What do students actually study in a geography degree?
A geography degree examines how places, environments and societies interact. Depending on the course, students may study physical geography, human geography, climate and environmental change, mapping and GIS, statistics, research methods, and fieldwork. Later study can allow specialisation and may include an independent dissertation or applied project.
Key points
- Physical geography can cover landscapes, ecosystems, hazards, weather and climate.
- Human geography can cover cities, migration, development, culture, politics and economies.
- Practical work may include analysing spatial data, using GIS and carrying out field or laboratory investigations.
- Assessment may involve essays, reports, maps, data analysis, presentations, examinations and a research project.
Things to check
- The balance between physical and human geography, available specialisms, fieldwork and assessment depends on the university, country and course structure, so check the current course information.