Geography With Mountain Leadership BSc (Hons)

In Level 4 (year 1) your studies will cover the breadth of physical and human geography. Core practical and tutorial modules provide an introduction to field investigation, map work, data analysis and graduate literacy skills. You will be given outdoor skills training, including a number of mountain days in the Peak District, Lake District and North Wales.
At Level 5 (year 2), as well as more in-depth study of a wide range of physical and human geographical processes, you will develop a wide range of practical skills which you will deploy on a UK residential field course. You will also complete a residential Mountain Leader Training course at Blue Peris Mountain Centre.
At Level 6 (year 3) you will have the opportunity to select from a range of specialist physical and human geography modules. You will undertake either a dissertation or a work experience project, and extend and refine your practical investigative skills on a core residential foreign field class. You will complete your Mountain Leader Award at a Mountain Training accredited residential assessment centre.

The Geography tutors recognise that students learn in different ways and we utilise a range of different teaching methods and situations ' including lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops (skills-based), fieldwork, technology packages, project work, role-plays, virtual learning environments and webpages to reflect this and to best deliver the specific learning outcomes of the modules. In all classes, emphasis is placed on active, experiential learning. Even many of the lectures involve student/student and student/staff interaction. Typically geography modules incorporate a variety of teaching and learning approaches into their delivery and as students progress from first year (Level 4) to final year (Level 6), there is a change in emphasis from tutor directed teaching within lectures and workshops to student centred independent learning. This is reflected in a reduction in weekly class contact hours from 12 -14 hours in first year, 8 -10 in second year and 6 - 8 hours in the final year. Moving from first to third year, there is also a change in emphasis from teaching and learning through the completion of structured class activities, worksheets and assignments in Level 4 and the first half of Level 5, to the increasing involvement of students in project work. This is where students have considerable input into the choice of topics for investigation as well as both the design and implementation of appropriate field, laboratory and literature based methods of enquiry (both individual and group based). This culminates with the completion of either a research project or a workplace project during the final year. Across all three levels, classroom based teaching is supported by residential fieldwork (three days at Level 4, six days at Level 5, seven days at Level 6). The fieldwork in first and second year is UK based while in final year all students participate in a foreign field course.
Directed study supports and builds upon the knowledge and skills learnt in class to provide a fuller understanding of the subject. Personal and module tutors are on hand to provide support to students to discuss any queries and to advise on coursework plans and initial drafts of final year projects. The curriculum is structured so that skills and knowledge developed in core modules can be transferred, reapplied and further developed between the option modules and between levels. The regular meetings which are built into the academic and personal tutorial system, student appraisals and personal development planning ensure that students constantly reflect upon, adapt and enhance their learning. Geography with Mountain Leadership students are also required to complete UK residential training and assessment courses prior to the start of second and third year respectively in order to complete the mountain leadership component of their award. To prepare students for these courses first year students take an Outdoor Skills modules which provides basic training in key skills such as navigation, hazards and emergency procedures, equipment and weather.