Year 1
In year one, students get to experience a wide range of topics and approaches to geography. Students do six modules, equating to 120 credit points:
Human Geography
In Human Geography, students spend a few weeks studying each of the sub-elements of human geography practised at Bristol. Depending on the lecturers present in the department at the time, the course may vary. However in general, students can expect to study: historical geography, economic geography, urban geography, social geography, political geography and cultural geography. For each element there are usually five lectures and extensive reading lists. An assignment, which forms part of your end of year mark, is linked to each element. Sometimes these will be group projects, but more frequently will be essays. The tutorial system, which runs as a separate course, will be linked to the work you are doing in the human geography elements. For example, when you are studying historical geography, it is quite likely in tutorial you will be given an essay focusing on topics studied in historical geography.
The course is really eye-opening and interesting. Human geography at university is very different to school, so don't be daunted if you are a bit bewildered at first. The key is to read, read and read some more. Only then will you be able to fully immerse yourself in the academic debates the course is presenting to you.
Physical Geography
Similarly to the human geography course, students will spend a few weeks on different physical geography subjects that are researched in the department. In recent years hydrology, cryosphere, oceans, geology and atmosphere have formed the elements of the course. Alongside lectures there are reading lists and practicals that students must read and attend respectively. Reports and exams form the assessment of the unit, these are spread out throughout the year. The unit is really interesting because by the end students have a really good idea of what is studied in the department, giving them lots of ideas for future module choices and potential dissertation questions.
REALLY useful course to watch at some point to help with first and second year physical geography:
http://oyc.yale.edu/geology-and-geophysics/gg-140
Geographical Practices
This unit is a really great one, and probably unique to Bristol. The first half consists of a course designed to give students an appreciation of the history of geography as an academic discipline. Geography, as you will learn, has gone through many changes and reforms in order to remain relevant as an academic discipline. This segment is assessed via a large essay set around Christmas. Candidates have a broad range of influential geographers to write about, so it is really interesting.
The second element of the course is the first year field trip. This occurs towards the end of the Easter holiday somewhere in the UK. Over the three days students do projects out in the field (all physical geography) and then give assessed presentations in the evening. The trip is quite intense, but it is really interesting and is lots of fun. Living together so close for a a few days really pulls everyone together, creating that fabled Bristol 'Geography love'.
Geographical Methods
In this unit geographers learn how to research. There is a heavy statistical element, which some people may find tricky, but determination and hard work are all that is needed to get good marks. The department has its own computer centre (and library, seminar rooms, UG common room...) and students spend a lot of time in there on numerous software packages. Later on in the year students also get to do some GIS which is really interesting. The unit is assessed via a number of reports and exams which occur throughout the year.
Open Modules
A massive perk of studying at UoB is the inclusion of open units or modules. These make up a small percentage of your course, and give you the opportunity to study a module in whatever you like. There are hundreds of open units to choose from. Geography offers a few, which are very popular, but in the past students have been known to venture out to economics, languages, history, sociology, politics and science. At the start of the year there is a big open units fair where students can go round and find out more about units they might like to take.
- 20 credits - Human Geography
- 20 credits - Physical Geography
- 20 credits - Geographical Practices
- 20 credits - Geographical Methods
- 2 x 20 credits - Open Units (Geography students also get the opportunity to do two open units in the first year, so if you really wanted you could do just two-thirds geography in your first year!)
Human Geography
In Human Geography, students spend a few weeks studying each of the sub-elements of human geography practised at Bristol. Depending on the lecturers present in the department at the time, the course may vary. However in general, students can expect to study: historical geography, economic geography, urban geography, social geography, political geography and cultural geography. For each element there are usually five lectures and extensive reading lists. An assignment, which forms part of your end of year mark, is linked to each element. Sometimes these will be group projects, but more frequently will be essays. The tutorial system, which runs as a separate course, will be linked to the work you are doing in the human geography elements. For example, when you are studying historical geography, it is quite likely in tutorial you will be given an essay focusing on topics studied in historical geography.
The course is really eye-opening and interesting. Human geography at university is very different to school, so don't be daunted if you are a bit bewildered at first. The key is to read, read and read some more. Only then will you be able to fully immerse yourself in the academic debates the course is presenting to you.
Physical Geography
Similarly to the human geography course, students will spend a few weeks on different physical geography subjects that are researched in the department. In recent years hydrology, cryosphere, oceans, geology and atmosphere have formed the elements of the course. Alongside lectures there are reading lists and practicals that students must read and attend respectively. Reports and exams form the assessment of the unit, these are spread out throughout the year. The unit is really interesting because by the end students have a really good idea of what is studied in the department, giving them lots of ideas for future module choices and potential dissertation questions.
REALLY useful course to watch at some point to help with first and second year physical geography:
http://oyc.yale.edu/geology-and-geophysics/gg-140
Geographical Practices
This unit is a really great one, and probably unique to Bristol. The first half consists of a course designed to give students an appreciation of the history of geography as an academic discipline. Geography, as you will learn, has gone through many changes and reforms in order to remain relevant as an academic discipline. This segment is assessed via a large essay set around Christmas. Candidates have a broad range of influential geographers to write about, so it is really interesting.
The second element of the course is the first year field trip. This occurs towards the end of the Easter holiday somewhere in the UK. Over the three days students do projects out in the field (all physical geography) and then give assessed presentations in the evening. The trip is quite intense, but it is really interesting and is lots of fun. Living together so close for a a few days really pulls everyone together, creating that fabled Bristol 'Geography love'.
Geographical Methods
In this unit geographers learn how to research. There is a heavy statistical element, which some people may find tricky, but determination and hard work are all that is needed to get good marks. The department has its own computer centre (and library, seminar rooms, UG common room...) and students spend a lot of time in there on numerous software packages. Later on in the year students also get to do some GIS which is really interesting. The unit is assessed via a number of reports and exams which occur throughout the year.
Open Modules
A massive perk of studying at UoB is the inclusion of open units or modules. These make up a small percentage of your course, and give you the opportunity to study a module in whatever you like. There are hundreds of open units to choose from. Geography offers a few, which are very popular, but in the past students have been known to venture out to economics, languages, history, sociology, politics and science. At the start of the year there is a big open units fair where students can go round and find out more about units they might like to take.
Picture from our Tewksbury Field Trip at the start of the year.
