Field Course in Environmental Geography

Undergraduate course

ECTS credits
10
Teaching semesters
Spring
Course code
GEO293
Number of semesters
1
Teaching language
English
Resources
Schedule

Course description

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

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

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.
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.

    The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught.

    The exam can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish

    Grading Scale
    A-F
    Assessment Semester

    Assessment in teaching semester

    Retake exam:

    Group field report:

    Assessment in teaching semester only. This assessment form requires that students participate in field course and report writing.

    Adjusting individual oral exam: A new exam will be arranged for students with valid absence. Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for new oral exam.

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

    Course description

    Contact Information

    advice@geog.uib.no
    Department of Geography