Human Geography with a Professional Placement Year (BSc)

Our approach is based upon a commitment to provide the highest quality teaching. As far as possible, we aim to teach in small groups because we believe this encourages a more positive learning environment between staff and students and among students themselves. Typically you will study six modules per year and will receive 12 hours of guided study per week.

We offer a supportive learning environment, where you are enabled to acquire a range of skills and a wealth of specialist knowledge. Our programmes foster intellectual skills, such as critical thinking, close analysis, evaluating evidence, constructing arguments, using theory and the effective deployment of language in writing and in debate. We also help you gain experience in team working, independent research and time management.

How will I be supported?

As well as having regular feedback from your personal tutor, you will have a reading week each semester for guided study and a chance to catch up on assessed work, reading and revision.

You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.

The University support services (including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres) will all be available to you.

During the placement year, you will be supported by a workplace supervisor, a placement tutor, as well as your personal tutor, in line with the University’s Placement Policy, and following our established practice in the School. you will   You will also continue to be able to access the University’s full range of support services. 

Placement tutors will maintain contact with you throughout your placement, including, where possible, making pastoral visits at least once during the year (where this is not practical Skype meetings or equivalent may take place).  They will also contact you a minimum of twice per semester via Skype, telephone or similar with email follow-up as appropriate.

Feedback

We’ll provide you with frequent feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback during tutorials, personalised feedback on written work, feedback lectures, generic written feedback and feedback on tutorial performance

You will receive written feedback on your coursework and will be given general feedback in relation to examinations following the May/June examination period. You will be able to discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor.

How will I be assessed?

A range of assessment methods are used, including essays, examinations, presentations, report-writing and creative assignments such as videos and posters.

We encourage innovation and creativity in the delivery and assessment of teaching and learning, for example the use of digital media and field study visits.

Essays and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacities to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments. Dedicated essay workshops and individual advice enable you to produce your best work, and written feedback on essays feeds forward into future work, enabling you to develop your strengths and address any weaker areas.

The Placement Year assessments will include a Professional Development Plan, written report and presentation, worklog and employer report.

The final-year research project (dissertation) provides you with the opportunity to investigate a specific topic of interest to you in depth and to acquire detailed knowledge about a particular field of study, to use your initiative in the collection and presentation of material and present a clear, cogent argument and draw appropriate conclusions. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• Apply knowledge learnt during years 1 and 2 in a professional environment
• A critical  awareness of the cultural, social, economic, political and environmental components of human geography
• An understanding of contemporary debates within human geography
• A critical awareness of the key philosophical underpinnings of human geography
• A critical understanding of the history of human geography
• An awareness of how data in the major sub-fields of human geography is gathered and analysed
• How to apply knowledge and understanding of human geography to real-world problems
• An understanding of the key ways in which power works in and through space
• Skills in research and appraisal, including data collection, investigation, analysis and assessing evidence through a substantive piece of original research
• The ability to accurately define a practical issue or problem for investigation, study or research and devise a strategy for collecting, assessing, analysing and presenting relevant data and information.

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• Understanding of a range of both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Understanding of a range of ways of interpreting and analysing data
• An understanding of how to analyse and critically reflect on scholarly work
• An understanding of how to craft a convincing argument
• An appreciation and respect for equality of opportunity, social and cultural diversity, and the sustainable use of natural and human resources
• An appreciation and respect for individual and collective rights in different spatial and cultural contexts

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• work-related skills, knowledge and experience, both professional and personal
• A critical understanding of the workplace environment, including how to operate in a workplace confidently and professionally
• An ability to identify and adapt to working and related practices in an employment setting and reflect critically on them
• Presentation skills

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:

• Effective communication of ideas, principles and theories by oral and written means
• Critical thinking and writing
• Team-working skills by responding appropriately to colleagues’ requests and making clear one’s own demands on colleagues
• Effective self-management by setting and adhering to work priorities, making effective use of time and identifying opportunities for input from colleagues, other professionals and/or stakeholders
• Effective management and presentation of information through media and information technology
• An appreciation and respect for the protection of personal health and safety at work and the health and safety of others
• Career planning with reference to professional skill requirements