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Seville Field Course

Module description

The Seville field course offers the opportunity to explore and critically appraise a range of themes in human geography using a residential fieldwork field setting. In so doing, the module combines the development of conceptual understandings with practical fieldwork. Pre-departure sessions focus on the development of knowledge and understanding of a research theme through individual and group work. The residential part of the module comprises staff-led activities, group research and individual reflection. Accordingly, the module will enable students to explore an element of human geography through place-based understandings and to acquire fieldwork skills in data collection, analysis, presentation and reflection.

Please note that in the event of the field course not running (due to circumstances that compromise the feasibility of the trip), students will still be able to complete the module through the provision of an alternative learning experience

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to develop conceptual and practical understanding of key research themes and practices in human geography. Using Seville as a place-based context, the module also aims to:

1. Enable students to research a theme in human geography at an advanced level through a place-based setting;
2. Develop students’ understanding of how human geography themes inter-connect through the lens of place;
3. Provide techniques to undertake critically-informed field-based inquiry;
4. Enable students to study collaboratively and to co-produce knowledge;
5. Develop a structured and academically-informed understanding of a specific place.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop a critical, place-based understanding of a selected human geography theme
• 2. Articulate and evaluate key debates, concepts and approaches for a selected human geography theme
• 3. Design, execute, analyse and report on a piece of research for selected human geography theme

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Apply geographical concepts in different situations
• 5. Identify a diverse range of approaches to the generation of knowledge and understanding in human geography
• 6. Apply techniques for interpreting geographical phenomena in place-based settings

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Work effectively in a group setting
• 8. Communicate complex ideas, concepts and theories
• 9. Undertake self-directed and independent study
• 10. Reflect on experiences and draw lessons for personal development

Syllabus plan

Term 2, weeks 1-10
A series of lectures and workshop support sessions to develop your understanding of module themes and prepare for your research group project in Seville.
Term 2, week 11:
• A one day orientation walking tour of Seville
• Four days of group project field work data collection and analysis, with limited staff guidance
• Group project oral and poster presentations

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

If you are unable to engage with any of the field course module assessments for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will be re-assessed for field work skills via the following assessments, to be submitted for the August deferral period:
• A 1000-word project essay
• An 1500-word academic essay
The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
If you fail the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%), you will be required to submit a 1000-word project essay and a 1500-word academic essay. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Reading lists appropriate to the field course will be issued at the start of the module on an annual basis.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Human geography, field course