16


MA Degree Programme


Geography What is distinctive about Geography?


Studying Geography at Dundee provides you with opportunities to explore some of the most exciting, challenging and relevant questions concerning the world’s human and physical environments.


These questions range from global concerns, such as the causes and consequences of climate change, or how the development of western industrial and post-industrial nations are linked


Extracurricular Activities


The opportunities for students to get to know each other and the staff through field excursions and other project work means that Geography has a well earned reputation for being one of the most friendly subjects to study. The Geography and Environmental Science Society (GESS) provides a lively and informal focus for student


Module Content Level 1


A World in Crisis? Population and Environment


This module examines the perceived crises associated with a rapid increase in population and its coincidence with forces resulting in global, regional and local damage to the physical environment.


A World of Plenty? Environment and Development


This module provides an overview of natural resources at the global level and introduces key concepts about social and economic change in different world regional settings.


Level 2 Dynamic Human Worlds


This module examines how space and place interact with social, cultural and economic processes. For example, it considers how different social groups define themselves geographically in terms of racial and class segregation, gated communities and ‘gang-land’ territories; and it looks at how firms decide where to locate and why some parts of the world are more affluent than others.


Dynamic Physical Worlds


This module covers key concepts used in geomorphology and hydrology, focusing on rivers, slopes and glaciers and the processes acting to create different landscapes. It also includes a residential field trip to the Scottish Highlands.


social activities, while the Dundee branch of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society provides an excellent programme of talks about expeditions and journeys to exotic locations which many students attend. In addition, many of our own students regularly organise their own expeditions to different parts of the world. In recent years


several groups of students have successfully raised the money and gained sponsorship to travel to Iceland, where they have carried out field work for their dissertations.


For further information see www.dundee.ac.uk/geography


to the under-development of other parts of the world; to more local issues, such as how ice shapes the physical landscape or how to develop environmentally sustainable urban development. And as a geographer at Dundee you will not simply be interested in these issues from an academic perspective but will learn how to apply your knowledge in order to analyse and solve a range of environmental and social problems. This means that, rather than spending all your time in


lecture rooms, libraries and laboratories, you will also go out into ‘the field’ to conduct your own observations and collect your own information. At Level 1, you will undertake fieldwork in the local Dundee area; at Level 2 you will participate in a residential field class in the Scottish Highlands among some of the UK’s most spectacular scenery; and at Levels 3 and 4 there are opportunities to carry out fieldwork overseas in locations ranging from south-east Spain to New York City.


Level 3


Research Methods and Field Skills (Sem1) Concepts and Techniques (Sem2)


This includes elements on ‘Geographical Thought’ (covering the history and key concepts of physical and human geography), ‘Statistics and Cartography’ (covering computer-aided analysis of data and the production of maps), and ‘Research Methods in Geography’ (students can choose to study the methods used in physical or human geography and get ‘hands-on’ experience of using these methods). In addition this module also includes a one week overseas residential field course which is currently held in south-east Spain.


Migration and Ethnicity


This module focuses on the global flows of labour migrants and refugees. Topics covered include the links between international migration and urbanisation and the political and social forces moulding UK immigration and asylum policy.


Glacial Processes and Environments


This module takes you to the spectacular ice- covered parts of the planet to discover how glaciers form, how they tell us about climate change, and how their motion impacts on the shape of the landscape.


Hydrology and Water Resources


This module focuses on the applied aspects of hydrology and water resource management. Issues addressed include flooding and climate change, managing the water balance in river basin catchments, and examining how hydrological hazards can be managed for the benefit of people and the environment.


Research Methods in Human Geography


This course provides you with relevant knowledge and skills to design a rigorous research project in human geography and to give you experience in using different methods in the field. The topics covered by the course include: • Getting started: how to design a research project


• Questionnaire surveys: how to design questionnaire surveys, different ways of using questionnaires, coding and analysis of questionnaire data


• In-depth interviewing: how to design an interview schedule, practice in doing interviews, and how to code and analyse interview transcripts


• Ethnographic methods covering use of participant observation and research diaries


Environmental Research Methods


This module provides you with relevant experiences to undertake a physical geography research project, as well as equipping you with skills relevant to professional life after university. Fundamental to the module is a mixture of experimental design, targeted fieldwork, laboratory analysis and report writing and includes: • Getting started: background and desk-top based research


• Characterising environments (mapping and sediment logs)


• Catchment water quality characterisation (field and laboratory)


• Topographic survey and mapping using GIS tools


• Sedimentological analysis of beach/dune systems


Population Geography


This module focuses on demographic change in the developed and developing worlds and addresses key questions about processes such as mortality, fertility and internal migration.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34