GG4537: GEOGRAPHICAL ISSUES (2017-2018)

Last modified: 25 May 2018 11:16

Course Overview

This core, ‘capstone’ course is designed to develop further students’ critical understanding of the contemporary intellectual and real-world contexts in which the academic discipline of geography – and its graduates! – operates. The course involves the preparation of seminar presentations and short papers on a series of issues pertinent to contemporary geography. This work should showcase new philosophies and methodologies; and/or the relationships between geography and other academic disciplines; and/or applications of academic geography to real-world problems. Students also consider how they can best make use of their degree after graduation, with preparation of a reflective, career-planning report.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	4
Term	Second Term	Credit Points	30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus	None.	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Nicholas Spedding

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of GG3031 Approaches to Geography (Passed) or GG3052 Approaches to Earth and Environmental Science (Passed) or GG3063 Approaches to Geography (Joint Programmes) (Passed) or GG3071 Approaches to Geography (Passed)
Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

GG4512 Geographical Issues (Studied)
GG4539 Current Issues in Marine and Coastal Management (Studied)
GG4564 Current Issues in Marine and Coastal Management (Studied)
GG4566 Geographical Issues (Studied)
MR4511 Current Issues in Marine and Coastal Management (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

Geographical Issues explores the frontiers of geographical knowledge as it examines some of the 'cutting edge' debates associated with:

new philosophies and methodologies;
the relationships between geography and other academic disciplines;
applications of academic geography to real world problems.

The course integrates the various components of your geographical education to date. You are expected to draw together, and build on, your knowledge from previous courses to help you tackle challenging, perhaps unfamiliar, topics. The course involves the preparation of presentations and short papers on a series of high-profile issues pertinent to contemporary geography. More information on the topics selected will be provided on the course MyAberdeen site and at the first meeting of the class at the start of the second half-session. The course also requires you to consider how you can best make use of your degree in the 'real world' after graduation, with preparation of a reflective, career-planning report. This part of the course is supported by staff from University's Career Service, and builds on the Level 3 careers/employability workshops.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: By coursework (100%), two parts:

Part A: reflective career planning report (20%)
Part B: one seminar presentation (20% delivery + 20% content) plus two pieces of written work (20% each)

Resit: A resit for this course is not normally available until the following academic year.

Formative Assessment

There is no stand-alone, formal formative assessment.

Feedback

Students receive individual, written feedback on their coursework using standard comments sheets.

Course Learning Outcomes