Overview
Geographers seek to understand the web of interactions and interconnections which link people and the environment. To succeed in that they require a firm grounding in a number of study areas.
In the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme students focus on: regions of uneven development; geographies of social categories like ethnicity and gender; urban and rural change; geopolitical conflict; the human use of natural resources; the process and implications of economic restructuring.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) students focus on topics which are at the core of physical geography. These include landforming processes and their expression in the landscape, the earth's weather systems and climates, factors which lead to geographic variations in the distribution and growth of living things, and environmental controls on the availability and quality of water.
Students are also introduced to the basics of social and environmental science through fieldwork and practical courses in research methods.
Contact details
Email geography@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/geography
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
- Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Geography (GEOG) papers.
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Geography
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | GEOG 101 Physical Geography GEOG 102 Human Geography | 18 18 |
| 200-level | GEOG 280 Research Methodology in Human Geography Two further 200-level GEOG papers (excluding GEOG 290) | 18 36 |
| 300-level | GEOG 380 Field Research Studies Three further 300-level GEOG papers | 18 54 |
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | 198 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Geography
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Geography
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Geography is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Geography
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Geography
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Geography or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Geography must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Geography prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Geography
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | GEOG 101 Physical Geography GEOG 102 Human Geography STAT 110 Statistical Methods | 18 18 18 |
| 200-level | GEOG 290 Field Research Methods (Science) At least one of GEOG 281, GEOG 282, GEOG 283, GEOG 284, GEOG 286, GEOG 287, GEOG 288, GEOG 289, GEOG 298, GEOG 299 One further 200-level GEOG paper (excluding GEOG 280) | 18 18 |
| 300-level | GEOG 380 Field Research Studies Two of GEOG 387, GEOG 388, GEOG 389, GEOG 390, GEOG 392, GEOG 393, GEOG 394, GEOG 395, GEOG 398, GEOG 399 One further 300-level GEOG paper | 18 36 |
| Plus | 180 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science | 180 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Geography
| Papers |
|---|
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Geography
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Science (MSc) in Geography
| Papers and Thesis |
|---|
|
Minor subject requirements
Geography (Arts option) as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | GEOG 101 Physical Geography GEOG 102 Human Geography | 18 18 |
| 200-level | Two 200-level GEOG papers (excluding GEOG 290) | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level GEOG paper (excluding GEOG 380) | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Geography (Science option) as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | GEOG 101 Physical Geography GEOG 102 Human Geography | 18 18 |
| 200-level | Two of GEOG 216, GEOG 281, GEOG 282, GEOG 283, GEOG 284, GEOG 285, GEOG 286, GEOG 287, GEOG 288, GEOG 289, GEOG 290, GEOG 298, GEOG 299 | 36 |
| 300-level | One of GEOG 387, GEOG 388, GEOG 389, GEOG 390, GEOG 392, GEOG 393, GEOG 394, GEOG 395, GEOG 397, GEOG 398, GEOG 399 | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
