121-222 Field Class in Geography

This subject is recommended for students who have completed at least 25 points of first-year geography subjects and who intend to complete a major in geography in either an arts or science degree. A quota applies to this subject and application forms for a quota place are available from the SAGES office. Students will be required to meet some expenses.

Completion of 25 points of first-year geography.

This subject is designed for students intending to major in geography. Over six days of field work in Victoria, students will gain the knowledge and develop the research skills necessary to undertake further study in geography. The subject presents the disciplinary approaches used by geographers to investigate a wide variety of geographical phenomena. After introducing the questions that geographers ask about places, the subject introduces and develops the research skills and methods used by practising geographers, particularly skills in acquiring, analysing and presenting geographical data. During the field week students will indentify questions about and methods of analysing social, economic, environmental and physical conditions at the field location. After the field work, students will complete projects based on their field work and subsequent reading. In semester one, there will be seminars at which student work is presented.

A 1500-word research proposal 40%, a 10-minute group presentation 10%, and a 1500-word field report 20% all due during the semester, and a field diary 30% due at the end of semester.