Head of Department: Mr Alex Murchie
Email: [email protected]
Geography is a dynamic subject that is firmly grounded in the real world and focuses on the interactions between individuals, societies and physical processes in both time and space. It seeks to identify trends and patterns in these interactions. It also investigates the way in which people adapt and respond to change, and evaluates actual and possible management strategies associated with such change. Geography describes and helps to explain the similarities and differences between different places. These may be defined on a variety of scales and from the perspectives of a different range of actors, with varying powers over decision-making processes.
Course Objectives
The Diploma Programme geography course integrates physical, environmental and human geography, and ensures that students acquire elements of both socio‑economic and scientific methodologies. Geography takes advantage of its position to examine relevant concepts and ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. This helps students develop life skills and have an appreciation of, and a respect for, alternative approaches, viewpoints and ideas.
Entry Requirements
It is useful to have taken the IGCSE course as it provides an excellent foundation for the knowledge and understanding that is required for IB geography. Students who have an interest in global issues and the impact of the environment will enjoy this subject
Course aims:
The aims of the geography course at SL and HL are to enable students to:
It is difficult to read the front page of a newspaper without reading about issues covered in the geography curriculum, from the migration of refugees to the causes and consequences of climate change. Geography is the subject that deals with these big, important global issues. It for students who want a better understanding of what is going on in their world.
Course Outline
Part One: Geographic themes (two options are studied at SL and three at HL):
Freshwater – drainage basins; Oceans and their coastal margins; Extreme environments; Geophysical hazards; Leisure, tourism and sport; Food and health; Urban environments
Part Two: Geographic perspectives – global change - SL and HL both study the three topics
Population distribution – changing population; Global climate – vulnerability and resilience; Global resource consumption and security
Part Two extension: (HL only) Global perspectives – global interactions
Power, places and networks; Human development and diversity; Global risks and resilience
Part Three: Internal assessment - SL and HL
Fieldwork report based on one fieldwork question, information collection and analysis with evaluation – data will be collected during a residential field trip to Thailand.
Assessment
Email: [email protected]
Geography is a dynamic subject that is firmly grounded in the real world and focuses on the interactions between individuals, societies and physical processes in both time and space. It seeks to identify trends and patterns in these interactions. It also investigates the way in which people adapt and respond to change, and evaluates actual and possible management strategies associated with such change. Geography describes and helps to explain the similarities and differences between different places. These may be defined on a variety of scales and from the perspectives of a different range of actors, with varying powers over decision-making processes.
Course Objectives
The Diploma Programme geography course integrates physical, environmental and human geography, and ensures that students acquire elements of both socio‑economic and scientific methodologies. Geography takes advantage of its position to examine relevant concepts and ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. This helps students develop life skills and have an appreciation of, and a respect for, alternative approaches, viewpoints and ideas.
Entry Requirements
It is useful to have taken the IGCSE course as it provides an excellent foundation for the knowledge and understanding that is required for IB geography. Students who have an interest in global issues and the impact of the environment will enjoy this subject
Course aims:
The aims of the geography course at SL and HL are to enable students to:
- develop an understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between people, places, spaces and the environment at different scales
- acquire an in-depth understanding of how geographic issues, have been shaped by powerful human and physical processes
- synthesise diverse geographic knowledge to form viewpoints about how these issues could be resolved
- understand and evaluate the need for planning and sustainable development through the management of resources at varying scales.
It is difficult to read the front page of a newspaper without reading about issues covered in the geography curriculum, from the migration of refugees to the causes and consequences of climate change. Geography is the subject that deals with these big, important global issues. It for students who want a better understanding of what is going on in their world.
Course Outline
Part One: Geographic themes (two options are studied at SL and three at HL):
Freshwater – drainage basins; Oceans and their coastal margins; Extreme environments; Geophysical hazards; Leisure, tourism and sport; Food and health; Urban environments
Part Two: Geographic perspectives – global change - SL and HL both study the three topics
Population distribution – changing population; Global climate – vulnerability and resilience; Global resource consumption and security
Part Two extension: (HL only) Global perspectives – global interactions
Power, places and networks; Human development and diversity; Global risks and resilience
Part Three: Internal assessment - SL and HL
Fieldwork report based on one fieldwork question, information collection and analysis with evaluation – data will be collected during a residential field trip to Thailand.
Assessment
Standard Level |
Higher Level |
|
Part one: Geographic themes |
Study two options Exam: 1hr 30 mins Weighting: 35% |
Study three options Exam: 2 hours Weighting: 35% |
Part two: Geographic perspectives |
Study all three topics Exam: 1 hour 15 mins Weighting: 40% |
Study all three topics Exam: 1 hour 15 mins Weighting: 25% |
Part two: Core extension |
N/A |
Exam: 1 hour Weighting: 20% |
Part three: Internal assessment |
Weighting: 25% |
Weighting: 20% |
Future Pathways
Geographers are very employable due to their transferable skills including problem-solving and critical thinking. Many careers relate directly to the course content for example town planners, meteorologists or work for NGOs specialising in development or climate change. Times higher education .com notes that nearly ⅕ of geography graduates go on to work in business, finance and human resources.
Geographers are very employable due to their transferable skills including problem-solving and critical thinking. Many careers relate directly to the course content for example town planners, meteorologists or work for NGOs specialising in development or climate change. Times higher education .com notes that nearly ⅕ of geography graduates go on to work in business, finance and human resources.
