Development Geography

Overview

If you care about the world we live in, and wish to learn more about the environmental, social and geopolitical issues and challenges facing the developed and developing world today, then the Foundation Degree in Development Geography is the course for you.

Why choose this course?

Take a work placement in a developing country, plus the opportunity of a placement with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the UK.

Training in practical geographical skills and those used by NGO practitioners.

Excellent pastoral and academic support, with benefits of a student peer mentoring scheme.

Small, friendly department, with approachable and knowledgeable tutors with considerable experience of overseas fieldwork.

On successful completion of the Foundation Degree you can apply to the third year of the Geography course to ‘top up’ your qualification to a BSc Honours degree.

About the course

The course explores the main themes and issues of development, with particular focus on developing countries, and environmental sustainability. In the first year you will gain knowledge about development theory and the concept of sustainable development, and become practised in methods of scientific investigation. The application of geographical methods and techniques will enable you to examine real-world development problems, such as global inequality, women’s roles in development, population trends, health and education resources, environmental degradation, energy resources, climate change, sustainable communities, and geohazards.

Topics covered in the course include (in Year 1) introduction to geography; development and sustainability; physical landscapes; tourism geographies; Earth observation; global food issues; (in Year 2) sustainable communities; climate change; research methods.

Also you will develop a range of skills that will prepare you for the remainder of your course as well as your future career. Skills include computing (such as Geographic Information Systems), laboratory and field-based work, researching and analysing data to aid decision making, working alone and in teams, executing a field investigation, and clear communication, both written and oral.

The unique feature of this two-year programme is that you will undertake a work placement in a developing country. Past students have worked in an orphanage or school in south India or Sri Lanka, helped to build a school in Ghana, worked on an archaeology conservation project in Peru, and undertaken conservation projects in Cambodia, the Peruvian Amazon jungle and in Costa Rica. In addition to your work placement, you also undertake an academic project. These opportunities and many other destinations and work placements are provided by Projects Abroad, with whom we work closely.

And with future careers in mind, a second year module provides the opportunity to further investigate career options. You will undertake a work placement with an appropriate employer or Non-Governmental Organisation in the UK.

"The course has matured into a very positive and progressive programme of study, exhibiting high standards of delivery and a well-designed curriculum." - External Examiner (2010)

“The programme continues to foster a critical approach and embeds transferable skills and critical thinking into the design of the modules and assessments in a commendable fashion.” - External Examiner (2010)

Careers

Opportunities are varied and include employment as an agency field worker or a voluntary sector worker, or careers with nongovernmental organisations and government departments. Opportunities also exist in education, tourism, and further study. The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification, and prepares you for seeking paid or voluntary work in the development sector. Your practical field-based experience gives you the edge over more academic courses, and you can be qualified in only two years.

Further study

On successful completion of the Foundation Degree you can apply to the third year of the Geography course to ‘top up’ your qualification to a BSc Honours degree.

Development Matters!

Twice a year, the Development Matters! newsletter is published. Contributions from staff and students report their latest travel and placement experiences, research developments, and review talks given by guest speakers. For the latest and past issues of the newsletter, click on the Newsletter tab.