Field Course in Environmental Geography

Level of Study

Bachelor

Teaching semester

Spring

Place of Instruction

Universitety of Bergen and a field area, either in Norway or abroad. The field area may vary from year to year.

Objectives and Content

The student learns to develop research questions, hypotheses and research framework in a field report in environment geography, and to make use of relevant methods and techniques. Through working with the field studies, the students gain insight in and experience central themes in environment geography, that has been theoretical and methodological highlighted in other courses prior to GEO293, themes like area planning, use of resources, landscape changes, climate transformation and management of biodiversity.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can make use of central environmental geography themes, methods, and theories.

Skills

The student

• can formulate research questions related to environmental geography, and both conduct and understand different analytical methods
• can complete a given environmental geography research project individually or within groups
• can use quantitative and qualitative analytical methods, such as interviews, text analysis and interpretation of aerial photographs, as well as communicate results thorough Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• can write up findings and results in a professional, academic style, while citing relevant literature

General competence

The student

• has built up competence related to central environmental geography research questions, and understand how scientific knowledge can be expressed in a written context
• can work individually or in groups
• can effectively search for and correctly cite relevant scientific literature

Required Previous Knowledge

GEO110, GEO111, GEO113, GEO124, GEO125 and GEO131, or equivalent knowledge with at least 70 ECTS in geography.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

• GEO241 (10 ECTS)
• GEO271 (10 ECTS)
• GEO291 before 2016 (10 ECTS)

Access to the Course

The course is open for geography students with at least 60 ECTS in geography, including basic knowledge in human geography and cartography. We have a limited number of places for exchange students with relevant background. If we have applications from qualified exchange students, the course will be taught in English. Exchange students may apply to Department of Geography via e-mail: Grethe.Meling@uib.no. Application deadline will normally be around 25th January each year (to be announced properly).

Teaching and learning methods

• 1 Lecture á 2 hours pr. week (1-2 lectures)
• 1 seminars á 2 hours pr. week (5 seminars in total)
• Field course: 5-7 days (dependent on travel distance)

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Participation on field course and seminars.

Compulsory requirements are only valid the semester they have been approved.

Forms of Assessment

Field report in groups (2-3 students) and individual oral exam. The oral exam may adjust the grade.

Grading Scale

A-F

Assessment Semester

Assessment in teaching semester

Course Evaluation

All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.