Major: Geography
Award(s) to which this major is a Qualifying Major:
Macquarie University
| Overview and Aims of the Program | Geography provides an important bridge between the social and environmental sciences. The discipline develops an understanding of both social and biophysical aspects of social and environmental change and encourages students to consider the importance of place and scale in the everyday world. Building on this appreciation of the interrelationships between people and places, the program aims to develop a broad understanding of the discipline of Geography, its theoretical and methodological approaches and key contributions to practice. |
| Graduate Capabilities | The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows: Interpersonal or social capabilities |
| Program Learning Outcomes | By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to: KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING 1. outline an understanding of the interconnectedness of peoples and places (K, A) 2. identify the role the discipline of Geography plays in understanding interrelationships between society and environment (K, A) 3. identify the practical contributions Geographers make in intervening for more just social and environmental outcomes (K, A, E, S) 4. apply geographical understandings to key social and/or biophysical issues (K, A) Skills and Capabilities 5. use geographical understandings to appropriately identify, collect and engage with information sources (K, A, P) 6. apply critical geographical approaches to the analysis of data from a range of sources (K, A) 7. draw on geographical understandings to communicate to diverse audiences using effective and appropriate media (K, C, J) 8. apply appropriate research approaches to geographical issues (K, P, J). |
| Learning and Teaching Methods | You will be encouraged throughout this program to acquire skills, methods, knowledge and understandings relevant to Geography. Learning and teaching methods are based on a student-centre teaching approach encouraging the development of both independent learning and team-work skills. Learning is centred on a lecture and tutorial or workshop activity format. A diverse range of assessment tasks are then based on these core learning opportunities together with further readings and research. Field-based learning and research opportunities are included in the program, as are learning activities designed to develop student’s professional geographic skills. |
| Assessment | Assessment is made exclusively on the submission of individual and group assessment tasks. The tasks are set within the units that constitute the program. Clear standards and criteria for assessment tasks, what is assessed and how it is assessed, are contained in each unit guide. The coursework is designed to develop and assess your skills, knowledge and understandings. The program incorporates formative and summative feedback. Formative feedback is received whilst you are working on a task. Summative feedback is received once you have completed a task. Both forms of feedback are extremely important and provide you with information and guidance on your development and progress. Feedback may be provided in written form or in discussion with peers and teachers. In recognition that students learn and communicate in different ways, assessment methods are diverse, with at least three different types of assessment in every unit. Assessment methods include, but are not limited to, exams and quizzes, written assessments such as reports, essays, professional portfolios, research projects, and critical reviews of the scientific and popular literature, and oral presentations. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning | Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy (see www.mq.edu.au/policy) and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. The RPL pages contain information on how to apply, links to registers, and the approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit. Information can be found at: https://mq.edu.au/rpl |
| Support for Learning | Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus. |
| Program Standards and Quality | The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability | Graduates from this program are well prepared for the world of work, training or further study as their engagement with geography enables them to think and act about social and environmental issues in an integrated and effective manner. Career opportunities are diverse, with many students constructively contributing to work on the interface of people-and-planet issues in the public, private and community spheres. |
| Assessment Regulations | This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or program necessary for a student to successfully achieve the core learning outcomes of a course or program. Students must meet the inherent requirements to complete their Macquarie University course or program.
Inherent requirements for Macquarie University programs fall under the following categories:
Physical: The physical inherent requirement is to have the physical capabilities to safely and effectively perform the activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Cognition: The inherent requirement for cognition is possessing the intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative capabilities to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Communication: The inherent requirement for communication is the capacity to communicate information, thoughts and ideas through a variety of mediums and with a range of audiences.
Behavioural: The behavioural inherent requirement is the capacity to sustain appropriate behaviour over the duration of units of study to engage in activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
For more information see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/inherent-requirements
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