Excited to learn more? For a taster of what you can expect to study on our Geography and Sport Science BSc degree, take a sneak preview of some of the modules you may have the opportunity to study below.

Compulsory modules

Academic and Professional Skills for Geography

The aims of this module are for students to:

  • Develop a critical awareness of the intellectual diversity of geographical ideas and practice.
  • Enhance students' abilities across a range of subject-specific academic and professional skills.

Sport and the Social Sciences

The aims of this module are for students to develop knowledge and understanding of the underlying social science theories and topical debates that relate to sport, coaching and pedagogy and to acquire the necessary level of understanding to progress to more sociologically specific modules at Parts B and C.

Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science

The aim of this module is for students to develop foundational knowledge and understanding of the core sport and exercise science disciplines of psychology, biomechanics and physiology.

Economic and Political Geography

The aims of this module are to introduce students to key concepts and debates in economic and political geography, examine case studies of economic and political change in the global North and global South, familiarise students with writers and texts in economic and political geography.

Practising Geography

The aim of this module is to introduce students to some key geographical themes and a range of practical techniques for collecting, analysing and interpreting data relevant to human and physical geographical research questions.

Earth System Science

The student will gain a broad understanding of the basic characteristics and functions of physical and biogeographical Earth systems and the sensitivity of such environmental systems to perturbations, both natural and human-made, on a variety of time-scales ranging from seasonal to geological.

Social and Cultural Geography

The aims of this module are to introduce students to key concepts in social and cultural geography, examine case studies of social and cultural change in the global North and global South, and familiarise students with writers and texts in social and cultural geography.

Environmental Hazards

The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the diversity of environmental hazards across a range of spatial and temporal scales, examining their impacts on and interactions with society. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this module explores the causes, impacts and risks associated with different environmental hazards, to understand how to sustainably manage and mitigate the destructive power of nature.

Fundamentals of Teaching Physical Education

The aim of this module is for students to develop fundamental teaching skills and the basic pedagogical knowledge needed to develop an understanding of the principles underpinning effective PE teaching in selected practical activities.

Optional modules

Remote Sensing & GIS

The module will introduce the use of GIS and remote sensing systems as a means of addressing geographical questions through the use of digital geospatial data. Students will explore a variety of primary and secondary data acquisition methods including satellite-based remote sensing and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

They will engage in the organisation, manipulation, analysis and presentation of spatial data using GIS. Students will be able to use knowledge and skills from this module in practical project work. Examples will be drawn from both physical and human geography in the context of land use change and urban environments. Focus will be given to the development of those key and transferable hands-on skills of particular interest to graduate employers.

Globalization

This module aims to:

  • Develop your understanding of how political, economic, cultural and development geographies are both shaping and impacted by globalization.
  • Provide you with the geographical tools and theories necessary to interrogate critically contemporary and historical events as they relate to globalization.

Social Difference

This module aims to:

  • Develop an understanding of changes in the nature of geographical research about social difference over time.
  • Develop an awareness of how social differences interact in a range of ways across space, place and time. This will include examining processes of social change in post-colonial societies.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

The aim of this module is to introduce students to a range of the physical processes which shape the Earth's surface, and the landforms and landscapes that are the result.

Environmental Systems and Resource Management

This module provides a scientific basis for understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of environmental systems. It explores the interaction of these realms and assesses aspects of their management or mismanagement as resources that are useful to human endeavour.

Physical Geography Research: Design and Practice

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the issues involved in the conception, design and execution of research projects. The module supports undergraduate research projects and dissertations in physical geography. It provides students with a theoretical and practical basis for choosing appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection, analysis, interpretation and communication.

Human Geography Research: Design and Practice

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the issues involved in the conception, design and execution of research projects. The module supports undergraduate research projects and dissertations in human geography. It provides students with a theoretical and practical basis for choosing appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection, analysis, interpretation and communication.

The Reflective Practitioner in Physical Education

The aim of this module is for students to develop as reflective practitioners exploring more advanced teaching skills and identifying aspects of high quality PE, furthering their pedagogical knowledge and applying this to a range of practical activities.

Fitness Training and Analysis

The aim of this module is for students to develop knowledge and understanding of the science of physical fitness, training and performance analysis.

Sport, Diversity and Social Justice

The aim of this module is for students to develop a critical understanding of the relationships between sport, diversity and social justice as they relate to contexts within and around sport, coaching and pedagogy.

Acquiring Movement Skills

The aim of this module is to examine both theoretically and in practice, the key factors governing the acquisition and performance of human movement skills.

Urban Geographies

The aim of this module is to use a geographical perspective to explore leading-edge processes of urban change and to critically analyse urban policy.

River Science

The aim of this module is to introduce the fundamentals of river science. The module focuses on the 'Stream in its Valley' and as such, emphasises those processes linking the main channel with the adjacent floodplain.

Understanding our Environmental Footprint

The aim of this module is to explore the purpose, needs, importance and challenges of monitoring environments that are changing because of human activity. The module focuses on aquatic systems (rivers, lakes, estuaries, coasts and the open ocean) as naturally highly variable, and increasingly impacted, environments that are both sinks of, and pathways for, society's environmental pressures in the Anthropocene. However, it is also of relevance to the atmospheric, terrestrial, and human systems to which aquatic environments are connected.

Physical Geography Fieldcourse

The aims of this module are for students to develop an understanding of both contemporary environmental processes and the importance of past environments in understanding the modern environment. Students will gain practical experience in a range of field and laboratory techniques in physical geography.

Your Future Career: Preparing for the World of Work

What do you know? What are skills? Where are they going to take you? This module will help you to answer those questions by building on transferrable skills and encouraging you to reflect on your learning. In addition, you’ll learn about the UK job market, and how to negotiate a range of recruitment tasks including decoding job specifications, writing an application, interviews, psychometric tests and the use of AI. Combine these with your degree and graduate with confidence.

Conceptualising Sport

The aim of this module is to develop a critical understanding of more advanced social scientific concepts which combine to form the basis of social theories and perspectives used in the analysis of sport and physical cultures in modern societies across the world.

Physical Activity and Health

The aim of this module is for students to develop knowledge, critical understanding and skills relating to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health.

Forest Ecology

The aim of this module is to introduce students to some key ecological processes in forest ecosystems. This will be focussed on assessing carbon storage and ecology using practical, problem-based and inquiry-based learning based on a 'real-life' consultancy scenario. Teaching will be student-led and involve field work on campus.

Global Migration

The aims of this module are to:

  • Familiarise students with contemporary trends in global migration and the social, political, and economic dynamics underlying migration patterns.
  • Engage students in contemporary theoretical debates regarding the causes of migration and its broader impact on both sending and receiving countries.
  • Introduce students to current political debates regarding citizenship, migrants' rights and inclusion.

Human Geography Fieldcourse

The aim of this module is to give students first-hand experience of a major city (which may be in the UK or overseas). Students will be familiarised with a range of field study techniques in urban and cultural geography which will enable them to acquire an in-depth understanding of the processes underlying contemporary city development and their historical context, and to interpret relevant urban theorisation.

Optional modules

Geography Dissertation

The aim of this module is for Joint and Combined Honours Geography students to be provided with the opportunity to undertake personal research with suitable guidance into any field of geographical study.

Physical Activity and Health of Children

The aims of this module are to:

  • Understand the implications that physical changes which occur during the growth period in children and adolescents have for their physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health.
  • Understand the patterns and trends of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents, the factors that influence these patterns and trends, and their relationship with children and adolescents' health.

Critical Pedagogies in Physical Education

The aims of this module are for students to critically reflect on contemporary policy, curriculum and pedagogical issues relevant to a school PE context and how these impact on teaching and learning, and to gain experience of the delivery and practice of PE and selected areas through work based learning.

Contemporary Issues in Sporting Cultures

The aims of the module are for students to develop a critical understanding of the practice and policy of contemporary sport cultures. There is an explicit link with the multi-disciplinary approach to social sciences taken at part A and the more sociologically driven modules in part B.

Applied Sports Science: Analysis and Conditioning

The aim of this module is for students to advance their knowledge, understanding and application of the applied sports science disciplines of strength and conditioning and performance analysis.

Sport Policy and Governance

The aims of this module are for students to develop a critical understanding of the policy-making process, policy analysis and associated tools, concepts and models in sport; and to develop a critical understanding of of sports governance and governance principles, structures and standards in local and global sports organisations.

Glacial Environments and Landscapes

Glaciers and ice sheets are experiencing major change and are expected to change further during the coming century, in response to global climate change. This module will explore the key features and processes associated with glaciers and glacial environments.

Specific aims of this module are for students to examine:

  • The characteristics, dynamics and operation of the worlds glaciers, ice sheets and ice-influenced environments and their contemporary response to ongoing climate change.
  • The geomorphological processes and landforms associated with ice-masses and glacial environments.
  • The effect of spatial and temporal variations in the operation of glacial processes and their surface expression in glacerised and glaciated landscapes.

The module will also cover focus contemporary issues and state-of-the-art knowledge in glacerised and glaciated environments through time.

Climate Change: Cooperating with the Future

The aims of this module are that students:

  • Achieve a sound understanding of the evidence for human-driven climate change and of how it undermines the habitability of the Earth.
  • Develop a critical appreciation of the impacts of climate change on specific societal spheres of activity, such as health, sport and security.
  • Build a strong appreciation for the importance of decarbonisation, by practising carbon action planning in the context of a university.

Landscape Evolution and GIS

The aims of this module are that students examine:

  • The spatial and temporal scales of landscape evolution and the processes that cause landscape change.
  • A range of geospatial tools and techniques for analysing and interpreting landscape evolution across scales

Employment, Work and Life

Drawing on contemporary examples, the central aim of this module is for students to examine the strategies different social groups adopt in order to make a living in uncertain economic times.

Geographies of Housing and Home

The aim of this module is for the student to evaluate the multiple geographies of housing and home.

Independent Geographical Essay

The aim of this module is to give students the opportunity to explore and research an aspect of Geography of their choice.

Dryland Environment Fieldcourse

This fieldcourse is at an additional cost to tuition fees. 

The aim of this module is for students to develop an understanding of the geomorphology, biogeography and climatology of dryland environments. Students will gain practical experience in a range of field and laboratory techniques including process monitoring, geomorphological mapping, sedimentology and microclimate data analysis.

Urban Political Geographies Fieldcourse

The aims of this module are to:

  • Introduce students to the diverse contemporary human geographies of a major city.
  • Familiarise students with a range of field techniques in urban, social and political geography.
  • Equip students with experience of constructing informative visual resources.
  • Enhance practical and transferable skills through group, student-centred and co-operative learning in a fieldwork environment.

Rural Futures

This module aims to:

  • Develop your understanding of how and why the 'rural' is fundamental to understanding our past, present and future.
  • Provide you with the knowledge and tools to critically evaluate the impact of rural processes, policies and planning on people and places.

Conservation: Principles and Practice

This module aims to explore the history, approaches and techniques associated with the conservation of ecological communities, habitats, landforms and archaeological sites, and the potential conflict between legitimate economic and social activities.

Aeolian Processes and Landforms

The aims of this module are for students to examine:

  • The physical attributes of environments where wind-blown sand and dust dominate (aeolian environments).
  • The effect of spatial and temporal variations in the operation of aeolian processes and their surface expression in contemporary landscapes.

Environmental Change in the Anthropocene

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of some of the major drivers of change affecting natural environments at varying spatial scales, the ecological response of both terrestrial and aquatic systems, and how such changes can themselves have impacts on human activity and society.

Knowledge of contemporary functioning of major ecological systems will be combined with evidence from palaeoenvironmental archives to explore the relationships between environmental stressors, and ecological systems, today and in the past.

The module will include the use of various types of evidence (e.g. documentary, inventory, palaeoenvironmental) and modelling approaches to understand how global biogeochemical cycles and major ecosystems (e.g. tropical forests, coastal regions) have changed over time.

Understanding will be deepened by interrogation of real-world datasets in the practicals, which will form the basis for the assessed coursework report.

Mobilities, transnationalism and diaspora

The aims of this module are to:

  • Outline the concepts and typologies related to the study of transnational mobilities, transnationalism and diaspora.
  • Analyse the nature and geographies of transnational mobilities, transnationalism and diaspora using a theoretical and a contextualised case study approach.
  • Evaluate the outcomes of transnational mobilities and diasporic networks.

Geographies of Education Virtual Fieldcourse

The aim of this module is for the student develop an understanding of contemporary geographical education in different national contexts.

Psychology for Physical Educators

The aim of this module is for students to gain an in-depth understanding of psychological issues relating to the experiences of children and young people in physical education and youth sport.

The information above is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please also see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.