AS Geography

This subject may be offered at more than one Southern Consortium school site. The teaching of this subject may be at any one of the sites listed below.

The information on this webpage is a guide only. Topics, units and course content may vary from those listed below.

AS Geography @ SRS

Which students will enjoy the challenge of AS Level Geography?

Do you:

  • Have an interest in environmental responsibilities?
  • Want to understand globalisation, the global economy and its implications?
  • Want to find out about the geography of sport and leisure?

Are you:

  • Inquisitive enough to develop fieldwork and research skills?
  • Motivated enough to achieve A*-C grades in your GCSE's?
  • Wondering how the world will cope with S billion people?
  • Concerned there is an increase m natural disasters globally?

What use is AS/A2 Level Geography to you?

Geography develops many skills in great demand by employers, e.g. thinking skills. Universities recognise geography as an indication of independent learning. Essential to success in higher education.

Geography shows you are able to combine Science with English language and farm your own intelligent opinions.

Geography A level Identifies you can evaluate management strategies from local to global scales

Meteorology, Surveying, Town planning, Geology, (GIS) systems programming, Military, financial occupations, tourism and leisure, environmental vocations, petroleum industry and many more employers value a geography A level very highly.

Geography Course Outline.

The syllabus requires students to study a number of modules, establishing a balance in geographical education. Students are encouraged to adopt an enquiry approach to learning, which is very relevant to progressing beyond A levels to employment or higher education.

AS Units:

Global Futures = 2 compulsory units:

1. World at Risk

2. Going Global

Assessment by examination, 1.30 hrs = 60% total AS marks.

Geographical Investigation

Choose two from four –

Either Extreme weather OR Crowded Coasts; Either Unequal Spaces OR Re-branding Places.

Assessment by examination, 1 hr = 40% total AS marks

A2 UNITS:

Contested Planet = 6 compulsory topics:

a) Energy Security

b) Water Conflicts

c) Biodiversity under Threat

d) Super Power Geographer

e) Bridging the Development Gap

f) Technological Fix?

Assessment by examination, 2.30 hrs = 60% of A2 marks.

Geographical Research, choose one from:

a) Tectonic Activity & Hazards

b) Cold Environments

c) Life of the Margins – the food supply problem

d) The World of Cultural Diversity

e) Pollution & Human Health at Risk

f) Consuming the Rural Landscape

Assessment by examination, 1.30 hrs = 40% of A2 marks.

 

AS Geography @ JRCS

This course will appeal to those students who

  • have an interest in and concern for the environment
  • are interested in current affairs
  • enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experiences
  • want the opportunity to carry out practical work outdoors as well as classwork
  • enjoy finding out their own answers – not just being taught
  • want to broaden their AS or Advanced GCE studies to cover both ‘sciences’ and ‘humanities’
  • enjoy travel and finding out about new people, places, landscapes and events
  • want to keep their options open – Geography AS or Advanced GCE is an appropriate qualification for a very wide range of higher education or career choices

Skills you will develop include:

  • What are the forces influencing our natural environment – the landscapes, the plants and animals, and the weather and climate?
  • What are the issues affecting people and the places where they live? How are cities and the countryside changing? Why are they changing?
  • How are people affecting the environment we all live in? What are the opportunities, the challenges and the constraints?
  • What are the economic forces that drive the world economy, and how they are changing?
  • What decisions are being made about the use and management of resources, and who makes these decisions?
  • An appreciation of current events and world problems such as the effects of natural hazards and the plight of refugees.
  • How to plan a fieldwork investigation – the collection of primary and secondary evidence and how to analyse it.
  • You will develop the ability to make links and connections across a wide variety of topics.

At AS level (year 1) you will study global themes, including globalisation and climate change. You will discover how your own actions can relate to the wider world, be it your local area or a country far away.

You will study two units, Unit 1 and Unit 2:

Unit 1: Global Challenges — In this unit you will study a range of topics such as Global Hazards, Climate Change and Future Global Challenges.

Unit 2: Geographical Investigations — This gives you an opportunity to undertake geographical research, including fieldwork. You will investigate two topics in depth, one of Extreme Weather or Crowded Coasts (physical geography), and one of Unequal Spaces or Rebranding Places (human geography). At A2 level (year 2) you will learn how the world is contested and develop practical research skills in your chosen area. You will study two units, Unit 3 and Unit 4:

Unit 3: Contested Planet — In this unit you will consider five key world issues and in the sixth topic discuss possible technological solutions to the problems: – Energy Security – Water Conflicts – Biodiversity under Threat – Superpower Geographies – Bridging the Development Gap - The Technological Fix?

Unit 4: Geographical Research — This will allow you to develop further the investigative skills gained at AS level and prepare you for the demands of higher education or employment. You will choose one topic from these options:

  • Tectonic Activity and Hazards
  • Cold Environments
  • Life on the Margins -the food supply problem
  • The World of Cultural Diversity
  • Pollution and Human Health at Risk
  • Consuming the Rural Landscape

How will I be assessed?

AS (Year 1) – two units:

Unit 1: Global Challenges 1.5 hour written examination, including a colour Resource Booklet

Unit 2: Geographical Investigations 1 hour written examination, including a colour Resource Booklet. You will be asked about your fieldwork skills in this examination.

A2 (Year 2) - two further units:

Unit 3: Contested Planet 2.5 hour written examination, including pre-released synoptic resources (4 weeks in advance) and a colour Resource Booklet in the exam. Part 1 of the examination will cover five of the six Unit 3 topics; Part 2 will cover the sixth topic in a synoptic context (i.e. pulling together aspects of the other five topics).

Unit 4: Geographical Research 1.5 hour examination, including a pre-released ‘research focus’ (4 weeks in advance). You will be asked to answer one question on the option of your choice.

Careers and further study

Students with AS or Advanced GCE Geography have access to a wide range of possible career and higher education opportunities. You learn and use a variety of transferable skills throughout the course. These include collecting, analysing and interpreting data, communicating your findings in different ways, and identifying and developing the links between different parts of the subject. These skills are in great demand and are recognised by employers and universities and colleges as being of great value.

Geography combines well with almost all other AS and Advanced GCE subjects, and with almost all Advanced GNVQ subjects. Taken with sciences like mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, geography supports applications for almost any science-based university course like engineering, psychology, environmental sciences, oceanography and geology; taken with humanities like English, French, history or economics, geography supports an equally wide range of university courses such as business, law, media, politics and philosophy. GNVQs with strong links to geography include Travel & Tourism and Leisure & Recreation, while Business, IT and Health & Social Care also combine well with this AS or Advanced GCE in Geography.

Employment — geographers can go into a wide range of jobs, including:

  • Advertising
  • Education Marketing
  • Environmental management Retailing
  • Finance Sales
  • Law Social/health services

 

AS Geography @ EB

The AS and A2 Geography course is available to all GCSE Geography students and may in some cases be offered to students with good passes in similar, suitable GCSE subjects.

At AS level students study rivers and the hydrological cycle and urban morphology and change. At A2 students investigate global hazards and rural issues.

Students are assessed by modular exams in January and June and complete two pieces of coursework. The first piece of coursework is an individual investigation carried out during residential field work in Wales. Students spend a weekend carrying out river investigations in the Brecon Beacons, and investigating urban issues in the town of Brecon. The fieldtrip also involves some outdoor pursuit’s activities.

The second piece of coursework completed at A2, involves students completing an individual research essay on a topic released by the exam board. Past topics include the influence of major sporting events on cities and global healthcare issues.

 

The course is normally taught by two members of the geography team and is designed to be engaging and to develop student’s personal study and team working skills. The Geography department is well resourced and at AS and A2 level is increasingly popular.

Eastbury Geography department ran its first overseas expedition to Morocco during Easter 2006. While visiting Morocco students visited the souks and shanty towns of Marrakech and spent five days trekking in the Atlas Mountains. Students were responsible for planning and organising their provisions and mules while on the trek. Although voluntary, A level Geography students were given priority to take part in this unique opportunity to see a very different country and culture.

 

AS Geography @ DP

Who is the course for?

It is important that you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in the environment and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate your ideas effectively.

What does the course cover?

There are three units to take in Year 12 and three to take in Year 13.

Year 12 AS units

Changing landforms and their management

  • River environments
  • Coastal environments

Managing change in human environments

  • Rural environments
  • Urban environments

Environmental investigation

  • An individual investigation of your choice based on fieldwork carried out locally

Year 13 A-level units

Global challenge

  • Atmospheric processes
  • Ecosystems under threat
  • Global population and migration
  • Globalisation and the global economy

Researching global futures

  • A research essay of your choice written in class and at home
  • A research essay completed in the exam room on living with hazardous environments

Synoptic unit

An issues analysis exercise (involving problem-solving and decision-making) that combines the physical, human and environmental elements of previous units.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a very important part of AS and A-level Geography. There will be several day visits in Years 12 and 13 and two weekend residential visits to Dorset.

Careers

Geography is a very popular choice of study at University but even if you do not wish to pursue it at a higher level AS and A- level Geography are widely valued entrance qualifications for university.

Some of the careers that favour or require AS and A-level Geography include:

  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Architecture and town planning
  • Cartography (map-making)
  • The Civil Service
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Local government
  • Law
  • Journalism
  • Selling and marketing
  • Transport and communications
  • Travel agency and tourism
  • The armed forces
  • Civil aviation
  • Estate agency
  • The leisure and sports industry
  • Nature conservancy
  • Surveying
  • Teaching