BSc

Physical Geography with Education

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You are viewing this course for September start 2023

Key Facts

F8X3

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 96

  • Course duration

    3 years

Further details on entry requirements

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In choosing to study this Physical Geography with Education Degree at Aberystwyth University you will be taught in one of the largest and longest-standing, Geography departments in the UK. The Physical Geography with Education degree course offers an interactive, varied and exciting course structure that combines theory, field studies and laboratory-based studies.

You will be taught by world-class staff who will help you to develop your understanding of the physical processes shaping the earth, from sea to rivers, glaciers to volcanoes, including landscapes from the arid to the Arctic. You will be given the option to travel on an international field trip in your second year of study. Aberystwyth is an area rich in natural beauty - as a student here you can't go far without catching glimpses of the sea, beautiful beaches, mountains or rivers.

You will be able to able to apply for PGCE teacher training courses at either Primary or Secondary level. Also, as long as you meet the entry requirements, you will be guaranteed an interview for PGCE at Aberystwyth.

Course Overview

Why study Physical Geography with Education at Aberystwyth University? 

  • This specialist BSc in Physical Geography with Education has been created for you to study the forces that shape the natural world, with the vocational benefit of understanding the latest theory and best practice of teaching in the twenty-first century.
  • This science-focused course has a major/minor degree course structure, meaning that you will spend two-thirds of your time examining the natural forces which shape and reshape a variety of terrains, and one-third on the processes and tactics for teaching and learning. This course is perfect for aspiring teachers, tutors and lecturers with a particular interest in geography.
  • You will find the study of Physical Geography with Education to be a highly complementary and stimulating experience with a strong vocational outcome. You can further pursue your interests by selecting from a range of optional modules, including Earth Surface Environments; The Dynamic Earth; Reading the Ice Age Record; Psychology of Learning and Thinking; Bilingual Education; Children's Rights; and Working with Play.
  • This course is delivered by our internationally-renowned Department of Geography and Earth Sciences and supported by the School of Education. The Department of Geography and Earth Sciences is one of the largest Geography communities in the UK and the fascinating coastal, fluvial and biological geography around Aberystwyth is an ideal setting in which to get out and conduct regular fieldwork – especially if you choose the residential Geography Fieldwork module, in which you will look at the forces at work within the environment first-hand.
  • This major/minor degree in Physical Geography with Education will be of great use to you in a range of graduate jobs, particularly in schools and colleges. Not only will you be thoroughly equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to apply for teacher training at primary or secondary level, you will also possess a high level of subject expertise in geography.
  • For jobs outside the classroom, your abilities in fluent communication, data handling and the formation of compelling arguments will prove to be huge assets in any graduate workplace.
  • The university has a proud tradition of research excellence, as demonstrated in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment. It placed the university in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity. It submitted 77% of eligible staff and 95% of the university's research was of an internationally recognised standard.
Our Staff

Department of Geography and Earth Science: lecturers are all qualified to PhD level or working towards a PhD.

Undergraduate lecturers in the School of Education are either qualified to PhD standard or are experienced practitioners in their field. All teaching staff currently possess, or are working towards, a recognised teaching qualification.

Modules September start - 2023

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

What can I do with a degree in Physical Geography?

Our graduates have, for example, found employment as environmental consultants, planners, civil servants, surveyors, in and in education among many other things.

Employability is embedded within all courses provided by us. Our degrees provide a solid foundation for a vast array of careers across a range of sectors. In a rapidly shifting global economy, our graduates are adaptable and able to draw on a range of transferable skills, ensuring that they are always in demand.

The skill sets include:

  • enhanced mathematical and computational skills
  • effective problem solving and creative thinking skills
  • information technology skills
  • ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • time-management, organisational skills
  • communication skills both written and oral
  • self-motivation and self-reliance.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three-year degree scheme.

In your first year, you will be introduced to:

  • key concepts in geographical study
  • issues and techniques in the collection, analysis and presentation of geographical data
  • the theory and principles surrounding the learner and the learning environment
  • climate change
  • the technology and tools that are used within teaching and learning 
  • effective classroom practices and teaching skills
  • landscape processes
  • global environmental change
  • numeracy and literacy for all 

In your second year you will develop further your:

  • laboratory and computer research skills in preparation for your independent research project
  • ability to analyse quantitative data sets
  • knowledge of the importance of safeguarding and professional practice
  • skills in producing maps and other graphical representations of geographical data
  • understanding of how to support learners with complex needs
  • knowledge of the policies and perspectives of learning differences and inclusions

You will also participate in a residential field trip in the UK or overseas, and

you can choose optional modules to specialise or simply maintain a broad interest across Geography.

In your third year:

  • you will undertake an independent research project involving the collection, analysis, and interpretation of your own data
  • learn about children's rights 
  • learn how to support learners with special educational needs
  • you will be allocated your own advisor who will provide guidance
  • learn about teaching methods
  • you will undertake a dissertation research project focusing on an area of interest 
  • you will learn about the role of assessment in education

Optional modules as diverse as glaciology, hydrology, volcanic hazards, and past climate change, will enable you to tailor your study to suit your interests.

How will I be taught?

Our courses are taught through lectures, seminars, laboratory and computer practicals, small group tutorials, field courses and individual supervision of project work.

How will I be assessed?

We assess our students through a different range of methods. Some modules are assessed in part through traditional exams, but some have elements of coursework. We also have some modules that may require the student to produce practical reports, oral presentations, the design of web pages, production of short films, or contribution to online discussion forums. Some modules, notably the tutorials and field courses are assessed entirely through coursework. 

Student Testimonials

Physical Geography is EVERYWHERE - especially in Aberystwyth. You can't go far without catching glimpses of the sea, beaches, mountains or rivers, and what better subject to take than one that allows you to explore how these came to be and how they're changing today? It's a subject that will never cease to amaze me, and the course itself explains it in such an engaging way, and in such brilliant detail. Rachel Say

The thing I love about my course is that here in Aberystwyth, it's all around me - we have the sea, we have the mountains, we have the rivers, we have the valleys. My degree is the only one that wherever I am in the world, I can look and see it all around me. Jonathan Ackroyd

Physical Geography starts with a love for the outdoors. It's brilliant because it's real, it's out there - you can't walk down a street without noticing geography. So many people have a fascination for the natural processes which take place around us, but few truly understand them. By studying Physical Geography you can gain valuable knowledge about the world around you. By engaging with the world we live in we can understand it, promote it and conserve it for future generations, and that's pretty cool! Emily Brown

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh and Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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