COURSE CURRICULUM

In Year 1 of the BA Global Development with Human Geography course, students begin by building a solid understanding of human geography and how it applies to contemporary global development challenges. This year introduces key concepts, theories, and methods that explore the relationships between people, place, and power. Through a blend of classroom learning and practical experiences—including local field trips and a residential field course—students start to develop the analytical and research skills needed for future study and work in the field.Modules such as Geographies of an Unequal World explore major global processes like colonialism, industrialisation, migration, and urbanisation, and examine how these forces contribute to spatial and social inequalities. Big Questions for People and Planet challenges students to think critically about pressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and food security, while encouraging them to approach these topics from multiple disciplinary perspectives.In Perspectives on Global Development, students are introduced to key ideas like human development, neoliberalism, and decolonisation, and they are encouraged to think critically about how these concepts shape real-world development policies and practices. Shared Futures looks at the different institutions and actors involved in tackling or contributing to global challenges, such as governments, social movements, businesses, and NGOs, and helps students understand the dynamics of change and collaboration in a global context.By the end of the first year, students will have gained a broad understanding of global development issues through the lens of geography, developed foundational skills in research and critical analysis, and laid the groundwork for more specialised study in later years, including the applied fieldwork and international experience that follow in the program.