introduction

Department of Geography Orientation 2025-26

• Head of Department: Paul Aplin
  • Contact Information:
  • Email: paul.aplin@mic.ul.ie
  • Phone: 061 204 210
  • Office: N31 (Gerard House)

Welcome to College!

• Enjoyed your summer break?
• Congratulations on reaching university!
• Common feelings:
  • Excitement and nervousness about the transition
• Third Level Education:
  • Shift in learning emphasis from teaching to learning: "you learn" instead of "we teach"

Year 1 Insights

• You are not alone:
  • Tens of thousands of other students have also started college/university in Ireland
  • Everyone shares similar feelings
• Important note on grading:
  • Year 1 grades do not count towards your final degree
  • Primary goal is to train you on how to be an independent learner in a third-level environment
• Department of Geography support structure:
  • Staff are available to assist you in your learning journey
• Pressure's off:
  • Focus on adaptation and learning rather than performance

Relevance of Geography

• Geography is practical and directly related to current issues:
  • Example topics include the global climate emergency and the housing crisis in Ireland
• Skills gained:
  • Geography provides a broad repertoire of transferable skills.
  • Students develop creativity, versatility, and employability

Branches of Geography

Human Geography

• Focuses on:
  • Human society and culture
  • Interaction between societies and the environment

Physical Geography

• Examines:
  • Natural environment
  • Functionality and evolution of natural systems
  • Impact on human society

Mapping

• Principal focus on:
  • Digital mapping and cartography
  • Geospatial analysis
  • Use of geographical information systems (GIS)

Fieldwork

• Involves:
  • Application of human and physical geography in real-world settings
  • Data collection and learning methods

BA Geography Programme Structure

Year Breakdown

Year 1 (Autumn and Spring)

• Core Modules:
  • Dynamic Earth
  • Processes & Patterns in Human Geography
• Optional Modules (Select two):
  • Reading the Irish Cultural Landscape
  • Biogeography
  • Field Studies in Geography
  • Climates of the Past, Present and Future
  • Geopolitics and Governance

Year 2 (Autumn and Spring)

• Focuses on:
  • Expanding and consolidating understanding of geographical concepts
• Core Modules/Optional Modules (Select two):
  • Reading the Irish Cultural Landscape
  • Biogeography
  • Field Studies in Geography
  • Climates of the Past, Present and Future
  • Geopolitics and Governance

Year 3

• Focus on practical experience through:
  • Work placement and/or study abroad options

Year 4

• Returns focus to:
  • Advanced academic challenges, critical analysis, and personal insight
• Core Modules/Optional Modules (Select two):
  • Global Environmental Change
  • Tourism and Heritage Management
  • Dissertation (optional)
  • Marine and Coastal Environments
  • Sustainable Development in the Global South

Geography Moodle Homepage

• Access key information:
  • Geography@MIC Homepage
  • Enrolment key: 25@Geo
• Resources available:
  • Departmental Undergraduate Handbook, geographical resources, etc.

Geography Marking Scheme

Geography Team

• Overview of the dedicated academic staff and their focus on student learning

Communicating with the Department

• Key to success: effective communication
  • Importance of staying connected with faculty for support

Staying In Touch

• Suggestions:
  • Approach lecturers during class for questions
  • Open doors policy for consultations
  • Regularly check Moodle for announcements and email settings

Email Etiquette

• Best practices for successful communication:
  • Use your institutional email for correspondence
  • Compose formal email messages; avoid text-speak
  • Include a proper greeting and sign-off
  • Understand response times can vary

Testimonials

• Aisling Cusack (BA student): "Teaching support is exceptionally high, aiding students throughout their learning journey"
• Dr. Therese Kenna (External Examiner, UCC): "High-performing students motivated by dedicated staff"
• Dr. Gill Plunket (External Examiner, Queen's University Belfast): "Diverse assessment types enhance learning opportunities"
• Matthew Leahy (BA student): "Highly recommend the BA Geography program at MIC"

Prerequisites for Studying Geography

• No formal prerequisites needed
• Leaving Cert Geography is advantageous
• Best preparation is an interest in global matters

Benefits of Geography Education

• Skill Development:
  • Subject-specific and transferable skills
  • Excellent literacy, numeracy, technical skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities
  • Strong communication, teamwork, organization, and leadership skills

Geography Career Opportunities

• Diverse employability across various sectors:
  • Environmental management and consultancy
  • Local and regional development
  • Government and civil service positions
  • Urban and regional planning
  • Economic and social consultancy
  • Geospatial analysis and GIS
  • Tourism, education, research, and academia

Why Geography at MIC?

• Features of the Geography program:
  • Welcoming community
  • Expert academic staff
  • State-of-the-art facilities including lecture hall, GIS lab, etc.
  • Fieldwork integrated into curriculum
  • Study abroad options through Erasmus
  • Opportunities for future postgraduate studies
  • Excellent job prospects after graduation