Course summary

Explore our beautiful surroundings, take part in international field trips and learn from world-renowned lecturers while gaining a detailed, working understanding of Spanish language, culture and society. This exciting programme will allow you to gain a detailed understanding of geography while giving you the skills and knowledge to engage with the discipline in preparation for a placement year overseas in a Spanish speaking country. During the four years, you will be able to draw on expertise from two specialist departments: Languages and Cultures, and Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC). Situated between the idyllic rural settings of the north and the bustling cities of Liverpool and Manchester, Lancaster’s location enables us to explore some of the most unique areas of geographic interest in the UK. You will gain a wealth of hands-on experience with field trips to places such as the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbrian coast and Lake District, as well as international locations such as Croatia. You will develop a fundamental understanding of human geography in your first year Geography modules. These modules equip you with a well-rounded introduction to some of the key themes in geography, as well as providing you with the skills used by geographers to analyse problems in both the human and physical aspects of the discipline. In addition, you will take language classes, determined by your current level of ability. Additionally, you will also take a specialist module that will prepare you for your year abroad. You will spend your third year working or at one of our partner institutions in a Spanish speaking country, where you will practise and develop your language abilities, while continuing to enhance your geographical skills and knowledge. You can spend this year either studying or working, both of which will provide you with the opportunity to analyse the social, cultural, political and economic issues related to the area, complementing both your Spanish and geography studies. You will also be offered further optional module choices, which could include the study of Global Consumption, Urban Infrastructure in a Changing World, and the Geographies of Health, and there will be fieldwork opportunities in locations such as Croatia. In addition to your subject knowledge, you will gain communication and IT skills, and will become familiar with data handling and environmental sampling and analysis. Throughout your degree, considerable weight is placed upon enhancing your employability and such skills are greatly valued by potential employers. Beginners Languages Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.