Geography

Geography brings together the natural and social sciences to provide you with the knowledge, skills and conceptual frameworks needed to understand the environmental and social processes that shape the world around us. Seventy-five per cent of the program is based around the production of a research thesis, where students embark on a major project in their chosen research field under the supervision of an appropriate member of academic staff. Students also complete two 12.5 pt coursework subjects, one exploring the philosophical foundations of geography and the other dealing with methodologies used by geographers to design and implement research projects.

Admission requirements
 The minimum entry requirement for Geography Honours is completion of all the requirements for the BA, including a major in geography (or its equivalent), and an average grade over the second/third year subjects within the major equivalent to at least an H2B (70%). Prospective students need to complete a research proposal as part of the application process.

Students must complete the Honours year full-time over two consecutive semesters of study. Mid-year entry is possible, although there are coursework implications (speak with the coordinator for details).

At the completion of this course, students should:

• be familiar with current debates in their chosen field of geographic inquiry;
• be able to develop research questions from a critical reading of a body of literature;
• be able to design a field, laboratory and desktop research project;
• gain an understanding of major conceptual debates in geography, and their implications for research methodology;
• develop a high level of oral and written communication skills.

The Honours program provides a direct pathway to higher degree (PhD and Masters) studies.

Students undertaking honours in geography must complete:

• A combination of two Core Research subjects (total 75 points); and
• One Core Coursework subject (12.5 points);
• One Honours Selective subject (12.5 points)

Total 100 points

Core Research Subjects:

Students must complete 75 points of the Thesis, comprising of either GEOG40002 and GEOG40008; or 2 x GEOG40007.

Compulsory Core Coursework Subject

Students are required to enrol into both the semester one and semester two availabilities of GEOG40003 for a combined total of 12.5 points, this subject is completed in two semesters.

Selective Subject

Students must complete one of the following: