GEOGRAPHY (EDEXCEL)
AS Course Outline
'Geography is one of those richly comprehensive subjects, whose relevance is all around
us...More than ever we need the geographer's skills and foresight to help us learn about our
planet - how we use it and how we abuse it.'
Michael Palin
Unit One: Physical and Human Geography
This unit poses questions which seek to explore the meaning, causes and impacts of a number of headline global issues. It gives students the opportunity to evaluate existing attempts to manage the problems they bring and challenges us to find solutions for the 21st century. Whilst its scale is global it is important that students can relate these issues to their own situations, becoming aware that they too can have a say in and play a part in meeting these global challenges.
Core Physical Section - World at Risk
This unit consists of the study of mainly physical issues that put the world at risk. This section entails a detailed examination of:
- Climate Change and its causes - a look at both natural and human-caused climate change.
- The impacts of global warming - GW as the most important obstacle facing our planet today.
- Coping with climate change - an examination of mitigation versus adaptation strategies.
- The challenge of global hazards for the future - a look at what sustainable measures are being taken today in order to improve tomorrow.
Core Human Section - Going Global
This part of the unit involves an in-depth look at the processes of globalisation and how this phenomenon has dramatically reconfigured our world. This section entails a detailed examination of:
- Globalisation - its operationalization and subsequent characteristics.
- Global Groupings - the creation of trade blocs and political global manifestations as well as TNCs and NGOs in order to balance economic, social and political issues.
- Roots - a look at the changing face of the planet and the cultural ramifications of globalization.
- World Cities - an indepth look at how cities have increased in importance and how a small number of them yield significant power.
Unit Two: Geographical Investigations
This unit will develop the use and application of a variety of geographical research skills, including Field Trips that will enable geographic research. Students must choose one physical topic and one human topic from the four topics offered in this unit:
Physical topics
- Topic 1: Extreme Weather, with its increasing ferocity and frequency, fascinates some people and threatens many others.
- Topic 2: Crowded Coasts reveals how increasing development is testing our ability to manage these valued environments.
Human topics
- Topic 3: Unequal Spaces explores the causes and consequences of rural and urban disparities and how to manage them.
- Topic 4: Rebranding Places focuses on how we need to reimage and regenerate rural and urban places, using appropriate strategies.
| Geography Edexcel: AS Specification | |
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Unit 1 |
Global Challenges Structured short and extended questions, for the two core topics. |
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Unit 2 |
Geographical Investigations Structured skills and generic research/fieldwork questions based on the options chosen. |
Structure of the Course
This course will be taught for 4.5 hours per week. Homework will be set weekly and deadlines strictly adhered to. Mock exams are set once a month. Tests will be set frequently.
Recommended Reading
Edexcel AS Geography Textbook [Paperback]
Sue Warn (Author), Cameron Dunn (Author), Simon Oakes (Author), Bob Hordern (Author), Dave Holmes (Author).
