Geography, basic course, 30 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to
- use basic knowledge and understanding of:
- - - the basic life environment element of soil, water and air and about man's way of utilising, adapting and planning settlement and support based on the varying conditions that the life environments offer,
- - - central environmental issues, primarily those that concern the landscape and its changes,
- - - population, natural resources and economic development in different parts of the world,
- use maps and other geographic information for spatial analysis,
- analyse relations between man, resources and social progress on different geographic levels.

Course content

The Cultural Landscape, 7.5 HE credits
Landscape form as a result of human activity. Land use and settlement in urban and rural areas. Swedish landscape types, their emergence and characteristic features. The emergence, localisation, function and spatial organisation of the urban areas. Historical maps as support for landscape interpretation. Spatial planning, environmental protection and sustainable development in Sweden.

The Natural Landscape, 7.5 HE credits
Landscape form as a result of geological processes and effects of climate, water and vegetation. Minerals, rocks and soils. Ecological relationships and cycles. Environmental threats, climate change and sustainable development. Maps and other geographic material for landscape information.

Natural Resources, 7.5 HE credits
The concept of natural resources. Natural resources from local, regional, national and global perspectives: occurrences, refinement, supply and environmental impact. Residue and waste as a problem and a resource. Conflicts of interest between use and preservation of energy resources and raw materials. Population trend and food supply in different parts of the world. The EU as a regional and economic factor.

Regional Studies, 7.5 HE credits
The concept of region. Different kinds of regions, delimited considering nature, climate, economic development, language, culture, history, functional solidarity, etcetera. Regions as open and closed systems. At an international level, the countries and people of the world and questions regarding sustainable development in developing countries and industrialised countries are covered. At a national, regional and local level, the interest is directed towards regional development, regional identity and control of the soil.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching takes the form of lectures, group work, supervision, laboratory sessions, seminars and field trips. Participation in exercises, seminars, field trips and laboratory sessions are compulsory. The examiner may grant exemption from compulsory parts if there are special reasons. The students should actively and on their own responsibility profit by the contents of the reading list, complete all practical assignments and participate actively in seminars and field trips.

Examination

The course is examined continuously through the following examination forms: written examination, individual take-home examination, group presentation and participation in compulsory parts and carrying out related assignments.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department