Durham University

Department Link for Undergraduate programme

Course Detail

Year 1

Compulsory modules:

• Physical Geography
• Introduction to Geographical Research (BSc) – double module including overseas residential fieldwork
• Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World.

Optional modules:

Choose two optional modules from:

• Understanding Earth’s Principles
• Environment and Society
• Geographies of Crisis
• Level One Module(s) offered by another department, subject to approval. 

Year 2

You develop further practical and scientific research skills and, through your choice of modules, may start to specialise in a number of themes that may continue in the third year or choose a broader approach. These include our integrated modules that span the human/physical geography interface.

Compulsory modules:

• Scientific Research in Geography (includes compulsory residential fieldwork in the UK) – double module, and a pre-requisite for your Dissertation in the third year
• Handling Geographic Information.

Optional modules:

Choose three modules (the modules may vary from year to year but typical options include):

• Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives
• Contested Environments
• Fluvial Systems
• Geochemistry of the Environment
• Glaciers and Glaciation
• Global Environmental Change
• Mountain Landscapes
• One Level Two module from the BA list or from another department (with permission and subject to timetable compatibility). 

Year 3

In the third year, students will undertake their own Research Project (the Dissertation), supervised by a member of staff alongside a selection of modules that involve material at the cutting-edge of contemporary research.

Compulsory module (40 credits):

• Dissertation (individual Research Project based on an approved physical geography topic) – double module.

Optional modules (80 credits from the following):

(the modules may vary from year to year but typical options include):

20 credits:

• Alpine Landscapes and Processes (Switzerland field trip)
• Field Research in Glacial Environments (Iceland field trip)
• Ice Age Environments
• Mountain Hazards (Nepal field trip)
• Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
• Oceans Past and Present
• Remote Sensing
• River Dynamics
• Sea Level Change and Coastal Evolution
• The Arctic (Norway field trip)

10 credits:

• Antarctic Environments
• Geochemical Applications
• Integrated Catchment Modelling
• Landslides
• Peatland Geomorphology
• Water: Resource and Well-Being

• Up to 20 credits from the Level 3 BA list (with permission and subject to timetable compatibility).