BEd. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Background

Geography and environmental studies adopts a multi-disciplinary approach that             describes and analyses the location of places on the earth and spatial distribution of physical and human phenomena on space. The discipline accounts for the spatial variations of the above phenomena taking into consideration on their varied interrelationship as they influence human activities.  It allows the teacher student to appreciate and understand the relationships between phenomena and space as they exist on the physical earth. The program is revised in line with ENESCO International Standards Classification of Education and Training (ISCED-F, 2013). The subject benchmark focuses on the advancement, transfer and sharing of knowledge through research, training and teaching activities includes 031(social and behavioral sciences and 052(environmental sciences) and 0532(earth sciences especially geography)

Philosophy of the Programme

The philosophical thinking of the programme is essentially creating spatial order of phenomena and educational: The subject examines global distribution of phenomena as they associate amongst themselves in the world as well as its parts in attempt to discern spatial order in the heterogeneous array of things that cover the globe.  The subject calls for critical thinking on knowledge in the science that characterizes a desire to establish and understand the underlying spatial order and association with other disciplines such as economics, biology, physics and engineering.  To think geographically about varied phenomena on the face of the earth is to think in terms of spatial association.

The association between humanity and the physical environment, often referred to as the ecological approach, has been a major focus of interest in geography.  The approach focuses both on the environmental conditions of human life as well as on human impacts on the environment.

The philosophical basis of geographical science is that there exists recognizable regularity and order in the distribution of spatial phenomena.  The degree of order and structures that exist in the physical and human environments can be understood through field work, measurements and developing maps relying on statistics and models. Advocating a problem-solving and holistic approach to learning, this programme is designed to produce professionals and educationists who will appreciate the complexity of the environment, manage and conserve natural and human resources and provide leadership in sustainable development in line with vision 2030, SDGs and the four pillars of the national government.

Rationale of the Programme

The learner shall gain a better understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live and understand different socio-economic and cultural contexts at local and global levels. This inherent diversity in geographical research frontier provides the student with a wide range of information and knowledge that is essential for human development. Given that geography straddles the divide between social and natural sciences, it enables the students to make informed and critical decisions demanded of citizen in the twenty-first century.

Geography as a subject is relevant for tackling many of the big global challenges including environmental change, food security and the extent to which human societies interact with the physical environment.  The implication that geography is always changing and developing, as a result of new challenges  such as global warming, globalization of the economy,  biodiversity conservation, hazard risks, or the impact of new communication technologies, geographers  contribute significantly to these emerging issues. This programme provides diverse study methods and skills including field and laboratory work, report writing, aspects of computing, remote sensing and geographical information system.  Many of the skills learnt will enhance students’ career improves the learners’ carrier prospects, knowledge of the world and challenge their creativity. The core carrier areas include:  GIS applications to businesses and government agencies; administration and management, research prospects with international organizations, teaching and environmental organizations. Others may pursue further studies after the undergraduate degree, with master’s and PhD programmes.

Rationale of the Programme

The subject enables a learner to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live, understanding of the different socio-economic and cultural context at local and global levels. This inherent diversity at the geographical research frontier provide students with a wide range of information and understanding that is essential for making sense of the world around them.  Given that geography straddles the divide between social and natural sciences, it enables the students to make the kinds of informed and critical judgements demanded of citizen in the twenty-first century.

Relevance of Geography as a subject is yet another justification of the programme.  Geographers are tackling many of the big questions facing the world today in terms of how the environment works and how human societies interact with it.  This relevance means that geography is always changing and developing, as a result of new challenges.  Whether the issue is global warming, new global economy, genetic engineering, flood risks, or the impact of new communication technologies, geographers are expected to contribute significantly to research on the emerging issues.

As well as being diverse in subject material, geography offered in this programme is also diverse in terms of study methods and skills.  On most geography courses students will be exposed to some aspects of computing, field research, laboratory work, essay production, remote sensing and computer based information system.  Many of the skills learnt will enhance students’ career prospects and be of lasting value.

Geography as a subject is challenging. Studying geography will not only improve the learners’ knowledge of the world, but it will also make them re-evaluate their ideas and challenge their creativity.

The programme opens doors to many career and further study options.  GIS techniques are widely used by many businesses and government agencies and thus geography students with GIS interests and experience have specific employment prospects. Geography students have found jobs with international organizations while others enter careers in administration and management. Teaching geography is another career option, and there are many jobs available with an environmental dimension which require the services of geographers.

Many students are pursuing further studies after the undergraduate degree, with master’s programme attracting many who want to develop their interests and skills in specialized areas of geography, such as GIS and remote sensing, environment, and development. Not all students end up in careers which directly use their geography degree, but most find the skills they have developed of help in the future.

Objective of the program

The main objective of the programme is to advance geographical philosophy and methodology whose academic and practical importance provides the basis for sound understanding and appreciation of the world around us thus producing graduates with international repute committed to scholarly excellence in geography and environmental studies.

the specific objectives of the program are;

a) provide students with opportunity to acquire the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills needed to protect, manage and improve the environment in which we live for sustainable development.

b)foster clear awareness of the concern about socio-economic and ecological inter-dependence in both urban and rural areas.

c)prepare graduates who can be of service in a wide range of professions such as teaching, planning, research, mapping resources, policy making as well as being of service to the other sectors of the economy

 

d) enable learners to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live, understanding of the different socio-economic and cultural context at local and global levels. This inherent diversity at the geographical research frontier provide students with a wide range of information and understanding that is essential for making sense of the world around them. Given that geography straddles the divide between social and natural sciences, it enables the students to make the kinds of informed and critical judgements demanded of citizen in the twenty-first century.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAMME

The main goal of the programme is to advance geographical philosophy and methodology whose academic and practical importance provides the basis for sound understanding and appreciation of the world around us thus producing graduates with international repute committed to scholarly excellence in geography and environmental studies.

It seeks to provide students with opportunity to acquire the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills needed to protect, manage and improve the environment in which we live for sustainable development.

It seeks to foster clear awareness of the concern about socio-economic and ecological inter-dependence in both urban and rural areas.

It also seeks to prepare graduates who can be of service in a wide range of professions such as teaching, planning, research, mapping resources, policy making as well as being of service to the other sectors of the economy.

Programme Learning Outcomes of the Programme

By the end of the programme, students should be able to:

 

• Develop the ability to do critical thinking, by considering the relationship between diverse facts, by looking at both sides of a problem and solving it through geographical processes of observation, recording, analysis and conclusion
• Acquire a body of geographical knowledge which is useful in solving environmental problem encountered in everyday life.
• Promote international understanding by means of knowledge of the interdependence of different regions.
• Develop the capacity to use and interpret maps, whenever and wherever desirable.
• Promote a better understanding of the value of natural resources and the need for a more intelligent use of them
• Acquire sound geographical knowledge and understanding that can be used to teach geography and instill geographical knowledge in students.

Mode of delivery

The program will be offered on the following modes

a) Face-to-Face Mode

This will be offered through didactic lectures, case studies, tutorials, seminars, class discussions and presentations, and fieldwork.

b) Open Distance and e-Learning Mode

This will be offered using a multi-media approach that includes self-instructional print and electronic study materials. This will include interactive study materials and both synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning. Online teaching and learning shall be offered through the Learning Management Systems (LMS) of the University of Nairobi.

c)Blended Learning Mode

This will combine both face-to-face and online learning approaches.

 

Schedule of intakes

The programmes will be admitting applicants once per year during September intake as per the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences guidelines

Detailed application information is provided in the University of Nairobi website

 

Contact Information

The Chairman, Geography Population & Environmental Studies

P.O. BOX 30197 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254-020-4918222

E-mail: geopopes@uonbi.ac.ke