Geography

Geography (group 1 subject) CAO Code: MH101 | CAO Points 2021: 338

For full details of MH101 minimum entry requirements see p. 42.

> We explore environment, place, and space across time. We ask questions such as:

How much climate change and land-use change are we causing and how quickly?

What sorts of attachments to home do people form and what happens when these are disrupted by migration? How is Ireland, and its regions, affected by economic globalisation? > Geography education at Maynooth includes field trips, both in Ireland and overseas. > Students can choose 15 or 30 credits of Geography in first year and progress into a

Single Major degree from second year. > In your third year, you may opt for an industry placement module (subject to availability) to experience what it’s like to work with an organisation outside the University.

Course structure

1st year

BA Bachelor of Arts – Geography – Single Major, Double Major, Major/ Minor or as a Minor

Geography and 1 other subject to degree level. > Choose 15 or 30 credits of

Geography from group 1 and/or 6 plus up to 3 other subjects including

Critical Skills from the 4 or 5 groups available (maximum 1 subject per group). If choosing Geography in

Group 6, the only subject you may choose in Group 1 is Geography (this is due to timetabling of subjects in 2nd year) > Geography > Continue with 1 of your 1st year subjects as a Major/Minor, Double

Major or Minor > Optional 10 credit Elective in 2nd year (see p. 13 for details) > Erasmus/Study Abroad option after 2nd year

Single Major Geography from 2nd year

> At least 50 credits of Geography in each of 2nd and final year > To enter the Single Major students must normally achieve at least 60% in their 1st year Geography examinations Optional 10 credit Elective in 2nd year (see p. 13 for details)

2nd year and Final year OR 2nd year and Final year

Erasmus/Study Abroad option after 2nd year

For MH101 subject groups table go to p. 45 Possible topics

1st year

Students can choose 15 or 30 credits of Geography in first year. The two separate 15 credit Geography options are:

Living Landscapes – in group 1 (15 credits)

This introduces you to the diversity of human and physical landscapes across the modern world. Landscapes are both ‘vast and past’, shaped by physical and human geographical processes, which are often interdependent. Living Landscapes will allow you to investigate world-forming processes examining how humans across the world are part of, and also create, unique landscapes that generate issues including hazard prevention, poverty and resource depletion.

Global Environments – in group 6 (15 credits)

> This introduces students to the issues involved in modern global development within a highly modified, rapidly changing natural environment > Modern environments are shaped by physical forces and societal impacts formed by a range of geographical processes, which interact to create unique local management issues. You will study a range of different approaches in Geography, and have options to undertake fieldwork either in Ireland or overseas alongside Methods modules to develop further skills, including Geographical Information Systems. 2nd year topics may include: > Biogeography > Climatology > Geomorphology > Hydrology > Global Environmental Change > Hazards and Society > Economic Geography > Urban Geography > Rural Geography > Political Geography > Social and Cultural Geography > Spatial Justice In 3rd year you can continue with some of these specialisms, or include, for example: > Climate Change > Fluvial Geomorphology > Glacial Geomorphology > Global Ecosystems Pressures and

Sustainability > Palaeoecology > Oceanography > Geographical Information Systems (GIS) > Environmental Remote Sensing > Geopolitics > Electoral Geographies > The Creative City > Medical Geography > City in Film > Global Foodscapes > Regional Development You may also opt for a work placement (subject to availability).

2nd year Final year

Geography (group 1 subject) (continued)

Dr Stephen McCarron (Department of Geography) on top of a sediment-covered glacier margin during a recent field trip to Iceland’s Vatnajökull ice cap.

Why choose this subject?

> You will learn to think critically, analysing how and why our world changes. Our students develop a valuable way of thinking ‘spatially’, with space, place, time and nature-society relations at the forefront of their analysis.

> Geography paves the way for active citizenship, diverse exciting careers including research, and provides a foundation for lifelong learning.

> Geography graduates are flexible thinkers, and learn a wide range of skills which appeal to employers in the modern fast changing workplace.

Options after graduation?

> Geography students develop globally-relevant career skills which are attractive to employers throughout the public, private and voluntary sectors.

> Graduates can be found working in research, urban planning, community development, teaching, overseas aid and development, environmental monitoring and mapping, ICT, retail and marketing analysis, data analysis, environmental consultancy, business management, economic and industrial development agencies, public administration, environmental management and conservation agencies, to name but a few.

> Many students catch the research bug and decide to remain at university to pursue higher degrees, which offer research career opportunities.

Our taught postgraduate programmes currently include:

> MA Geography > MA Spatial Justice > MSc Climate Change > MSc Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing > MSc Geocomputation

Geography is also available in

MH107: BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science p. 170 MH109: BA Media Studies p. 171

Contact us

Maynooth University Department of Geography, Rhetoric House

 + 353 1 708 3610

 geography.department@mu.ie  www.maynoothuniversity.ie/geography @maynoothgeog

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