Undergraduate Course: The Nature of Geographical Knowledge (GEGR09012)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course examines the history of geographic thought. It deals with how geographers have investigated and understood the world through theory in the past, and how they do so now, and considers the implications of those histories and practices. |
| Course description |
The course introduces students to the intellectual history of theory in modern geography. It provides a grounding in theoretical approaches to geography in way that illuminates the intellectual history of the discipline. At the same time it teaches students how to choose between and use theoretical approaches with an awareness of both their affordances and their limitations.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to 3rd year students only. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
175 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Degree Essay (75%)
Reaction Pieces (25%)
Students must attain an overall mark of 40% (or above) in order to pass the course. |
| Feedback |
Written feedback is provided for the summative assessments. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the ways in which geographers construct geographical knowledge.
- Critique and situate the different theoretical approaches to geography in a reasoned manner.
- Assess the utility of contrasting geographic theories in approaching empirical problems.
- Demonstrate a range of skills in note-taking, utilization of readings, critical reflection, close reading of sources, independent work and writing.
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Reading List
This course is based on the following text which is the key reading for the course:
Cresswell, T. Geographic Thought: A Critical Introduction (Wiley, 2024)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will be able to demonstrate skills in researching, assessing, presenting and defending reasoned arguments on the nature of knowledge in geography.
Students will also be able to demonstrate an ability to acquire and apply specialist knowledge.
Finally, students will be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is open to 3rd year students only. This course is open to all university students, but priority will be given to students on the Geography Degree Programmes. Students from other programmes may be able to join if there is space. Please contact geoset.ug.drummond@ed.ac.uk to check availability. |
| Keywords | Geographical Knowledge |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Timothy Cresswell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9137
Email: tim.cresswell@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Leigh Corstorphine
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: lcorstor@ed.ac.uk |
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