BSc Geography (Human)

Compulsory modules

Skills in Geography and Environmental Science

Discover the expected academic standards and integrity at the undergraduate level, while being introduced to the Geography and Environmental Science discipline. Through real-world examples and data, learn essential skills for research. 

Global Challenges

Explore interrelated global issues confronting the planet and humanity today. Delve into the human geography, physical geography, and environmental science perspectives surrounding key challenges. Develop the ability to critically analyse and discuss these challenges using academic literature. 

Field Class

Undertake field research in a real-world setting, using contemporary methods and equipment for data gathering and and experience working as part of a team. The training you receive will be authentic and relevant to your ambitions and to the skills you’ll likely need for dissertation field research.  

Geographical Imaginaries

Understand how geographical knowledge and methods have changed over time and how these changes are crucial to understanding how and why we do geography today. Recognise how geographical knowledge will evolve in response to changing social, environmental and technological needs and opportunities. 

Approaching Human Geography

Examine 'everyday' matters from disciplinary and sub-disciplinary themes, which will enable you to cultivate a geographer's mindset, actively honing your skills and perspectives in Human Geography through guided instruction and hands-on learning. 

Optional modules

Restless Planet

Learn about the fundamental processes in the Earth System, encompassing the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Discover the interactions between the spheres, particularly the Earth System's integrated nature and how alterations to key biogeochemical cycles, can have far-reaching impacts across the globe. 

Landscapes and Natural Resources

Explore the integrative concept of landscape, with a focus on the component biophysical elements, their patterns and natural processes. You'll also examine the resilience of renewable and living resources in the context of global climate change.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

Skills Training and Project Design

Develop professional skills, including research approaches, project management, career awareness and employability. Work closely with an academic mentor to carry out carefully planned and highly professional research, act as consultants, designing, executing and reporting on a research project. 

Field Class 

Undertake field research in a real-world setting, using contemporary methods and equipment for data gathering and and experience working as part of a team. The training you receive will be authentic and relevant to your ambitions and to the skills you’ll likely need for dissertation field research.  

Living Together: Social and Cultural Geographies 

Explore social and cultural issues and concepts, such as analysing census data, iconography and participatory methods to understand local and international geographies. Key topics include identity, inequalities, landscape and consumption. 

Optional modules

Environment and Development

Investigate the two-way relationship between environment and development by exploring the theoretical frameworks such as political ecology and post-colonial theory to assess how societal values and power dynamics drive environmental management approaches and sustain uneven and unequal development.  

Energy Resources

Explore past, present, and future social, environmental, health and political aspects of energy resource use. Gain a holistic consideration of the role of different energy resources in the national, international, and global energy mix.  

Geographical Information Systems

Explore past, present, and future social, environmental, health and political aspects of energy resource use. Gain a holistic consideration of the role of different energy resources in the national, international, and global energy mix.  

Analysing Social Data

Analyse social data using quantitative and qualitative methods to foster persuasive communication and comprehensive illustrations of your understanding. Become a well-informed, confident, and discerning users of social data. 

Encountering Political Geographies

Find the geopolitical in unexpected spaces, place the spotlight on the bedroom as much as the battlefield; the body as much as the border; the school as much as the state. Think critically about the geopolitical world, challenge and resist dominant ideas, develop multiple ways of seeing, engaging, and being.  

Changing the face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability 

Examine how archaeology, environmental science and anthropology can provide a deep time perspective on global challenges and sustainability, and contribute to future solutions such as those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Looking at case studies from across the world, you will investigate how humans have become a major force in shaping ecosystems and landscapes, and the impact of change on different societies through time.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

Dissertation

All students must produce a dissertation as part of their degree. The dissertation is an original piece of research carried out by the students independently, with support from a supervisor, contributing to knowledge in a particular field of study. 

Optional modules

Climate Change and the Geography of Responsibility

Analyse and discuss the role of businesses in mitigating climate change. Build practical skills relating to corporate carbon accounting and disclosure. Critically engage with corporate climate activities, including carbon reduction claims, science-based climate targets and carbon offsets. 

Consumption, Politics and Space

Appreciate the broad theoretical and empirical links between geography, consumption, media and the politics of sustainability and sustainable behaviour change. Develop a critical understanding of the cultural and geographical politics of contemporary society through the mediatised framings of environmental and social problems and solutions.  

Deathscapes and Dark Tourism

Explore and understand the geographies associated with death, loss and remembrance. Understand the impact of death and remembrance practices on the landscape and environment, including how these change over time, may be contested and require management and planning in the light of multicultural and sustainability agenda.   

Tropical Rainforests and Lost Civilisations

Unravel the long-term history of tropical forests and human-environment interactions using a range of complimentary approaches, with a focus on tropical South America, particularly Amazonia. Integrate physical and human geography, ecology, and archaeology.   

Spaces of Care and Wellbeing

Develop your knowledge and understanding of key theoretical approaches to geographies of care and wellbeing and how these may be applied using participatory methods to diverse spaces in the local community and globally. Engage with practitioners working with refugees, people experiencing loneliness and other marginalised groups in Reading. 

Human Geography Field Class

Put into practice key concepts in Human Geography through field research in a real-world setting through experiential learning and using a range of contemporary field techniques. Explore economic and social change in an urban context and how this relates to globalisation and other global processes. 

Geography and Environmental Science Field Class 

Exploring the theme ‘society and the environment’, this UK-based field class will provide a fully integrated understanding of human and physical processes, with an emphasis on authentic, real world issues. Drawing on methods used in human and physical geography, and environmental science, you'll collect, analyse and interpret data in the context of geographical and environmental issues.

Water Resources

Engage with past, current and future water quality problems and critically examine their impact, particularly on public health, as well as effectiveness of water resource management strategies and legislation.  

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/2025 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.