Geography (Human) and Planning (BSc)

The combination of a general overview of human geography and planning linked to a research specialism allows students to cover a wide range of academic concerns while also following their own particular interests. Overall, the programme places emphasis on fusing the geography and planning disciplines with a view to developing a theoretically driven problem-solving approach to pressing social and environmental issues. The coverage of the degree and its recognition by the Royal Town Planning Institute make graduates from the programme highly prized by employers across a variety of sectors.

In the School of Geography and Planning we place a great emphasis on practical learning. To this end there are field study visits available in each year of the undergraduate programme. In Year 1, these field study visits are local to the Cardiff city region. In Year 2, students can opt to enjoy a residential field study visit to a European city (currently Amsterdam and/or Copenhagen for 2015). In their final year, students can opt for a field study visit to a global city location. Students arriving in September 2015 can choose from the following destinations: Hong Kong, Los Angeles or Tanzania.

The course offers a wide range of modules giving a broad perspective of fields, from economics and GIS, to statistics, environmental law and cultural geography. The field trips have helped broaden my horizons.

Jamie Trybus, Geography (Human) and Planning Year one

The first year provides an introduction to the core areas of geography and planning. You will cover issues such as the nature of geographical thinking, globalisation, the core elements of planning, and the developing world. Students will also develop the essential skills for accessing and processing information.

Find out more about some of our Core Modules from the module leaders

• The Geographical Imagination: An Introduction To Human Geography
• Cities
• Introducing Research Methods
• Urban Economies
• Society, Diversity and Planning

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsSociety, Diversity and PlanningCP012020 creditsIntroduction to Urban PlanningCP014320 creditsUrban EconomiesCP014420 creditsIntroducing Research MethodsCP013620 creditsThe Geographical Imagination: An Introduction to Human GeographyCP014020 creditsCitiesCP014120 creditsYear two

The second year builds on year one, looking in more depth at the history of geographical thought, the economic and cultural sub-fields of geography, the core practical disciplines of planning, and planning's application to environmental issues. A stream on geographical research provides a review of research techniques and issues, and also acts as an introduction to the dissertation to be completed in the third year.

Find out more about some of our Core Modules from the module leaders

• Geographical Ideas
• Developing Research Methods
• Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsDeveloping Research Methods IICP025510 creditsDeveloping Research Methods ICP025410 creditsEnvironment, Sustainability and Climate ChangeCP025120 creditsGeographical IdeasCP025320 creditsOptional modules

Module titleModule codeCreditsSpaces of Production: Economic GeographyCP021120 creditsCulture, Space and PlaceCP022120 creditsPolitical Geography: Place, Space and PowerCP022220 creditsGoverning People and PlacesCP024420 creditsSite Planning and Development ValuationCP025020 creditsPlanning, Markets and LandCP021020 creditsDevelopment and UnderdevelopmentCP025620 creditsSocial GeographyCP024220 creditsCitizen GeographiesCP024620 creditsPost Carbon Worlds: Energy GeographiesCP024720 creditsYear three

The third year pulls together the modules on planning and on geography in a combined Geography and Planning module. You also work towards your research dissertation, under the guidance of a specialist academic supervisor. You will then be able to choose the remaining three modules from a range of options, which include one among a number of Field Study Visits (FSVs) to various destinations. The options and FSVs are designed to enable you to specialise in particular topical areas and develop your own pathway through the degree.

Find out more about our Research Dissertation module from the module leader

• Research Dissertation

Please note
There are 4 core modules on the accredited route with a choice of 7 optional. For the non-accredited route there are 2 core and a choice of 11 optional.

Core modulesModule titleModule codeCreditsResearch DissertationCP031330 creditsGeography and PlanningCP036410 creditsOptional modules

Module titleModule codeCreditsContemporary International PlanningCP031020 creditsPlanning Theory and PracticeCP031220 creditsSustainable TransportCP033820 creditsCities and Social JusticeCP034020 creditsGeographies Of The Developing WorldCP034120 creditsHousing Inequalities: People, Places and PoliciesCP035620 creditsResearching Contemporary Issues in Los AngelesCP035920 creditsResearching Contemporary Issues in Hong KongCP035720 creditsResearching Contemporary Issues in TanzaniaCP036020 creditsDesign Guidance and ReviewCP035520 creditsGender, Space and PlaceCP036320 credits The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.