Overview
Are you interested in the big issues facing the Earth, our home? A-Level geography deepens your understanding: many challenges- the refugee crisis, food and energy security, climate change, the terrible power of earth shaping forcescannot be understood without a geographical perspective. A-Level geography will fascinate you, inspire you and make you curious to discover the world. You will develop the ability to think geographically and make constructive decisions, becoming skilful and employable in the process.
Entry Requirements
It is recommended that you have a C grade in GCSE geography,GCSE English Language, and GCSE Mathematics.
You will need to achieve at least an E grade at AS level to progress on to A2 Geography.
Course Overview
AS Level
Unit 1 (24%of A-Level grade) – Changing Landscapes – Section A: Glaciated landscapes. You will find out how glaciersand ice sheets form and what triggers Ice Ages. You will learn about how glaciers carved out the landscapes that we inhabit today.
Section B: Tectonic Hazards. You will deepen your knowledge of plate tectonics and will study volcanology (types of lava and volcanoes). You will learn about a range of tectonic hazards and how these risks are managed.
Unit 2 (16% of grade) – Changing places – Section A: You will learn about the population, society, economy and environment that make up places. You will discover how places change over time and how places are experienced by diverse groups of people.
Section B: Physical and Human Fieldwork Investigation: You will visit Mewslade in Gower to investigate periglacial progress and Cardiff Bay to investigate the success of inner city redevelopment. There will be questions on your fieldwork experiences in the exam paper.
A Level
Unit 3 (24% of A-Level grade) – Global Governance
Section A – Water and Carbon cycles: You will learn how the water and carbon cycles influence our changing climate.
Your studies will focus on rivers, rainforests and temperate regions.
Section B – Change and challenges: You will learn about issues relating to immigration and the significance of events such as Brexit and the US election. In addition, you will learn about how the oceans are governed, covering issues such as shipping, piracy, smuggling and people trafficking as well as marine pollution and sustainability.
Section C – 21st century challenges: You will analyse and interpret a range of sources in order to develop a holistic understanding of one of geography’s big issues e.g. hazard management, marine pollution, human trafficking.
Unit 4 (16% of A-level grade) – Tectonic Hazards revisited: You will extend your tectonic hazards knowledge to include tsunamis. Ecosystems and Development in sub-Saharan Africa are the other themes covered in this unit.
Unit 5 (20% of A-level grade) – Independent Investigation: You will participate in two further fieldtrips where you will independently plan, gather data and write up your findings as a fieldwork report. This takes the form of a traditional controlled assessment.
Progression
A geography degree enables you to embark on a career in a range of fields, including those in the education, commerce, industry, transport, tourism and public sectors. You’ll also have many transferable skills, attracting employers from the business, law and finance sectors. Some of the most common employers include: the armed forces, charities, the Civil Service, environmental consultancies, environmental protection agencies, GIS (digital mapping e.g. Google Earth), local government, Ministry of Defence, police service, private companies, utility companies.