This course is designed to enable you to use geographical analysis to develop a detailed understanding of important aspects of the contemporary world. This involves studying the ways that people and the environment interact and examining the environmental issues that arise in a rapidly changing world. Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills including research, evaluation and presentation, IT, mapping and statistics.
The skills you learn in Geography are valuable in a wide range of career sectors, including: working with development or aid agencies, environmental work, working for the census office and in tourism and leisure.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Arts, Social Sciences and Languages
Information, Culture and Heritage
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college, but you would normally be expected to have achieved:
The course consists of three areas of study.
Physical environments
You will learn about the processes and interactions at work within physical environments on a local, regional and global scale.
Key topics include: atmosphere; hydrosphere; lithosphere; and biosphere.
Human environments
You will learn about the processes and interactions at work within urban and rural environments in developed and developing countries.
Key topics include: population; rural land degradation and management; and urban change and management.
Global issues
You will learn about global geographical issues which demonstrate the interaction of physical and human factors, and evaluate the strategies adopted to manage these issues.
Key topics include: river basin management; development and health; global climate change; and energy.
The course assessment has three components totalling 190 marks:
Both the question papers are set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
Successful completion of this course may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
