Geographical Sciences major
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:
BP004 Bachelor of Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
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 2021; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2022 or 2023.
.
Level 1
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | GEOG1106 | Climate Change: Environment and Society |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | GEOG1103 | Urbanisation and Sustainability | |
| S2 | GEOG1104 | Disasters! |
Level 2
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT2220 | The Climate System |
|
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
| NS | GEOG2202 | Reading Landscapes: People and Processes |
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points from this group:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | ARCY2004 | Archaeology of Rock Art |
|
| S2 | ENVT2251 | Hydrology and Water Resource Management | |
| N/A | GEOG2204 | International Field Work in Geography |
|
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GEOG3301 | Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing |
|
| S1 | GEOG3302 | Local Places, Global Contexts |
|
| S2 | GEOG3303 | Environmental Policy and Planning |
|
| S1 | GEOG3308 | Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation |
Choosing your degree-specific major
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.
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.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
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.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .