Geography is a dynamic course that is grounded in the real world and deals with some of the major concerns of our time. Students study complex global challenges including climate change, food and water security, deepening poverty, rapid urbanisation, hazards, environmental degradation and rehabilitation. Geographers focus on the interactions between individuals, societies and the physical environment in both time and space, so we will explore these ideas by looking at the challenges facing communities who live for example in urban environments, and in zones of threat, such as tectonically active areas. Geography is about identifying trends and patterns in these interactions and examining the processes behind them. We also investigate the way people adapt and respond to change, and evaluate management strategies associated with change. Central to this is a consideration of different perspectives, economic circumstances and cultural diversity.

The answers to the broad and complex questions faced by geographers require the use of approaches from various fields using a holistic approach. Geographers are good at seeing how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. In Geography, we aim to develop students’ international understanding and foster a concern for global issues. This subject encourages students to appreciate our shared responsibility as citizens of an increasingly interconnected world, and to develop the values and attitudes to help them reach a degree of personal commitment in trying to resolve some of these issues. This is why you will find geographers working in international development agencies, resource management, politics, business, and environmental agencies.