Admissions - Subjects Admissions - Subjects
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These notes describe the admissions procedure and the teaching of Geography at Queens', and should be read in conjunction with the relevant sections of the Cambridge University Undergraduate Prospectus. Reading for a Geography degree at Cambridge provides a tremendous opportunity to study the physical and human environments and resources of the Earth at spatial scales ranging from local to global, and at temporal scales ranging from days to millions of years. Few subjects can offer such diversity as Geography and at the same time be so relevant and topical. The Department of Geography has one of the strongest reputations in the UK having achieved the highest possible rankings for both teaching and research in national university assessment exercises. Its laboratory, cartographic, bibliographic and computing resources are exceptional, and its lecturers are world leaders in their respective and very diverse fields of research. This physical and intellectual environment makes for a fascinating place to be enthused by and to learn about Geography. In brief, University teaching is organised around the examination papers which are taken at the end of each of the three years. The broad progression from the first to final year is one of increasing student choice. In the first year, five compulsory papers are taken spanning physical, human and historical geography. The second year offers a structured choice of papers - that is students select four papers from two broad groups, with at least one of each from human and physical geography. In the third and final year, students have a free choice from approximately fifteen papers, permitting specialisation, say, in physical geography. Studying Geography involves attending between 8 - 10 hours of lectures and practicals as well as one or two hours of supervisions (tutorials) each week. Lectures and practicals are organised and held at the Department of Geography while supervisions are arranged by our Director of Studies in the College. Supervisions consist of a meeting of a group of usually two or three students to discuss particular topics relating to the course. They might, for example, follow up on a particular lecture course with the lecturer concerned. These regular sessions provide an opportunity to consolidate understanding and even go beyond the material given in the lectures by exploring issues in much greater depth. The course naturally includes field trips and there are several one-day excursions outside the Cambridge area as well as the opportunity to go on at least one residential course overseas. Locations visited in the second year have included Portugal, Crete, Italy, Malta, Majorca and Rhodes. Third year field courses have taken place in Switzerland, France, Ireland and Iceland. Queens’ admits one or two undergraduates each year to read Geography. There are no specific quotas, however, and the number admitted depends on the strength of each year’s applications. In addition to undergraduate geographers, there are usually several research students at Queens’ undertaking MPhil. courses or studying for a PhD. in Geography or related subjects. The College has a good reputation for Geography and over the past few years approximately 60% of Queens’ students have gained Firsts or Upper Second Classes in their Tripos examinations. Virtually everyone reading Geography has studied the subject at A-level but this is by no means essential. You should bear in mind, however, that the Cambridge course requires everyone to study some physical Geography during the first two years - and, if you have taken one of the A-level syllabuses (or their equivalent) which are confined to human geography, the breadth of the course may come as something of a surprise! If you intend to specialise in the area of physical Geography, it is sensible to include mathematics or statistics and the physical or biological sciences among your sixth form subjects. Human Geography has moved over the years closer to the social sciences and humanities and if your interests were in these areas then suitable sixth form subjects would include English Literature, History, Economics, Modern Languages, Politics and Sociology. These are only guidelines however and Queens’ is very willing to consider diverse combinations of subjects. Although Queens’ does not have a Teaching Fellow in Geography, our Director of Studies who looks after Geography is Dr Clive Oppenheimer. He is a University Lecturer in physical geography and has been in the Department since 1993. His specific teaching and research interests include volcanology, atmospheric sciences, and remote sensing. For further information about Geography in Cambridge visit the Department’s website on www.geog.cam.ac.uk
January 2004
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