Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (Geography) at Massey will take you into the complex world of the Earth’s surface, its history and how it works to create our incredible planet.

What is it Like?

Geography is concerned with the study of the surface of the Earth as people’s home. Its study is based on the premise that all activities, both social and natural, are embedded in specific places and interconnected to other places.

Understand the relationship between people and the Earth

Geography involves the development of a multi-faceted understanding of the local, regional and global processes which shape the changing relationships between people and the Earth.

Physical geography, which is the core of Massey’s Bachelor of Science (Geography), is the science of Earth's natural (as distinct from cultural) features. It is therefore closely related to many other natural sciences, such as geology, pedology, botany, zoology, meteorology, and oceanography. It is a holistic science, studying natural systems in their entirety; it is the science of the environment. Applied physical geography investigates the interaction of natural and cultural systems, contributing to our responsible use of 'the environment'.

Topics

Some of the topics taught in geography courses include:

• Quaternary biogeography
• Environmental reconstruction
• Rivers and slopes
• Climate change
• Natural hazards
• Alpine glaciers
• Geopolitics
• Critical human geography

Careers

With your Massey BSc in geography you are equipped with a broad environmental perspective, especially if you include courses in biology, ecology, Earth science, environmental science, or environmental planning. This qualifies graduates for employment within government departments, the Ministry of Primary Industries, Crown Research Institutes, and regional, district and city councils, or some consulting firms. Some graduates go into geography and environmental teaching in schools and colleges. A pass with good grades can lead to postgraduate programmes, and from there to a career in research or teaching at a polytechnic or university.

The Geojobs book, available from the Geography Programme Coordinator, gives the career profiles of 20 graduates in geography from New Zealand universities.

Previous Massey graduates have become:

• Coastal researchers
• Environmental advisors
• Editors
• Journalists
• Environment research officers
• Resource consents officers
• A UN Regional Advisor
• A Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Analyst
• Government advisors
• Natural hazards analysts

Entry criteria

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

It is useful (but not compulsory) to have a background in secondary school geography.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170