Geography Brochure

Geography at Swansea

Geography

Geography at SwanseaGeography at Swansea

Contents

01 Introduction

02 Welcome

03 Why Geography?

04 Why Swansea Geography?

06 Geography research at Swansea

07 Living in Swansea

08 Our Degree Schemes

10 Geography Modules: Level One

12 Geography Modules: Levels Two and Three

14 Geographers at Swansea

16 Admissions Procedure

EnquiriesFor enquiries or further information about Geography at Swansea, please contact the Geography Admissions Tutor [email protected]

For general information about applying to the University, contact the Admissions Office+44 (0)1792 [email protected]

Visit the website for Swansea Geographywww.swansea.ac.uk/geography

The information in this booklet is correct at the time of printing but is liable to change. This booklet does not form part of any contract.



Introduction from Professor Marcus Doel, Head of School and Dr Adrian Luckman, Head of Geography

Thank you for considering Geography at Swansea for your university education. Your choice of course and university is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in life and we hope this brochure will help you make that decision.

Our aim at Swansea is to provide you with the highest-quality education in Geography and also a diverse range of skills to prepare you for employment. We provide these within a stimulating, supportive and very friendly department.

We offer a wide range of modules, allowing you to tailor your degree to your own interests. Every module provides training in the theory or practice of a different aspect

of the subject across human and physical geography. The course also contains practical modules including ones involving the application of information technology to geography, such as Geographical Information Systems and Earth Observation.

Our staff combine cutting-edge research with a strong commitment to teaching and learning. We believe that excellence in research translates into excellent teaching, through the in-depth and up-to-date knowledge staff have of the subject, their active engagement in setting the agenda for the future of Geography and the infectious enthusiasm (immediately noticed and appreciated by students) that research brings to their teaching.

Geography at university level is an exciting and multi-faceted discipline, providing both intellectual stimulus and practical training. A degree in Geography will also equip you for your future career. To this end we offer skills-based modules, a personal tutoring system and a personal development programme at each year of the degree course.

We are very proud of the success with which our Geography graduates find employment in a diverse range of relevant careers. We are proud that our staff are accessible and our students are actively involved in the day-to-day life of the department. We look forward to welcoming you to Swansea Geography.

Cyflwyniad gan Yr Athro Marcus Doel, Pennaeth yr Ysgol a Dr Adrian Luckman, Pennaeth Daearyddiaeth

Diolch am ystyried astudio ar gyfer gradd mewn Daearyddiaeth yn Abertawe. Un o’r penderfyniadau pwysicaf fydd rhaid i chi wneud yw dewis cwrs gradd a phrifysgol, gobeithio bydd y llyfryn yma yn gymorth i chi wneud eich penderfyniad.

Ein hamcan yw darparu addysg o’r safon uchaf ar eich cyfer ynghyd â rhychwant amrywiol o sgiliau a fydd yn eich paratoi ar gyfer cwmpas eang o gyfleoedd gwaith. Gwnawn hyn oll mewn adran gyffrous, gefnogol a chyfeillgar.

Rydym yn cynnig ystod eang o fodiwlau ac mae hyn yn eich galluogi i addasu eich gradd at eich diddordebau personol. Mae pob modiwl yn cynnig hyfforddiant mewn theori neu ddefnydd cymhwysol o agweddau gwahanol o’r pwnc, ar draws

rychwant eang o Ddaearyddiaeth Dynol neu Ffisegol. Cynigir cyfres gryf o gyrsiau ymarferol sydd yn seiliedig ar sgiliau gan gynnwys defnyddio Technoleg Gwybodaeth mewn Daearyddiaeth, megis Systemau Gwybodaeth Ddaearyddol ac Arsylliad Daear.

Mae ein staff yn cyfuno ymchwil arloesol gydag ymroddiad cryf i waith dysgu. Credwn yn gryf fod rhagoriaeth mewn dysgu yn deillio o ragoriaeth mewn ymchwil, o ran yr wybodaeth gynhwysfawr a blaengar sydd gan y staff o’u meysydd llafur ynghyd â’u hymrwymiad gweithgar i’r broses o osod yr agenda ar gyfer dyfodol Daearyddiaeth.

Mae Daearyddiaeth ar lefel prifysgol yn bwnc cyffrous ac amlochrog sy’n

cyflenwi ysgogiad deallusol a hyfforddiant ymarferol. Rydym yn draymwybodol y dylai gradd mewn Daearyddiaeth hefyd eich cynorthwyo i gael swydd mewn rhychwant eang o swyddi i raddedigion. I’r perwyl hwn rydym yn cynnig modiwlau sy’n seiliedig ar sgiliau yn ogystal â system o diwtorialau personol astudio ym mhob blwyddyn a rhaglen datblygiad personol. Rydym yn ymfalchïo yn llwyddiant ein graddedigion sydd wedi cael swyddi mewn meysydd perthnasol ac amrywiol.

Rydym yn ymfalchïo yn y ffaith fod ein staff yn groesawgar a’n myfyrwyr wedi eu llwyr gynnwys ym mywyd dydd i ddydd yr adran. Edrychwn ymlaen at eich croesawu i Ddaearyddiaeth yn Abertawe.


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Welcome

This brochure tells you all about studying Geography at Swansea University. We hope you will choose Swansea as the place you want to study, but - more importantly - we want you to be sure Swansea is the right place for you.

This booklet will tell you more about Geography degree schemes and the undergraduate student experience at Swansea. If Geography at Swansea appeals to you, you should apply through UCAS. The University holds Open Days from July to October for those at an early stage in the university selection process, and Geography Visit Days for UCAS applicants between November and March. For details, contact the University Admissions Office on +44 (0)1792 295111, or visit our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/geography.

Geography has been taught at Swansea since the 1930s. Our department now forms the core of the School of the Environment and Society. With 30 academic staff, we are amongst the largest Geography departments in the UK. We take in more than 160 Geography undergraduates each year and over 60 postgraduate students are studying for PhD research degrees and taking our MSc course in Environmental Dynamics and MA course in Human Geography.

Recent accolades for Swansea Geography include the following:

n ■ Awarded the grade of EXCELLENT for teaching quality in the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment.

n ■ 95% of Swansea’s research in Geography was judged to be of international quality, and 60% was regarded as world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2008).

n ■ Geography at Swansea achieved 91% in the recent Student Satisfaction Survey.

n ■ Awarded the status of NERC Centre of Excellence in Earth Observation (CLASSIC), the only Geography department in the UK to receive such an award.

n ■ Geography represents Swansea in the Climate Change Consortium of Wales (C3W) along with Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff Universities.

n ■ Mike Barnsley Centre for Climate Research opened in October 2008 in Technium Pembrokeshire, a supercomputer centre operated in conjunction with Pembrokeshire County Council.

n ■ Centre for Migration Policy Research opened by Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales.

n ■ Institute of Environmental Sustainability visited by HRH Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall.

n ■ Swansea University won the inaugural Times Higher Education Award for the UK’s Best Student Experience. “A hot contender for any ‘best campus’ award going, Swansea is virtually unparalleled for its location. It sits in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay, on the edge of the stunning Gower Peninsula.” (The Guardian University Guide 2008)

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Why Geography?


Geography is the study of the Earth’s surface from the viewpoint of both the natural and human environment, from local to global scales. It is estimated that over 16,000 undergraduate students are studying Geography in 100 university departments in the United Kingdom at any one time. The popularity of degree-level Geography stems from its:

n Diversity. The broad range of up-to-date issues and techniques within contemporary Geography gives students the scope to pursue their own interests.

n Relevance. A Geography degree equips students with theoretical understanding and practical techniques that can be applied to tackle real-world issues.

n Transferable Skills. A Geography degree provides graduates with diverse skills that make them highly employable.

Many students choose Geography because of the scope it provides for studying a wide range of current themes and issues, the important insights it offers for understanding our contemporary world, and the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice through fieldwork. However, what many students do not realise before coming to university is that a Geography degree also offers a broad range of employment opportunities, allowing graduates to pursue a flexible and varied career path.

At the start of their degree, most Geography students do not have firm career plans. In understanding and making sense of the world around them, students of both human and physical geography develop a range of key skills, including personal organisation and communication, problem identification and evaluation, data collection, analysis and presentation, report production and presentation (written and oral), team-work, and computer literacy.

Careers for GeographersThe most recent survey of graduates of Geography degrees found the most popular careers included management and administration (33%), business, financial and other related professions (20%), lecturing and teaching (7%), and marketing and advertising (5%) (source: www.prospects.ac.uk). Other popular destinations include those which allow geographers to use the practical skills developed as part of their degree, such

as planning, resource management, ICT and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), social and welfare professions, and tourism and leisure. Geography graduates also pursue careers in local government, the Civil Service, the police force and the armed forces. Furthermore, a large number of Geography graduates opt to continue their academic studies by studying for higher degrees in Geography or related subjects. Clearly, a degree in Geography offers you a wide range of exciting and rewarding careers. Responses to a survey by the Swansea University Careers Service reveal that Geography graduates from Swansea University make a rapid transition into the workplace or further education, with 80% in either employment or post-graduate education six months after graduating (source: www.unistats). Of course, being Geographers, some graduates chose to travel and explore the world before pursuing their career.

Developing Personal SkillsA key reason for this employability is that Geography enables students to develop a set of transferable skills which are both highly prized by employers and stand graduates in good stead within today’s flexible job market.

Employers are increasingly interested in individual aptitude and experience (self motivation, initiative, team-working skills), and transferable skills (literacy, numeracy, computer skills), all of which a Geography degree enables you to develop. More specifically, Geography provides you with the following:

n Effective communication skillsA degree in Geography requires students to develop a wide variety of written, oral and listening skills.

n Teamwork and leadership skillsFieldwork and group tasks encourage students to be good team members and develop leadership qualities.

n Analytical, problem-solving and decision- making skillsGeographers are adept at problem identification, analysis and the application of results to real-world contexts.

n Numeracy and literacyGeographers develop skills for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Geography emphasises the need to clearly and accurately convey results in the form of essays, reports and research projects.

n Personal motivationStudying Geography encourages personal time-management, organisation and motivation, while developing self- confidence and self-awareness.

n Information technologyA Geography degree develops competence in a range of computer applications including the internet, GIS, databases and spreadsheets, and word processing, graphics and statistical packages.

n Flexibility and adaptabilityA Geography degree develops a flexible and adaptable approach to work and an ability to deal with a wide range of source material.

n Spatial, social and environmental awarenessA Geography degree uniquely combines these attributes, which are highly valued in modern society.

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Why Swansea Geography?


Once you decide that Geography is the degree course you want to pursue, you are going to be faced with the difficult task of choosing from amongst the numerous universities and colleges which teach the subject. This section tells you why we think Swansea University is an excellent place to study Geography.

ChoiceSwansea Geography is committed to student choice. As you progress in your studies with us, our degree programme allows you flexibility to choose modules that reflect your interests. In both second and third years you choose from a wide range of modules. You can specialise in human or physical geography if you wish or you can chose a combination of physical geography, human geography and geo-informatics modules. You also have free choice with regard to the topic of your dissertation.

Small group teachingIn addition to lectures, seminars and field teaching, the department operates a tutorial system in all three years of the undergraduate degree. At the start of each year undergraduate students are allocated a tutor with whom they meet at regular intervals throughout the year. These tutorials are an opportunity to get to know your lecturers and discuss geographical issues in a relaxed atmosphere, resolve any work-related problems you may have, and meet other students in a small group setting. The focus of the tutorial system changes as you progress in the degree course. Tutorials at level one help you to develop your essay writing abilities, develop an informed argument, support your argument with references, and conduct library research. Tutorials at level two provide advice and guidance to students about how to choose a research topic, conduct a literature review and develop a proposal. Tutorials at level three are focused on the research dissertation and career preparation. Your tutor is also the appropriate person should you need to talk privately to someone about other matters of concern during your time at university.

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International fieldworkAt Swansea we think it is important that you have the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in the lecture theatre to new and interesting geographical contexts. In your first year you will be involved in local field classes, taking advantage of the coastal and mountain environments on Swansea’s doorstep and the rapidly transforming urban and industrial spaces of South Wales. We also offer an optional field course conducted through the medium of Welsh.

In the second year, Single Honours students and Joint Honours students (where space allows) take part in an international field course. Students are currently able to choose from four destinations:

AUSTRIAN ALPS (with a particular focus on Physical Geography)

VANCOUVER (students may specialise in either Human or Physical Geography)

NEW YORK CITY (Human Geography)

MALLORCA (students may specialise in either Human or Physical Geography).

Field courses run at different times of the year and the cost is partly subsidised by the department.

In the final year, further opportunities for fieldwork are linked to selected modules and dissertation research. In recent years undergraduate students have conducted field research alongside Swansea Geography staff in Wales, Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, Portugal, Mexico, Chile and Borneo.

Specialist facilitiesThe Department places a strong emphasis on Information Technology in both teaching and research, and undergraduates and postgraduates studying Geography at Swansea enjoy access to specialised laboratories and facilities. For our internationally renowned research in Satellite Earth Observation and GIS, we have a computer laboratory of 20 high-capacity Linux workstations running a variety of software packages. Geography undergraduates have at their disposal a laboratory of 26 personal computers which give them access to the web and email, word processing and spreadsheet packages, and Geography-specific software packages. These facilities are in addition to open access facilities elsewhere on campus. Level Two and Three geo-informatics modules are taught in a dedicated laboratory of 10 workstation computers equipped with specialist software.

The department is also equipped with an enviable range of laboratories for research in physical geography. These facilities include a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer and a climatic test chamber for simulating environmental conditions. Research involving soil analysis is supported by a dedicated laser particle sizer, a gas chromatograph, mineral magnetic characterisation equipment and an automated organic carbon analyser, making Swansea an excellent location for study and research in physical geography.

Mix of studentsWherever you come from in Britain, Europe or beyond, you will not feel out of place in Swansea. While a high percentage of our students come from South Wales, South Western England, the M4 Corridor and the English Midlands, the Department draws students from all parts of the UK, receives exchange students from European universities, and also attracts students from further afield.

International exchangesThe Department is involved in the international exchange of students through the SOCRATES-ERASMUS scheme. This has resulted in a new and distinctive degree: Geography with European Studies. Initial enrolment for this specific degree is not a pre-requisite for participation in this scheme, which sponsors students to spend a portion of their University studies in a similar institution in another EU country. We currently have links with the Geography/Environmental Studies Departments of universities in Lyon (France), Zaragoza (Spain) and Kiel (Germany). The student exchanges last for a full academic year. Knowledge of the language of the host country is not a requirement, but a willingness to learn the language is essential.

Study in WelshWe offer a wide range of Geography modules in Welsh at all levels of study. These include lecture-based modules, tutorial and seminar sessions as well as a field-based research skills option. You can follow almost half of your first year modules in Welsh and include options that explore sustainability and global environmental change issues. Tutorials and a lecture-based optional module are available at Level 2. You can take a work placement module at Level 3, in conjunction with the Am Nawdd funding scheme, as well as an independent study module (Geographical Frontiers). Level 3 students can also benefit from dissertation supervision in Welsh. We are constantly expanding our Welsh-medium teaching and plan to increase our provision in the future.


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Geography research at Swansea

Geographical research at Swansea University covers a wide range of topics. Our key specialisms are:

n Environmental and climatic change

n Earth surface processes

n Glaciology

n Social and cultural geography

n Urban and economic policy

n Population, Migration and Asylum

n Geo-Informatics: Satellite Earth Observation And Geographic Information Systems.

Geographers at Swansea are conducting groundbreaking research on:

n past and present climate changesn the dynamic response of the Arctic and

Antarctic ice sheets to climate changen political devolution and policy divergencen economic policy and the promotion of the

‘knowledge economy’n UK asylum and immigration policyn the contribution of melting ice caps to

global sea level risen wildfires and their effects on soil erosion

and water qualityn tree rings as a method to monitor environmental changen global vegetation patterns using remote

sensing

n recycling waste water in agriculture using sustainable technologies

n super-hydrophobicity of natural and man made materials

n measuring aerosol and land surface properties using satellite imagery

n the recession of Himalayan glaciers and the formation of moraine-dammed lakes

n World Cities and the financial and legal services sector

n the geography of the Consumer Societyn complementary and alternative medicinen vegetation response to climate changen global terrorism and the median the changing geography of UK retail

spacen geographies of ruralityn protest and back-to-the-land movements.


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Living in Swansea


Swansea is located on the South Wales coast, about an hour’s drive west of the Severn Bridge along the M4, and 3 hours from London by direct train. The city enjoys a boundary location: to the east lies urban South Wales; to the north and west the scene is much more rural and the Welsh language is a vibrant part of everyday life. The Gower Peninsula is only a few kilometres west of Swansea and was the first designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ in Britain. It is well known for its sandy bays, impressive coastline and excellent surfing.

The city itself is probably best known as the birthplace of writer Dylan Thomas and film-star Catherine Zeta-Jones, and, in the 19th century, as the world centre for non-ferrous metal smelting. However, modern-day Swansea is far removed from the ‘ugly lovely’ industrial town that features in the novels by Dylan Thomas and Kingsley Amis. As Wales’s second city, with a population close to 300,000, Swansea has benefited from considerable public and private sector investment in recent years, which has transformed parts of the city centre and the old docks. Swansea’s marina is expanding to the east of the River Tawe, linked to the city centre by the landmark Sail Bridge and is home to the prestigious £30 million National Waterfront Museum.

The city centre offers numerous opportunities for entertainment, including first-class shopping facilities, two multiplex cinemas,

theatres, art galleries, cafés, bars and restaurants on the vibrant and gentrified Wind Street, and a variety of nightclubs in the ‘bright lights district’ of Kingsway. eight km to the west of the city centre is picturesque Mumbles. Historically a fishing village, Mumbles boasts boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs, and is bustling with those who love to walk or cycle the waterfront path, sail in Swansea Bay or take a leisurely stroll between café, shop or pub along the famous Mumbles Mile.

The University campus is located 2 km west of the city centre. Situated in parkland, opposite 6 km of sandy beach and on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, it is hard to imagine a better environment in which to live, work and study Geography. As well as academic facilities, the campus is home to a wide range of student services including shops, a bank, a bookshop, a campus doctor, and a dental surgery. Entertainment venues include bars, a nightclub, a theatre and an Egyptian antiquities museum. A few minutes walk from campus is the University Sports Centre, offering students the opportunity to further develop in their chosen sport or to try something new. The wide range of sports facilities include a modern gym with toning and weight-training equipment, squash and badminton courts, a climbing wall, football, rugby and hockey pitches, and the 50m Wales Olympic Swimming Pool.

AccommodationMost students live in University accommodation in their first year. Nine Halls of Residence are located on campus, just a few minutes walk from the Geography Department. Alternatively, you may prefer to share a house with other students at Hendrefoelan, a self-catering student village just a short bus ride from campus. In the second year, many students move into shared houses in one of the neighbourhoods close to the university, such as Brynmill. Others choose to live in Mumbles, the old fishing village located a few kilometres away on Swansea Bay, with its own shops, restaurants and nightlife.

Wherever you decide to live during your time in Swansea, you will find the cost of both University-owned and private sector accommodation very reasonable, leaving more money in your pocket for those essential purchases.

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Our Degree Schemes

We offer a range of degree schemes. These include Single Honours degrees (taught entirely within Geography) and Joint Honours degrees (Geography combined with another subject). Students can graduate with a BSc (Bachelor of Science) or a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree.

Our modular system means that a wide choice is available in each degree scheme. Each module carries credit points and students complete 120 credits at each level of study. In Level One (the first year), Geography modules are supplemented by subsidiary modules chosen from other subjects. At Levels Two and Three, students taking Single Honours degrees normally take only Geography modules.

Students may be able to transfer between schemes at the end of Level One, depending on the optional modules they have taken.

SINGLE HONOURS GEOGRAPHY SCHEMES

BSc Geography (F800) and BA Geography (L700)

Our main degree schemes are suitable for students who want to retain a broad interest in Geography. Most students with more interest in physical geography take the BSc and those with more interest in human geography take the BA, but our schemes are flexible and students can transfer between them. At Level One, students study 80 credits of Geography covering physical, human and practical aspects. The remaining 40 credits are chosen from other subjects. These include Geology, Sociology or Anthropology, which are taught within our School. At Level Two, 60 compulsory credits cover the thinking that underpins geography, practical geography, and a field course to one of a range of overseas destinations; currently students choose between Austria, Mallorca, New York or Vancouver. At Level Three, students take a Dissertation - a major independent project - worth 40 credits. The remaining 60 credits at Level Two and 80 at Level Three are chosen from a wide range of optional modules. BSc and BA students choose from the same set of modules; they can mix Physical Geography, Human Geography and Geo-Informatics modules, or specialise in one area.

BSc Physical Geography (F840) and BA Human Geography (L720)These schemes are suitable for students who have a strong preference for physical or human geography. At Level One, students take 60 credits of Geography, focussing on either physical or human aspects. Students studying the Physical Geography scheme take 40 credits of Geology and students studying Human Geography take 40 credits of Sociology/Anthropology. In addition, students take 20 credits of optional modules, which can include the remaining Geography modules. Optional modules at Levels Two and Three must be taken from physical geography or human geography as appropriate, and the Dissertation at Level Three must be in an appropriate topic.

BSc Physical Earth Science (FF86)This scheme allows students to study some Earth Science or Geology in each of their 3 years, in addition to focussing on physical geography. At Level One, students take 60

credits of Geography, focussing on physical aspects, and 40 credits of Geology, plus 20 credits of optional modules which can include the remaining Geography modules. At Level Two, students take a 60-credit physical geography core, 40 credits of optional physical geography modules, and a 20-credit module covering the interpretation of the Earth’s past environmental record, taught through lectures and field classes. At Level Three, students undertake a Dissertation with a geological theme, an extended essay on a geological topic, and 60 credits of optional modules chosen from physical geography and Earth science.

BSc Geography with Geo-Informatics (F830)This scheme allows students to focus on aspects of Geo-Informatics such as Earth observation, environmental monitoring and modelling, and GIS, which can be applied to both physical and human geography. At Level One, students study 80 credits of Geography, covering physical, human and practical aspects. The remaining 40 credits are chosen from other subjects, which may include Geology, Mathematics or Computer Science. At Levels Two and Three, students choose their optional modules from those covering aspects of Geo-Informatics, and choose an appropriate Dissertation topic at Level Three.

BSc Geography with European Studies (F8R9)This scheme allows students to develop or retain expertise in a European language and culture by extending their undergraduate study over 4 years with one year (between Levels Two and Three) studying Geography at a European university. We currently have exchange agreements with Geography departments in Lyon (France), Zaragoza (Spain) and Kiel (Germany). Students’ study in Swansea at Levels One, Two and Three follows the pattern of the BSc/BA Geography schemes, but they will take 40 credits in the appropriate language at Level One, and have the opportunity to take 20 credits of language modules at Levels Two and Three in place of Geography modules.


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Geography at SwanseaGeography at SwanseaGeography at Swansea

JOINT HONOURSGeography at Swansea can be studied in combination with a wide range of other subjects. The normal pattern is to study 60 credits of Geography and 60 credits of the other subject at each level, although some subjects may allow students to take 80 credits of Geography.

At Level One, students focus on physical geography or human geography as is more appropriate to their other subject. At Levels Two and Three, students have a free choice of Geography modules. They may be able to take a 20-credit overseas field course at Level Two if places are available. Joint honours students do not take a Dissertation at Level Three.

The following Joint Honours schemes are available:

n BSc Geography with Biological Sciences (CL17) or Economics (LL71).

n BSc Geo-Informatics with Computer Science (GF48) or Mathematics (GF18).

n BA Geography with American Studies (LT77 for 3-year scheme; TL77 for 4-year scheme with a year in North America), Economics (LL17), English (LQ73), French (LR71), German (LR72), History (LV71), Italian (LR73), Social Policy (LL47), Spanish (LR74) or Welsh (LQ75).

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Geography Modules: Level One

Earth in Action: an Introduction to Understanding Earth Surface ProcessesThis module introduces the three main Earth systems: the geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. A sound understanding of the processes within each system, and the interactions between them, forms the essential foundation for any more advanced study of physical geography.

Earth’s Changing Face: Understanding Earth Surface ProcessesThis module provides an understanding of the processes that form the landscape, and the ways such processes have operated in the past and may affect the future. Topics include: geomorphological processes; hydrological systems; and natural environmental change in the short- and long-term.

Global Environmental Change: the Human Impact (also taught in Welsh)This module introduces global environmental change and covers aspects including: tropical deforestation, desertification, sea-level rise, the ozone hole and the enhanced greenhouse effect. The module explores the evidence for each of these aspects of global change and discusses their projected impacts.

People, Place and NationThis module examines the complex and dynamic relationships between people and the societies they create at different geographical locations and scales. The module explores the social and cultural construction of people and places, in the city, the nation and cyberspace.

Global Shifts: Towards a new World Order?This module introduces issues and processes shaping the geography of the modern world system. The module explores the transformation of the world system over time and its implications for the changing geography of the global economy, geopolitics, modernity and population migration.

Sustainability in a Fragile World(also taught in Welsh)This module explores the issue of ‘sustainability’ as it affects the everyday lives of people within urban and rural environments. The module explores sustainability in a range of environmentally fragile areas of the world and contrasts the challenges facing the developing world and the rich world.

Geographical Methods 1: PracticalsThis module focuses on the characteristics of Geography and seeks to identify the characteristics of geographical information, particularly its spatial and locational qualities, and to develop the transferable skills of gathering, investigating, analysing and presenting geographical data.

Geographical Methods 2: Field ProjectThis module is organised around two field-based research projects: data collection and analysis of field data performed by groups of students, and individual student reports. Each student undertakes either a human or a physical research project.

Methodoleg Maes (Optional, taught in Welsh)This module focuses on field-based research projects. Students gain experience in the collection and analysis of field data and are taught jointly by staff from Swansea, Aberystwyth and Bangor Universities.

Amgylchedd Cymru (Optional, taught in Welsh)This module explores aspects of the Welsh environment and emphasises interactions between the human and physical world. The module is taught through digitally-recorded lectures and student-centred seminars.


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LEVEL ONE SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY MODULES

Power and SymbolismThe module introduces students to an understanding of power and symbolism in human society. Topics include the symbolism of social identity, the relationship of beliefs in supernatural forces and social order, forms of human expression, forms of political process and the relationship between politics and ritual.

Studying Society TodayThis module introduces debates about social organisation. The module explores the impact of social structures, processes and their relationship to human agency both at the level of individuals and social groups.

Understanding Modern SocietiesThis module introduces the leading theoretical traditions and perspectives which give sociology its distinctive character and methodology. The work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim, which provided the foundations for a sociology of industrial society, will be looked at. The module concludes with an overview of sociological perspectives developed during the 20th and 21st centuries.

LEVEL ONE GEOLOGY MODULES

Geology is taught within the Department of Geography at Level One. Four modules are available, and Level One geography students often take these as their additional 40 credits.

Geology is the study of the Earth – its composition, internal and surface processes and its history. Practical classes and fieldwork are important components of Geology modules at Swansea, giving valuable experience in identifying and interpreting minerals, rocks, fossils and geological maps.

Level One Geology modules train students to identify rocks, understand how they were formed and relate their formation to features of the modern Earth. You will gain knowledge of the development and history of life on Earth through geological time, particularly of the British Isles. You will be aware of the role Geology plays in society in the search for oil, gas, coal and other minerals. No previous experience of Geology is needed to study Level One Geology modules at Swansea. With their emphasis on the Earth, Earth history and life on Earth, modules in Geology are an ideal accompaniment to modules in Geography. Students with little science background will find Geology is a science which they can readily relate to and understand.

GEOLOGY MODULES

The Dynamic EarthIntroduction to principles of geology; Earth materials - minerals, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; internal and surface processes; plate tectonics; geological record of environmental change.

Earth Materials(Practicals and Fieldwork)Introduction to materials in geology; identification and interpretation of minerals and rocks; two field classes.

History of the EarthHistory of the Earth and life on Earth - origin of life, evolution and extinction, the fossil record; geological structures and rock deformation; geology and society - resources from the Earth; geological evolution of the British Isles.

Interpreting Earth History(Practicals and Fieldwork)Identification and interpretation of fossils, interpretation of geological maps; three field classes.

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Geography Modules: Levels Two & Three

CURRENT LEVEL TWO GEOGRAPHY MODULES

Modules offered to students in Level Two are arranged into two groups:

Free choice modulesFree choice modules, which range across Human and Physical Geography, and Geo-Informatics. Students build up their own portfolio of modules based on their interest across Geography. Most Level Two modules carry a weighting of 20 credits. Single Honours students choose modules totalling 60 credits. Most Joint Honours students select Research Methods or the Field-course module plus 40 credits of free choice modules. Joint Honours students typically select two modules in addition to the Research Methods or Field-course module. The availability of modules can vary, but a typical profile includes:

Land surface processes and patternsEnvironmental changeDangerous Earth: understanding and living with natural hazardsGeological record of environmental changeSocial and cultural geographyDigital mapping and Geographical Information ScienceEarth from Space: monitoring global environmental changeFood and agriculture in developing countriesEvolution of the Third World cityDevolution, regional development and policyYr atmosffer a’r hinsawdd trwy synhwyro o bellLife worlds (10 credits)Globalisation and sustainable development (10 credits)Oceanography (10 credits)Introduction to marine ecology (10 credits)

Compulsory modules

Research Methods (40 credits)Dependent on an individual’s degree scheme and ‘route of preference’ (Human Geography, Physical Geography or Geoinformatics), students enrol on a combination of the following modules:

Environmental research methodsSocial research methodsData analysisApproaches to Human GeographyApproaches to Physical Geography

International field course modules (20 credits)Students participate in an international field-course in physical geography (Austria, Mallorca or Vancouver) or human geography (New York, Mallorca or Vancouver).

CURRENT LEVEL THREE GEOGRAPHY MODULES

All Single Honours students choose four modules (Joint Honours choose three) from a list of specialised modules. A selection of the following modules will be available each year.

Humid tropical environments and landscapesPlate tectonics and global geophysicsGlaciologyContemporary rural BritainGeographies of national identityGeographies of forced migration and asylumNew industrial spacesSociety, state and development in BrazilDeveloping the environmentGeographical research frontiersWork placementEnvironmental modellingClimate of the last 1000 years

plus

Dissertation:All Single Honours students and Joint Honours Geo-informatics students undertake a major piece of supervised original work, to be submitted at the start of the second semester of their final year of study.


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Geographers at Swansea

Professor Marcus Doel Dr Adrian Luckman

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Professor Marcus Doel BSc, PhD (Bristol)History and philosophy of geography, critical human geography, social and cultural theory, consumer society.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Dr Adrian Luckman BSc, DPhil (York)Remote sensing of glaciers and ice sheets with particular focus on dynamic and topographic change.

ACADEMIC STAFF

Dr Paul Alton BSc (Sussex), PhD (Durham)Remote sensing and the modelling of light propagation through forest canopies.

Dr Chris Barrow BSc (Hull), PhD (Birmingham), PGCE (Hull), FRGS, MIESciEnvironment and development; land degradation; water resources, impact assessment, environmental management.

Dr Rosemary Bromley MA (Cantab), PhD (Wales)Development of Latin American cities, urban regeneration, retailing and the disadvantaged consumer.

Professor Dave Clarke BA, PhD (Manchester)Urban theory, poststructuralism, consumerism, the media, cinema, visual technologies, psychoanalysis.

Professor Heaven Crawley BA, MA (Sussex), PhD (Oxford)Refugees, forced migration, asylum and immigration policy, the politics of migration, gender, international development, children.

Dr Siwan Davies BA (Oxford), MSc, PhD (London)Environmental change, tephrochronology, ice cores, dating techniques.

Professor Stefan Doerr Dipl (Tübingen), PhD (Wales)Wildfires, hydrology, soil erosion, karst geomorphology, land degradation.

Tim Fearnside BSc, Dip Cartography (Glasgow), FBCart SCartographic design, cartographic education.

Dr Eleanor Fisher BA, MA, PhD (Hull)Social anthropology, social development; poverty and vulnerability analysis; livelihoods analysis; knowledge issues; African development.

Dr Mary Gagen BSc (Birmingham), PhD (Wales)Global environmental change, past climates, Quaternary geography, tree-ring science.

Dr Pyrs Gruffudd BSc, PhD (Loughborough)Landscape, nature and national identity; animal geographies; architecture and modernism; Wales and Welshness.

Dr Keith Halfacree BSc (Bristol), PhD (Lancaster)Rural issues, migration, politics, environmentalism, social spatialisation.

Dr John Hiemstra MSc, PhD (Amsterdam)Glacial sedimentology and geomorphology, multi-scale analyses, micromorphology.

Dr Felicia Hughes-Freeland BA, MA (Cambridge), PhD (London) Dance, performance, gender; ritual and media; cultural politics; visual anthrpology and visual ethnography; aesthetics and epistemology; anthropological theory; embodiment and society; Indonesia, South-East Asia.

Dr Natascha Kljun Dipl Natw., PhD (ETH Zurich)Boundary layer meteorology, land-surface/atmosphere interactions, footprint modelling.

Dr Bernd Kulessa Diplom-Geophysiker (CAU Kiel), PhD (Wales)Glaciology and near-surface geophysics.

Dr Neil Loader BSc (Wales), PhD (Cantab), FRGSQuaternary environmental change, stable isotope analysis of peat, pollen and treerings, analytical technique development.

Dr Sietse Los BSc (Groningen), MSc, PhD (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)Global vegetation monitoring, vegetation/climate interactions, remote sensing.


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Professor Danny McCarroll BSc (Sheffield), PhD (Wales)Geomorphology, reconstructing Quaternary environments and ice sheets, recent climate change recorded in tree rings.

Professor Tavi Murray BSc, PhD (Wales)Glaciology especially glacier dynamics, glacier geophysics and modelling.

Dr Peter North MA (Cantab), DPhil (Sussex)Environmental modelling, optical remote sensing of land and atmosphere.

Dr Geraint Owen BSc (Leeds), PhD (Reading), FGSSedimentology, geology, ancient fluvial environments.

Dr Nicola Piper BA (Vienna) MA (Sheffield) and DPhil (Sheffield)International economic migration; governance and policy networks; the rights of migrants; gender issues.

Dr Kevin Rees BSc (Wales), MA, PhD (Simon Fraser)Geography of innovation, high-tech industries, collaboration, intellectual property, regional economic development.

Dr Iain Robertson BSc (Nottingham Polytechnic), MPhil (Bradford), PhD (Cantab), CChem, MRSCReconstructing Quaternary environments, dendroclimatology, radiocarbon dating.

Dr Ian Rutt MPhys (Oxford), PhD (Reading)Numerical modelling of ice sheet dynamics; numerical climate modelling, especially with respect to the coupled ice-climate system.

Dr Suranjit Saha BA, MA (Patna), MA (Patna), PhD (Wales)Globalisation and sustainable development, rural development, Latin American development with emphasis on Brazil and Argentina, regional integration.

Dr Rick Shakesby BA (CNAA), PhD (Edinburgh)Quaternary geomorphology, arctic-alpine geomorphology, soil erosion, land degradation.

Dr Richard Smith BA (Hull), PhD (Bristol)Poststructuralist cities, global cities, social and cultural theory.

Professor Alayne Street-Perrott MA (Colorado), MA, PhD (Cantab), CGeog, FRGSPalaeoclimatology, palaeolimnology, tropical palaeoenvironments, stable isotopes, long-term changes in the carbon and silicon cycles in the tropics.

Professor Mike Sullivan MA (Oxford), PhD (Wales), FRSMPolicy analysis, politics of public policy, devolution, social democracy and social policy.

Professor Rory Walsh MA, PhD (Cantab) Tropical environments, hydrology and hydrogeomorphology, climatic change, river pollution, tropical rain forests.

HONORARY STAFF

Honorary Professor Wayne Davies BSc, PhD (Wales)Department of Geography, University of Calgary.Communities in cities, history of Welsh in Canada, urban system development policies.

Professor Emeritus David Herbert BA (Wales), PhD (Birmingham), DLitt (Wales), FRGSUrban studies, social problems, crime, leisure/tourism, heritage studies, imaginative geographies.

Professor Emeritus John Matthews BSc, PhD (London), FRGSHolocene environmental change, dating techniques, arctic-alpine biogeography and geomorphology, geoecology of glacier forelands, the future of Geography as a discipline.

Honorary Professor Atle Nesje BSc, PhD (Bergen)Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen.Quaternary geology, Holocene glacier and climate variations, palaeoclimate.

Honorary Professor David Vaughan BA (Cantab), M.Sc. (Durham), PhD (OU)British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge.Effects of climate change on Antarctic ice cover.

RESEARCH STAFF

Dr Suzanne Bevan BSc (Reading), BSc (Open University), PhD (Swansea)Detecting and measuring environmental change using optical and microwave remote sensing.

Dr Per Erik Bodin PhD (Sweden)The impact of diffuse sunlight and shortwave dimming on carbon, water and energy exchange at the vegetated land-surface.

Dr Adam Booth PhD (Leeds)Modelling carbon and water fluxes.

Dr Shuying Cheng MEng (Beijing), PhD (Swansea)Soil science, geochemistry, hydrophobicity, atomic force, microscopy.

Dr Timothy Daley BSc, PhD (Southampton)Reconstruction of past climate change from peat sediment archives; variation in the carbon cycle over the last 21,000 years.

Dr Kath Ficken BSc (Wales), PhD, MSc (Newcastle)Organic geochemistry, Quaternary environmental change, stable isotope analysis, geology.

Dr S Marianne Hall PhD (Sweden)Plant ecophysiology including plant carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation as affected by climate change; modelling of surface albedo and land-surface-atmosphere interactions.

Dr Andreas Heckel

Dr Anna Hughes BSc (Sheffield), MSc (London), PhD (Sheffield)Glacial geomorphology, palaeglaciology, remote sensing and GIS.

Dr Daniela Jansen PhD (AWI Bremerhaven)Antarctic Peninsula, ice shelf stability and decay, fracture mechanics.

Dr Tim James BSc (Queen’s), MPhil (Cantab), PhD (Leeds)Monitoring changes in the geometry, extent and dynamics of glaciers and ice sheets using field, airborne and spaceborne techniques.

Dr Ganna Leonenko BSc, MSc (Ukraine), PhD (Cardiff)Remote sensing, statistics, theory of probability, queuing systems, Fokker-Planck equation.

Dr Glen Reynolds PhD (Imperial)Logging impacts and restoration strategies of tropical rainforest in Malaysia.

Dr Jacqueline Rosette BA (Wales), MA (London), PhD (Wales)Satellite LiDAR enhancement of forest inventory and production forecast capabilities.

Dr Kilian Scharrer PhD (Munich)Optical and SAR remote sensing, glacier velocities, ice volume changes, Greenland.

Dr Emilia Urbanek MEng (Lublin), PhD (Kiel)Soil science, hydrology, hydrophobicity, carbon sequestration.

Dr Giles Young BSc, PhD (Wales)Climate variability and change; analytical technique development; late-Holocene environmental change; dendroclimatology.


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Admissions Procedure

All undergraduate admissions are handled in accordance with UCAS procedures.Offers are normally made conditional on A level examination results but we welcome applicants who already have qualifications or who are taking other qualifications (such as International Baccalaureate). The Welsh Baccalaureate will normally be recognised towards the offer. Applications in Welsh are welcomed. General Studies and Key Skills qualifications are normally excluded from the offer.

We encourage all applicants to visit Swansea University. Applicants are normally be invited to attend a UCAS Visit Day (see ‘Visiting Swansea Geography’). Offers will be made through UCAS shortly after applicants have visited, or have asked for their application to be processed without visiting.

Offers may be made on receipt of the UCAS form to applicants who have already attended a University Open Day who are expected to meet our typical offer.

Entry RequirementsOur typical preferred offer is ABB from three A levels (or equivalent combination of A and AS levels). An A grade will normally be required in Geography or a related subject. Applications are welcomed from candidates without A level Geography, particularly for schemes in Geo-Informatics and Physical Earth Science. Joint Honours applicants should also consult the course requirements in the other subject. All applicants are expected to satisfy the University entrance requirements (see the University Prospectus).

We welcome applications from students with disabilities or special needs. For more information, contact the Disability Office (+44 (0)1792 602000; [email protected]).

For further information, visit our website www.swansea.ac.uk/geography or contact the Undergraduate Admissions Tutor.

Visiting Swansea GeographyAll applicants are encouraged to visit before making their final UCAS choices. The University holds several Open Days between July and October aimed at those considering applying for University. Details can be obtained from the Student Recruitment Office ([email protected]; +44 (0)1792295784; www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/open days).

Applicants are normally invited to a UCAS Visit Day on receipt of their UCAS form. These are held on several Wednesdays between November and March. Activities in the Geography Department include an information session, a tour of departmental facilities and the opportunity to talk with staff and students. Normally, all visitors have an individual meeting with a member of staff. Applicants may request a meeting in the medium of Welsh. University-run activities also include student-led tours of thecampus, student accommodation, and the Sports Centre.

Bursaries and ScholarshipsFinancial assistance from several sources is available to help students to study atSwansea.

Swansea University and the School of the Environment and Society award a number of Excellence Bursaries to the best qualified applicants who made Swansea their firm choice. At the time of writing, University Excellence Bursaries are awarded to students who achieve AAA from the equivalent of three A levels and are worth £3000 each. School Bursaries are currently worth £1000 each and are awarded to a limited number of students who achieve AAB from the equivalent of three A levels.

Am Nawdd environmental sponsorship worth £1500 is available to students taking modules in the medium of Welsh. Details can be obtained from www.mantais.ac.uk

Sporting Entrance Scholarships, each worth £1000 per annum, renewable for three years, are available from the University. Details can be obtained from the University prospectus or website (www.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships).

The information in this booklet is correct at the time of printing but is liable to change. This booklet does not form part of any contract.


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A Welsh version of this brochure is available from the Geography Admissions Tutor or at our website www.swansea.ac.uk/geography

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Geography at Swanseawww.swansea.ac.uk/geography

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Geography Brochure