Geography (BH-ARTS_INFSPC_13)

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Overview

Geography brings together the natural and social sciences to provide you with the knowledge, skills and conceptual frameworks needed to understand the environmental and social processes that shape the world around us. Seventy-five per cent of the program is based around the production of a research thesis, where students embark on a major project in their chosen research field under the supervision of an appropriate member of academic staff. Students also complete two 12.5 pt coursework subjects, one exploring the philosophical foundations of geography and the other dealing with methodologies used by geographers to design and implement research projects.

Admission requirements  The minimum entry requirement for Geography Honours is completion of all the requirements for the BA, including a major in geography (or its equivalent), and an average grade over the second/third year subjects within the major equivalent to at least an H2B (70%). Prospective students need to complete a research proposal as part of the application process.

Students must complete the Honours year full-time over two consecutive semesters of study. Mid-year entry is not available for this Honours stream.

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of this course, students should:

be familiar with current debates in their chosen field of geographic inquiry;
be able to develop research questions from a critical reading of a body of literature;
be able to design a field, laboratory and desktop research project;
gain an understanding of major conceptual debates in geography, and their implications for research methodology;
develop a high level of oral and written communication skills.

The Honours program provides a direct pathway to higher degree (PhD and Masters) studies.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Structure

100 credit points

Students undertaking honours in geography must complete:

Research subjects (total 75 points); and
Compulsory coursework subjects (total 25 points)

Total 100 points

Subject Options

Research Component

Students must complete 75 points of research taken over consecutive semesters.

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
GEOG40002	Geography - Environmental Studies Thesis	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	25
GEOG40008	Geography - Environmental Studies Thesis	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	50

Coursework Component

Students must complete both of:

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
GEOG90029	Research Methods in Geography	February (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
GEOG40003	Advancing Geography & Environmental Stud	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5