Geography as a degree

[montage]

Anybody done this/have experience on this matter?

I am considering doing this instead of History....but it does seem like a bit of a wishy washy degree - is this steryotype correct?

What Uni's are decent for Geography?

Very early thoughts here....but I reckon I really enjoy Geography A level....History involves being in the library too much

 

[montage]

(oh and I guess this includes things like Earth sciences etc...but these sounds more wishy washy )

Also...career aspects....what is there?!

 

[Bigtwin]

I shared a house with a bloke who did geog at Uni.

If he wasn't high as a kite, he was pissed as a fart. Thought I saw him doing some work once, but turned out he was just forging his dad's signature on another cheque to himself.

Now works as some sort of head of planning for a Council somewhere on about £100K+ a year. In much the same vein I suspect.

 

[Headgardener]

Geography is not a bad degree to have, at least if you need to go somewhere then you will know where it is and wont need a satnav to get there.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Interesting subject. It's the only one I can think of that is part science and part humanities. Except for the social sciences of course. Alright it's the only subject that's a mix of physical science and humanities.

There were two geography PhD students I knew. One was studying glaciers somewhere in Russia I think, and the other was studying the boozing habits of young women in England and Holland (seriously, this was her thesis). I doubt you get topics as far apart as that in many other faculties.

Also, GIS skills seem in demand.

 

[Sittingduck]

Personally, I would prefer History more than Geography. Get the impression it is one of those subjects that is only of any value if you plan a career teaching said subject - or perhaps researching or something. Surely Geography would offer a more diverse range of potential careers

 

[montage]

I can just imagine myself studying the formation of the Alps or something during the summer term of Uni......Guess I would have to take my bike for that...

I have a career in the forces planned out....but I need a sensible and exciting back up plan - hence the degree and job queries.

 

[marinyork]

The traditional views were that geography would mean you ended up as a town planner or a teacher. Then again those sort of sayings can be a load of nonsense.

Really you have to weigh up how different they will be at undergrad level. A lot of history courses have few contact hours and a lot of spare time to teach yourself (in theory). You have a much more diverse number of topics you can do. Geography I got the impression off other people was rather similar to Environmental Science as a degree.

 

[montage]

The traditional views were that geography would mean you ended up as a town planner or a teacher. Then again those sort of sayings can be a load of nonsense.

Really you have to weigh up how different they will be at undergrad level. A lot of history courses have few contact hours and a lot of spare time to teach yourself (in theory). You have a much more diverse number of topics you can do. Geography I got the impression off other people was rather similar to Environmental Science as a degree.

This is a big problem for me - I need a structured education really.

 

[marinyork]

Then doing arts, humanities or social sciences in many UK institutions is going to be a problem.

I was just pointing this out. History tends to come quite low down the teaching contact time, infact near the bottom, in many universities. Then again many other arts and social science courses don't have a great many more hours.

 

[marinyork]

P.S. I'd recommend looking directly on course sites such as Liverpool's http://www.liv.ac.uk/info/pls/porta...list&p_params=?p_dept_code=GG&p_template=m_gg where you can not only look at the modules, but what is inside them.

 

[montage]

Then doing arts, humanities or social sciences in many UK institutions is going to be a problem.

I was just pointing this out. History tends to come quite low down the teaching contact time, infact near the bottom, in many universities. Then again many other arts and social science courses don't have a great many more hours.

Well...with History, if you aren't reading a book, you are writing an essay - I don't have a love for doing either of these things (I like reading books...but more fiction or historically based fiction).....I do really enjoy history....just not the essays!

 

[montage]

P.S. I'd recommend looking directly on course sites such as Liverpool's http://www.liv.ac.uk/info/pls/porta...list&p_params=?p_dept_code=GG&p_template=m_gg where you can not only look at the modules, but what is inside them.

Thanks for the link.....this was going to be my next port of call but I have delayed doing serious research on degree course until my exams are over. I think I will check this out though....just this once

 

[marinyork]

What else are your options? Politics, History, Economics? Sociology?

If you enjoy history that much, I'd consider doing that.

 

[montage]

I do:

Politics History Geography Geology for my A levels.

I need to seriously think about History...I really enjoy the bits I like...but have no time for "the boring bits".....I'll have a chat with my history teachers sometime soon.