121-497 Geography Advanced Coursework

Credit Points:

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Corequisite/s:

Objectives:

On completion of Geography Honours students should:

• have an understanding of the nature of science (including geography);

• have an understanding of major conceptual debates in contemporary human and physical geography, and their implications for research methodology;

• be aware of selected philosophical traditions in the discipline, and their theoretical and empirical manifestation in contemporary research in geography;

• be familiar with the techniques and concepts involved in the preparation of a review of the literature relating to particular research topics in geography;

• be able to select a research question and to design a program using the most appropriate techniques to gather the information on which an answer to the question can be developed;

• be able to analyse data and reach sensible conclusions;

• be capable of presenting these results in written and oral form so that they are comprehensible to persons who are not experts in the field.

Content:

Subject 121-497 comprises:

• Literature review: A critical assessment of the literature of a research area in Geography. The area is chosen by the student, supervisor and the head of the department. Work on the literature review involves regular meetings with the supervisor. The literature review is to be submitted by the beginning of May;

• Advanced seminars: A course of lectures and seminars on the philosophy and scope of geography. Geography as a science; philosophical issues in geographic research. Attendance at departmental research seminars and presentation in the second semester of a short seminar on the results of the candidate's research. Lectures and directed reading;

• Advanced coursework elective: Students must choose one advanced coursework elective from several courses of advanced lectures, seminars, directed reading and directed research offered by the department at fourth year level, or from equivalent level subjects elsewhere as agreed to by the Honours coordinator.

Assessment:

• attendance at departmental research seminars and presentation in the second semester of a short seminar on the results of the candidate's research;

• regular meetings with the supervisor to discuss work on the literature review.

• a literature review of up to 6000 words (16.7% of the total mark for Honours as a whole);

• written work and/or examinations equivalent to 6000 words for the advanced coursework elective (16.7% of the total mark for Honours as a whole);

• essays and seminar papers totalling 6000 words for the course of lectures and seminars on the philosophy and scope of geography (16.7% of the total mark for Honours as a whole).