training in many areas ofphysical geography, including geomorphology, biogeography, soils, hydrology,sedimentology, oceanography and environmental change, and in the third yearthere is a choice of specialised options building on these topics. Throughout thecourse there is an emphasis on project, field and laboratory work, and thedissertation is also a core part of the course.

Master of Physical GeographyThis four-year undergraduate course cultivates awareness of recent developmentsin physical geography and of the research skills relevant in problem solving. In thefirst two years it is similar to the BSc Geography and Physical Geography courses,but Years 3 and 4 involve a higher level of study, heavily weighted towards field andlaboratory work. A major part of the fourth year also involves designing andexecuting a piece of original research to be presented as a dissertation. You mayapply through UCAS for direct entry to this course or transfer to it during the firsttwo years of the BSc Geography or Physical Geography course, subject tosatisfactory progress.

Joint Honours degreesThese courses are designed for students who have a strong interest in a disciplinerelated to geography and wish to continue studying both subjects equally. In thedegree that combines geography with history, the geography half focuses on humangeography. All students can opt to complete a dissertation on a geographical topicof their own choice.

Major/minor combinationsIn these degrees about 75% of your time is devoted to geography – the major subject– and the other 25% to the second subject. We offer BA degree combinations withbusiness and marketing, in both of which the geography element focuses on humangeography. The business and marketing components of the degree are taught in theUniversity’s Business School, and cater for geography students who may beinterested in careers involving these skills.

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BSc GeographyUCAS code F800

The BSc Geography degree course lets you explorethe full range of human, physical and environmentalgeography through our wide range of modules.

The key strength of the BSc degree is its flexibility. Youcan study complex dynamic processes such as rivers,glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, ecology, climate andclimate change, landscape history, and environmentalmonitoring and modelling as well as theinterrelationships, across space and time, betweenpeople and between humans and the environment.

Students on the BSc degree mainly take physicalgeography modules, but they must take two humanmodules in the first year and may take human orenvironmental modules as options in the second andthird years. The number of optional modules increasessignificantly in Year 3, allowing you to specialiseaccording to your interests: geomorphology; ecology;environmental change; and environmental monitoringand modelling.

All BSc Geography students acquire key skills, includingGIS, data analysis, group work and report writing. Theyparticipate in field studies in the North York MoorsNational Park in the first year. A number of optionaloverseas modules are available in the second year.Current locations for BSc student field trips are south-east Spain and Tenerife. Additional field studies may beassociated with particular optional modules. There isalso an optional third-year field course based in Icelandor New York.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Global Environments• Introducing Human Geography• Landforms and Ecosystems• Geographies of Development

Optional modules• Dangerous Planet• World Cities• A module outside the department

Year 2Core module• Research Methods

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. Spain or Tenerife)• Geomorphology: Processes and Landforms• Economies, Politics and Space• Cultural and Historical Geography• Urban and Rural Management• Shopping and Space• Past Environments• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• Dynamic Planet• A module outside the department

Year 3Core module• Dissertation

Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Water Resources• Fluvial Processes and Management• Renewable Energy• Past River Environments• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• Food, Space and Society• Geography and Empire• Spatial Analysis (GIS)• Geography of Travel• Children’s Geographies• Space and Power in the North American City• Critical Geographies of European Migration• Wetland Archaeology• Sustainable Futures• Plant Identification and Distribution• Advanced Field study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department


Photograph by Mike Park.

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BSc Physical GeographyUCAS code F840

The Physical Geography degree offers theopportunity to explore both physical processes andenvironmental aspects of geography.

This BSc course shows how environments have changedin the past, what controls the dynamics of environmentsin the present and how we can predict changes in thefuture. The major components of environmentalvariability are studied, and an important aspect of thecourse is hands-on training in practical analyticaltechniques.

The course is built around a core of earth sciencemodules. Options and field studies in Years 2 and 3 aresimilar to those for BSc Geography, with the addition ofcore and optional modules such as GeoprocessModelling.

All students participate in a field trip to the North YorkMoors National Park in the first year. A number ofoptional overseas field-study modules are available inthe second year. Current locations for field trips aresouth-east Spain and Tenerife. Many optional modulesalso include a field-work element, and there is anoptional third-year field course based in Iceland orNew York.

The Physical Geography degree recruits 15–20 studentseach year. The provision of small-group teaching and thedevelopment of a wide range of field and laboratoryskills are central to this programme.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Global Environments• Geoscience• Geobiology• Landforms and Ecosystems

Optional modules• Dangerous Planet• A module outside the department

Year 2Core module• Research Methods

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. Spain or Tenerife)• Processes and Landforms• Past Environments• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• Dynamic Planet• A module outside the department

Year 3Core modules• Dissertation• Geoprocess Modelling

Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Past River Environments• Water Resources• Spatial Analysis (GIS)• Fluvial Processes and Management• Renewable Energy• Wetland Archaeology• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• Plant Identification and Distribution• Field study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department


BA GeographyUCAS code L700

The BA Geography degree lets you explore in depththe interactions between society and environment.

Students on this degree mainly take human geographymodules, but they must take two physical modules in thefirst year and may take physical or environmentalmodules as options in the second and third years. Thenumber of optional modules increases significantly inYear 3, allowing you to specialise according to yourinterests: urban and regional sustainability; geographiesof political and economic change; and societies, culturesand landscape.

Field trips are an important aspect of this course, givingyou hands-on experience of using human geographyfield techniques. Students participate in a field study inWhitby in the first year. A number of overseas field-studymodules are available in the second year. Recentlocations for BA student field trips have included Spain,Italy and Germany. There is also an optional third-yearfield course in Iceland or New York.

All BA Geography students acquire key skills, includingappreciation of places and their differences, awarenessof spatial connections, an understanding of landscapechange, and expertise in geographical informationsystems, data analysis, qualitative methods, group workand report writing.

The BA course will encourage you to develop the abilityto think geographically from different perspectives,which will help you both as a student and in your futurecareer.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Global Environments• Introducing Human Geography• Landforms and Ecosystems• Geographies of Development


Year 2Core module• Research Method

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. Italy, Spain, Germany)• Processes and Landforms• Economies, Politics and Space• Cultural and Historical Geography• Urban and Rural Management• Shopping and Space• Past Environments• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• Dynamic Planet• A module outside the department


Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Water Resources• Fluvial Processes and Management• Renewable Energy• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• Food, Space and Society• Geography and Empire• Spatial Analysis (GIS)• Geography of Travel• Children’s Geographies• Space and Power in the North American City• Wetland Archaeology• Past River Enviroments• Plant Identification and Distribution• Sustainable Futures• Field study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department

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BA Human GeographyUCAS code L720

The Human Geography degree lets you explore indepth the processes of social, political and economicchange.

A wide range of modules about cities, development,sustainability, economies, globalisation, resources, ruralchange, culture, identity, nationalism, social exclusionand historical landscapes are available.

Students on this course take the same core humangeography modules as those on the BA Geographycourse plus one additional specialised humangeography module. You are not required to take anyphysical or environmental modules. Instead, you selectan additional module from a range of social science andhumanities options, or you can take a modern language.

Field trips are an important aspect of this course, givingyou hands-on experience of using human geographyfield techniques. All students participate in a field studyin Whitby in the first year. A number of overseas field-study modules are available in the second year. Recentlocations for BA student field trips have included Spain,Italy and Germany. There is also an optional third-yearfield course based in Iceland or New York.

All Human Geography students acquire key skills,including appreciation of places and their differences,awareness of spatial connections, and expertise ingeographical information systems, data analysis,qualitative methods, group work and report writing.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Introducing Human Geography• Geographies of Development• Imagining Places

Optional modules• Modern American Literature Survey• Consumer Cultures• Introduction to European Politics• Introducing Social Research• Archaeology – History, Theory and Method• Dangerous Planet• World Cities• A humanities or social science module or another

module outside the department

Year 2Core modules• Research Methods• Economies, Politics and Space• Urban and Rural Management

Optional modules• Field study (Spain, Italy or Germany)• Cultural and Historical Geography• Power and Resistance in a Globalising World• Gender Power and Politics in the Americas• Dynamic Planet• Shopping and Space• A module outside the department


Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Space and Power in the North American City• Advanced Field Skills (Iceland or New York)• Sustainable Futures• Spatial Analysis• Archaeology of the Castle• War in European History, 1500–1815• From Revolution and Romanticism to Sex and the City:

19th-Century French Art• Critical Geographies of European Migration• Geography and Travel• Children’s Geographies• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• After Nelson: Navy and Society• The Parisi: Iron Age and Roman East Yorkshire• The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Economy• Organisations of Violence• A module outside the department


BA/BSc Environmental ManagementUCAS code F755/F756

The BA and BSc Environmental Management degreecourses enable you to explore a wide range ofenvironmental issues and processes that linktogether physical and human systems.

The courses have a common first year, when studentstake both natural and social science modules. After thefirst year, you may specialise more in natural science(BSc) or social science (BA), depending on the optionsthat you choose. In natural science you can studycomplex and dynamic physical environments andprocesses, such as rivers, glaciers, volcanoes,earthquakes, ecology, climate and climate change, aswell as techniques for environmental monitoring andmodelling. In social science, you can study complexhuman problems, organisations and activities, such assustainable resource use, urban regeneration, ruralmanagement, environmental policy and sustainableconsumption.

Being based in a geography department means that thecourses are diverse and emphasise interrelationshipsacross space and time, and between humans and theenvironment, in considering the challenges forenvironmental management.

All students acquire key skills, including GIS(geographical information systems), data analysis, groupwork and report writing, through core modules andthrough field work, which offers students hands-onexperience of using environmental techniques. Fieldwork is offered in the local region and overseas invarious modules. All first-year students participate infield studies in the North York Moors National Park, anda number of optional overseas field-study modules areavailable in Year 2 – current locations are France,Tenerife, Spain and Italy. Additional field studies mayalso be associated with particular optional modules, andthere is an optional third-year field course based inIceland or New York.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Environmental Issues• Global Environments• Introduction to Geographical Methods

Optional modules• Global Environments• Introducing Human Geography• Landforms and Ecosystems• Geographies of Development• Dangerous Planet• World Cities• A module outside the department

Year 2Core modules• Environmental Management Principles• Research Methods

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. Tenerife, Italy, Spain or Germany)• Economies, Politics and Space• Urban and Rural Management• Shopping and Space• Past Environments• Geomorphology• Dynamic Planet• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• A module outside the department


Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Plant Identification and Distribution• Spatial Analysis• Advanced Field Skills• Sustainable Futures• Food, Space and Society• Water Resources• Fluvial Processes and Management• Past River Environments• Renewable Energy• Space and Power in the North American City• Field Study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department

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Master of Physical Geography(4 years)UCAS code F841

The Master of Physical Geography degree course isthe first of its type in the UK. Our high-calibreacademic staff, which includes geologists,geochemists, botanists, atmospheric scientists andarchaeologists as well as specialist physicalgeographers, enables a wide range of modules to beoffered. These give you the opportunity to acquirekey skills and knowledge which will enable you tounderstand and interpret how environments havechanged in the past, what controls the dynamics ofenvironments in the present and how changes in thefuture might be predicted.

The emphasis is on small-group teaching and student-centred learning. We attach considerable importance topractical and field-based teaching.

Students taking the MPhysGeog degree study physicalgeography modules selected from our two BSc courses inYears 1 and 2, with specialist modules coming in thethird year. The dissertation occupies about half of thefinal year and offers you the opportunity to undertakeindependent research closely related to your owninterests.

In Years 1 and 2, students participate in the same fieldstudies as those taking the BSc courses. In Year 3, thefield-study topics are determined by the choice ofoptional modules. In Year 4, there is an advanced field-workshop module which involves a week in the MalteseIslands.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Global Environments• Landforms and Ecosystems

Optional modules• Geoscience• Geobiology• Dangerous Planet• A module outside the department

Year 2Core module• Research Modules

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. Spain or Tenerife)• Processes and Landforms• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• Past Environments• Dynamic Planet• World Cities• A module outside the department

Year 3Core modules• Literature Review Dissertation• Problem Solving and Research Design• Geoprocess Modelling

Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Water Resources• Wetland Archaeology• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• Spatial Analysis (GIS)• Renewable Energy• Fluvial Processes and Management• Past River Enviroments• Field study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department

Year 4Core modules• Dissertation• Field study (Malta)

Optional modules• Applied Environmental Change• Introduction to Programming• Blue Planet• Green Planet


Geography18

BA Geography and HistoryUCAS code LV71

History and human geography have manysimilarities, both in the intellectual questions thatthey seek to address and in the techniques that theyemploy in order to answer them. The relationshipsbetween humans, their environment and each otherare questions which occupy researchers in bothdisciplines. Geographers can benefit from evidencederived from the historical record, and historiansoften draw upon geographical knowledge andconcepts in interpreting the past.

On this degree you will therefore be studying twodisciplines which support and complement each othervery well. Students gain the key skills and backgroundknowledge to investigate the network of interconnectedrelationships that make up societies and cultures acrosstime and space.

Field trips are an important aspect of the course. Allstudents participate in a field study in Whitby in the firstyear. A number of optional field-study modules areavailable in the second year. Recent locations for fieldtrips have included Spain, Italy and Germany. There isalso an optional third-year field course based in Iceland.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• Introducing Human Geography• Geographies of Development

Optional modules• Representing the Past in Film• Asia and the World since the late 19th Century• The Making of Europe, 1100–1300• Making and Meaning: An Introduction to the History

of Art• Reform and Reaction: The Reformation and English

Society, 1529–1583• Consumer Cultures• Dangerous Planet• World Cities• A module outside the Departments of Geography and

History

Year 2Core modules• Research Methods• Cultural and Historical Geography

Optional modules• UK field study• Dynamic Planet• Shopping and Space• Pre-Conquest Settlement of the Americas• The Age of Discovery• The Dutch in the Golden Age• The Archaeology of Roman Britain• The Impact of the First World War in Britain• An Enlightened Century: Britain, 1700–1800• Imperialism, Nationalism and Decolonisation• Italian Renaissance Art: The High Renaissance in

Rome• Indian Society and the Rise and Fall of British

Dominion• Ruling England• Britain, France and Decolonisation• Venetian Renaissance Art• Britons, Angles, Saxons and the Vikings: The

Archaeology of Early Medieval England• Disease, Sex and Medicine: The Body in Early Modern

Europe• A Society in Transition: England, 1700–1815• Emancipation to Revolution: The Modernisation of the

Russian Economy, 1861–1917• Dying and Death in Western Europe: From Rome to the

Renaissance• Piracy, Privateering and the Atlantic Economy,

1560–1856• The British Empire• East and West Germany from ‘Zero Hour’ to

Reunification• The Victorians• A module outside the Departments of Geography and

History



Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Food, Space and Society• Geography and Empire• Geography of Travel• Children’s Geographies• Space and Power in the North American City• Sustainable Futures• Advanced field study (Iceland)• The Parisi: Iron Age and Roman East Yorkshire• From Revolution and Romanticism to Sex and the City:

19th-Century French Art• Britain and the Slave Trade• Occupation, Collaboration and Resistance in Western

Europe• Command!• Medieval Yorkshire• Britain in Decline: Economic Performance in the 20th

Century• Britain, the United States and the Middle East,

1945–1962• Army, State and Society in France, 1740–1914• Gender and Culture in Early Modern England• Wetland Archaeology• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• Critical Geographies of Migration• Sea Change: Britain’s Maritime Interests• A module outside the Departments of Geography and

History

‘I chose Hull because of thereputation of the department, themodules on offer, and theattractiveness and good locationof the campus.

‘The choice of modules allowedme to develop my interest inspecific areas of environmentalresearch while still keeping ageneral overview of the widersubject.

‘Through the Hull course I wasable to gain a balancedappreciation of how the differentfields of environmental researchdovetail with each other. Thiswas greatly aided by the manyfield trips, local and overseas,and by the approachability ofstaff.

‘The breadth of the course, aswell as the opportunities forspecialisation, made it theperfect springboard for Masters-level study. With support fromstaff, I gained entry to an MSc inGIS at Edinburgh.

‘After the MSc I moved toCambridgeshire to work as a GISspecialist at the Centre forEcology and Hydrology at MonksWood, where my projects includemodelling acidity deposition,spatial analysis of pollutionclusters, wetland managementand species conservation.’

Richard BroughtonBSc Physical Geography

Geography20

BA/BSc Geography and ArchaeologyUCAS code LV74/FF84

These degrees offer a combination of theoretical andpractical modules. They are novel courses whichseek to combine the key aspects of geography andarchaeology around the theme of the environment,past and present.

The courses aim to foster the skills needed for theobservation, analysis and evaluation of the relationshipsthat have existed and exist today between people,environment and resources; to develop yourunderstanding of past societies through the study ofarchaeological evidence; and to develop yourunderstanding of the theory and practice of archaeologyand geography, and their relationship to each other.

These degrees cultivate a range of core skills that will beinvaluable both before and after you graduate. You willdevelop the ability to work cooperatively with others aswell as to organise your own work effectively. Thecourses emphasise independent thought, problemsolving and the analysis of complex issues. Such skillsare highly valued by employers.

Our graduates go on to employment relating toarchaeology and geography (in the UK there are jobs inuniversities, museums, archaeological units, planningdepartments and national parks), or within related areassuch as publishing or the growing fields of heritage andenvironmental management.

Degree structure

Year 1Core modules• Introduction to Geographical Methods• British Archaeology• Global Environments• Archaeology: History, Theory and Method• Landforms and Ecosystems


Year 2Core modules• Research Methods• Archaeological Field Methods

Optional modules• Field study (e.g. France, Tenerife, Spain, Italy or

Germany)• Processes and Landforms• Death and Burial• Dynamic Planet• Britons, Angles and Saxons• Cultural and History Geography• Economies, Politics and Space• Urban and Rural Management• Archaeology of Roman Britain• Shopping and Space• Past Environments• Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere• A module outside the department


Optional modules• Applied Project (placement)• Spatial Analysis (GIS)• Sustainable Futures• Fluvial Processes and Management• Food, Space and Society• Plant Identification and Distribution• Renewable Energy• Water Resources• Geographical Ecology• Wetland Archaeology• Archaeology of the Castle• Critical Geographies of European Migration• Geography and Travel• Children’s Geographies• Past River Environments• Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers• The Parisi: Iron Age and Roman East Yorkshire• Field study (Iceland or New York)• A module outside the department


On these degrees,where geography isthe major subject,75% of your time isdevoted to geographymodules.

Major/minor degrees

BA Geography with Business

UCAS code F8N1This is the degree course for you if you want to combine your interest in geographywith developing knowledge on a range of subjects relevant to the business world. Itprovides experience in business management and develops specific business skills.The business component of the course involves taking two compulsory modules inYear 1 (Business Environments and Marketing), a further two in Year 2 (BusinessFunctions and Business Law and Ethics) and one in Year 3 (International Business).

BA Geography with Marketing

UCAS code F8N5If you wish to gain experience in marketing alongside your studies in geography,this is the degree course for you. It involves a mixture of theoretical and vocational-based subjects, which gives you an in-depth knowledge and understanding of theprinciples of marketing. You will develop a toolbox of marketing techniques and anappreciation of the role of marketing within a range of business environments. Themarketing component of the course involves taking two compulsory modules inYear 1 (Business Environments and Marketing), two in Year 2 (Buyer Behaviour andMarketing Operations) and one in Year 3 (International Marketing).

Please note that the University also offers a BA degree in Sociology andAnthropology with Geography, in which geography is the minor subject. Forfurther details, see the Criminology, Sociology and Gender Studies pamphlet.

Geography22

Global Environmentsexamines how the complex interaction of earth surface,oceanic and atmospheric processes affects thedistribution of different environments and species acrossthe globe. The significant longer-term processes affectingthe planet, from plate tectonics to climate change, arereviewed to identify current and future changes in theenvironments that we see around us today.

Introducing Human Geographyintroduces the key ideas, concepts and debates ofcurrent human geography. The factors influencing thedevelopment of economies and cultures at a global levelare examined.

Landforms and Ecosystemsstudies the patterns of life at the landscape scale, fromtropical rainforests through to arctic tundra, andexamines the type and formation of landforms fromdeserts to glaciers.

Imagining Placesinvestigates the ways in which we know and interpretplaces and construct our understandings of the world.The module explores geographical imaginations througha series of case studies of different places and world-regions in the past and the present.

Geographies of Developmentintroduces a range of themes covering our currentunderstanding of development and how it is conceivedin both the North and the South. Both historical andcurrent perspectives on the development of countries inAfrica and America are examined, with a focus onethnicity, migration, equality and social dynamics.

World Citiesexamines what makes some of the world’s mostimportant urban centres distinctive, and the ways inwhich cities are represented and perceived. A range ofcities including New York, Berlin, London and LosAngeles are studied to understand their role in a‘globalising’ world.

Dangerous Planetstudies the environmental hazards which have acatastrophic effect on landscapes and the people wholive in them. The causes and impacts of floods,earthquakes, volcanoes, droughts and avalanches areanalysed.

British Archaeologystudies the key chronological periods and culturaldevelopments of British archaeology from earlyprehistory to the more recent historical era.

Archaeology: History, Theory and Methodintroduces the methods of archaeological investigationin a variety of situations and reviews the means ofanalysis and interpretation.

Tutorials / Geographical Methodsintroduces the ideas and methods behind geographicalresearch, using an integrated tutorial- and class-basedapproach.

Geobiologyintroduces the laboratory and field techniques requiredfor the study of past environments.

Geoscienceprovides an introduction to laboratory and fieldtechniques used in earth science, including geologicalmap interpretation, rock and mineralogicalidentification, field logging and data gathering, andphotogeology.

First-year modules


Learning andteaching

Some frequently asked questions

What is the balance between formal examinations and other types ofassessment?Assessment is usually through a mixture of coursework and examination. Somegeography modules have a 50:50 split between coursework and examination, butothers are 100% coursework. The type of coursework varies. The teaching is splitinto two semesters, and most modules are taught and examined within the samesemester. So there are two exam periods: January and May/June.

What teaching methods are used, and how are students supported?We use a variety of teaching methods – lectures, tutorials, seminars, discussionclasses, practical classes and field work. We place particular emphasis on theweekly first-year tutorial, helping you to develop learning skills as part of thetransferable skills programme and to make a smooth transition to university study.Seminar and discussion classes are used in teaching, particularly in the second andthird years, along with lectures, in all years. All students attend practical classes incomputing as part of the transferable skills programme, while students takingphysical geography modules also participate in laboratory classes.

A range of field-work activities in the UK and overseas are offered across differentmodules, providing valuable opportunities to experience and study varied humanand physical environments at first hand.

In addition to support from tutorials, each student has a supervisor who looks aftertheir academic and personal well-being throughout their degree course. Studentsalso benefit from the support of technical staff and postgraduate teaching assistantsin computing and laboratory classes, as well as assistance from the department’sStudent Progress Officer.

The department has its own teaching rooms, library, computer facilities andlaboratories within the Cohen Building, all providing an excellent learningenvironment. The department has three computer rooms accessible toundergraduate students, a work area of 50 networked computers, a teachingresource area of 12 computers and a GIS laboratory with 30 computers. We also havea newly equipped large teaching laboratory as well as a range of smaller specialistlaboratories for both teaching and research.

What areas of geography can be studied at Hull?The modules offered reflect the varied research interests of the department’sacademic staff and cover the spectrum of geography. Most of these are availableeither as core or as option modules to students on the BA and BSc Geographycourses. Our other degree courses consist of packages of modules tailored to meettheir specialist requirements. We are continuously working to improve the rangeand scope of the modules that we offer, so the modules may change from time totime, but the lists within the course outlines on pages 10–20 give a flavour of thebreadth of areas currently available for study.

Geography24

Field teachingFor many students, field work is one of the highlights of their degree studies, and atHull we regard field teaching as a vital part of our courses. ‘The field’ is the ultimategeographical laboratory, and learning to work in it is crucial to your development asa geographer. Field work involves the use of techniques of observation, informationrecording and interpretation, and provides a deeper understanding of what aparticular area is like, how it was shaped and how it functions.

Field work plays an important part in each year of our degree courses. In the firstyear, soon after arrival in Hull, all new Geography students attend a residential fieldstudy, usually in Whitby or Scarborough. This introduces the geography of the localarea (especially the Yorkshire Wolds and the North York Moors National Park) andthemes, concepts and techniques which are developed in the Geographical Methodsmodule and tutorials. In the second year, students have the option to participate inan overseas field course – recent venues include Spain, Italy, New York andTenerife. In the third year there is an optional field-based study module whichinvolves travel to either Iceland or New York.

Local field work is integral to many modules in all three years, and Hull is wellplaced to explore the geographical diversity of its region – the North Sea coast, theHumber Estuary, the West and South Yorkshire industrial conurbations, the PeakDistrict, the North York Moors and Northumbria are all within easy reach.

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a unique experience. We aimto provide you with an education that offers both depth and breadth ofknowledge. To meet these ends the University has developed an optional FreeElective Scheme. This scheme enables the majority of undergraduate studentsto take one module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

What sort of subjects can I take?You can take almost any free elective module from outside your main course ofstudy, usually at your home campus. You can even take a module from anotherfaculty. You should discuss your choice of free electives with your supervisor.

What are the main reasons for participating?• The scheme gives you the opportunity to study a subject without having to

commit yourself to taking further modules in that subject area.• By taking a free elective you are able to follow up your interests as part of your

degree.• With a broader education you may acquire extra skills that will help you when

you enter the employment market.

Admissions policyAdmissions information provided

in this pamphlet is intended as a

general guide and cannot cover all

possibilities. Entry requirements

are generally stated in terms of A

level grades and/or UCAS points,

but we encourage applications

from people with a wide range of

other qualifications and/or

experience. Some further details of

the various entry routes are

included in our general prospectus.

Please contact the Admissions

Service (see below) with any

specific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intended

principally as a guide for

prospective students. The matters

covered by it – academic and

otherwise – are subject to change

from time to time, both before and

after students are admitted, and

the information contained in it

does not form part of any contract.

While every reasonable precaution

was taken in the production of this

brochure, the University does not

accept liability for any

inaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please

write to

Admissions Service

University of Hull

Hull, HU6 7RX

T 01482 466100

F 01482 442290

E [email protected]

Free Elective Scheme

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits

20 credits

Here you take modules from yourmain course of study.

Here you have the option to take afree elective or another module fromyour main course of study.

ww

w.hull.ac.uk

Climate change. Globalisation.Geobiology. Social dynamics.

Volcanoes.And that’s just the first year.

Change the way you think.

Documents

2506~Geography UG 2012