Geographical Sciences major (MJD-GGRPY)

Geographical Sciences is the science of place and space, standing at the intersection of natural and social sciences. Geographers study the Earth's landscapes, peoples, places and environments, and how these interact. Understanding contemporary urban and environmental problems requires an appreciation of the interdependence between human activities and the natural and cultural environment.

The Geographical Sciences major provides you with these insights, focusing on the major challenges facing our planet including climate change, population growth, urban expansion and megacities, natural disasters and environmental conservation. The major incorporates a wide range of opportunities to develop career relevant skills including GIS usage, data collection and analysis, as well as professional communication skills encompassing policy briefs, consultancy reports and oral presentations.

There will be up to three overnight domestic field trips throughout the major. In addition, students can opt to participate in exciting overseas fieldwork units, with recent destinations including Bali, Barcelona and Seattle.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply geographical concepts as in understanding change in human and physical environments.; (2) explain the geographical causes and consequences of major environmental and social issues, including climate change, land degradation, urbanisation and sustainability.; (3) apply methods for the investigation and interpretation of spatial processes and patterns in physical and human environments.; (4) communicate geographical perspectives and knowledge effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriately selected written, oral and visual means; and (5) develop the knowledge and skills required for employment in careers related to geography.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

ATAR Mathematics Methods or equivalent or higher.

Geographical Sciences can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

Geographical Sciences is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • four Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2022; NS = non-standard teaching period

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.

.

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 GEOG1106 Climate Change: Environment and Society
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 GEOG1104 Disasters!
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (18 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2220 The Climate System
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites:
36 points of prior study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
NS GEOG2202 Reading Landscapes: People and Processes
Prerequisites:
GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
OR
GEOG1104 Disasters!
OR
GEOG1106 Climate Change: Environment and Society
OR
Approval of Unit Co-ordinator
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ARCY2004 Archaeology of Rock Art
Prerequisites:
12 points of Level 1 study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S2 ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or
Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
or
GENG1014 Earth Systems Engineering
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
N/A GEOG2204 International Field Work in Geography
Prerequisites:
48 points of prior undergraduate study at UWA and approval by Unit Coordinator
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 GEOG3301 Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 GEOG3302 Local Places, Global Contexts
Prerequisites:
GEOG2202 Reading Landscapes: People and Processes
or
approval of the Unit Coordinator.
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 GEOG3303 Environmental Policy and Planning
Prerequisites:
Enrolment in MJD-CONBI Conservation Biology
or
MJD-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
or
MJD-GGRPY Geographical Sciences
or
MJD-HGYPL Human Geography and Planning
or
MJD-WLCDM Wildlife Conservation
or
MJD-ENVDM Environmental Science and Management
or
MJD-ENVMT Environmental Management
or
MJD-ENGEO Environmental Geography and Planning
or
MNR-SAPEP Science and Policy: Environmental Planning
or
MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
or
MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment and Successful completion of 72 points in your chosen degree
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) PLNG2203 Environmental Policy and Planning
S1 GEOG3308 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Prerequisites:
GEOG2201
or
GEOG2202
or
approval of unit co-ordinator
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Geographical Sciences degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSP004-GGRPY

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Geographical Sciences degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSP004-GGRPY-Generic

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .