GY100 One Unit
Introduction to Geography
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Jessie Speer
Availability
This course is compulsory on the BA in Geography, BSc in Economic History and Geography, BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development and BSc in Geography with Economics. This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in Economic History, BSc in Economics and Economic History, BSc in Social Anthropology, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is freely available to General Course students. It does not require permission.
Note: As with all undergraduate courses, unless a course is core on a degree programme, allocation of places is done by School on a first come, first served basis and does not allow the Department to prioritise who is accepted
This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Course content
This course provides students with an introduction to the study of geography. Across two terms, we will examine key foundational concepts in human, economic, and environmental geography. In Autumn Term we will examine the history of geographic thought, space, place, society, mobility, landscape, territory, urbanism, the economy, inequality, and globalisation. In Winter Term we will examine power and the state, development, regionalisation, nature, commodification, risk and vulnerability, environmental justice, more-than-human relations, climate change, and the Anthropocene. Through exposure to a wide range of theories, students will learn to critically interpret a range of case studies from across the globe, and think deeply about social, economic, and environmental problems.
Teaching
1.5 hours of lectures in the Spring Term.
15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the WT and 2 essays in the AT and WT.
Indicative reading
Detailed reading-lists related to the different topics within the course will be provided at the start of the course. General useful texts include Clifford, N.J., S.L. Holloway, S.R. Rice and G. Valentine (eds) (2009) Key Concepts in Geography, 2nd Ed, Sage, London; Dicken, P. (2011) Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy 6th Edition Sage Publications; W.E. Murray, Geographies of globalization, 2006; Pike A., A. Rodriguez-Pose and J. Tomaney (2017) Local and regional development. London: Routledge; N. Castree (2014) Making Sense of Nature
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 180 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Key facts
Department: Geography and Environment
Course Study Period: Autumn, Winter and Spring Term
Unit value: One unit
FHEQ Level: Level 4
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 79
Average class size 2024/25: 13
Capped 2024/25: Yes(100)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills