Careers Related to Geography

Geography plays a crucial role in understanding our world. It makes a vital contribution to our knowledge of the rapidly changing environmental and social challenges facing us and how we should tackle them.

(Source: Royal Geographical Society https://www.rgs.org/choosegeography/)

Geography is a broad based academic subject which will open up options for you in your future. Employers and universities see geography as a robust academic subject rich in skills, knowledge and understanding. As a subject linking the arts and the sciences it is highly flexible in terms of what you can combine it with, both at GCSE and A Level. If you choose to take geography on to university there are literally hundreds of courses to choose from and the range of career areas accessed by graduates of geography will probably surprise you.

Gaining transferable skills

Studying GCSE geography provides you with a variety of valuable skills and knowledge that can be transferred and used across other subject areas and in everyday life. Key skills and knowledge gained are listed below:

Highly relevant knowledge

You will study issues that are extremely relevant to the challenges the world is facing today both environmentally and in wider society. This equips you with valuable knowledge for future studies.

Looking at issues differently

Geographers uniquely tackle and investigate big issues across a variety of scales. You will also learn how to bring together perspectives from multiple disciplines.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an enjoyable opportunity to explore new environments, improving your understanding of topics as they come to life. Fieldwork provides you with useful skills in collecting, understanding and later communicating data to different audiences.

Teamwork

Working in teams during fieldwork and in the classroom will help develop your communication and collaboration skills.

Place knowledge

You will develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the UK’s economic, social and environmental geography.

Geographical argument

You will gain strong research and analytical skills, helping you to produce convincing arguments and to communicate ideas effectively, which is particularly useful in all other essay-based subjects.

Data and geospatial skills

Geography is practical and will give you opportunities to learn new skills such as computer-based mapping (GIS), map skills, interpreting photographs and fieldwork skills. It will make practical use of your numeracy skills when you interpret data and construct graphs.

Visual communication skills

Geography gives you the opportunity to gather, analyse and present data in a variety of ways so you will also develop your visual communication skills using maps, graphs, diagrams and images to problem solve.

A Level geography

A Level geography offers a selection of new, interesting topics not covered at GCSE level, and allows you to go into greater depth in some key elements previously studied. It covers both the physical and human environments and the complex interaction of processes that shape our world. It will also, importantly, show the applied side of the subject - how human intervention affects the environment and how people adapt and mitigate the effects of processes on their environment.

There is plenty of room for discussion and extended research, which will help you become an independent thinker and learner. By the time you get to your exams, you will be able to show your understanding of a range of opinions and be able to illustrate your answers with case studies from local, national and international examples.

You will learn in a wide variety of ways, using maps, GIS skills, data analysis, photos, videos, and podcasts, as well as attending lectures and study days. You will be encouraged to frame your own questions using higher level thinking skills and show your grasp of complex issues through report and essay writing. Fieldwork will be an essential part of your A Level course.

The four key geographical themes outlined below are compulsory which, when combined with fieldwork, accounts for 60% of the course. The additional 40% is flexible and varies depending on the exam board chosen by teaching staff.

Core themes

Water and carbon cycles

You will study the physical processes which control the water and carbon cycles between land, oceans and the atmosphere, all of which are critical mechanisms in supporting life on Earth.

Landscape systems

Focusing on either dry arid, coastal or glacial environments, you will study what earth surface processes have produced their characteristic landforms.

Global systems and global governance

In a globalising world, people, places and environments are increasingly connected leading to the rapid global movement of goods, people, technology and ideas. A Level studies focus on the consequences of a highly interconnected world and the efforts to regulate it - labelled ‘global governance’.

Changing places

The connections and relationships between people, the economy, society and the environment help to explain why places are constantly changing. Through the study of local locations it will become apparent how flows of people, resources, money, ideas and government polices can change the nature of places.

Geographical fieldwork

Fieldwork will be an essential part of your A Level course - you will be required to complete an independent non-examined assessment (NEA). This provides an excellent opportunity to conduct a fieldwork study in relation to physical and human processes.

A minimum of four days of fieldwork is required at A Level. You may even get to go on a residential trip to experience a very different environment to the one where you live. You may visit an area that is known for its coastal, river or glaciated scenery, or carry out enquiries relating to issues in your local environment. You will have the flexibility to identify your own topic for your NEA. The write up of your study will provide an excellent insight into producing a concise university-style dissertation.