Geography matters because it is about human relationships: between people and the environment, between people and other people. A clear grasp of Geography can provide insight into environmental, social and cultural problems and help us manage our resources effectively.

Geography is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Geography may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Geography as a single major for the BA, BCC and BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Geography, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete GEOGY101 and GEOGY102.

To complete Geography as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degrees, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Geography, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete GEOGY101 and GEOGY102.

To complete a minor in Geography, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Geography major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

Some Geography papers include practical work in the laboratory and/or fieldwork. Fieldwork may be carried out in weekends or in teaching recesses.

Further details are available from the Geography Programme.

Other qualifications

Prescriptions for:

Geography papers

100 Level 200 Level 300 Level 500 Level 800 Level 900 Level
Code and paper title Points
GEOGY101 Sustainable Geographies right arrow

An introduction to the rich field of social and cultural geography with links to the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals. A foundation paper for...

15 25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online) & 25B (Tauranga)
GEOGY102 A Planet Under Pressure right arrow

In recent decades humans have become geological agents, changing physical processes of the earth by such actions as burning fossil fuels, expanding...

15 25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online) & 25A (Secondary School - Unistart)
Code and paper title Points
ENVPL201 Introduction to Resource Management right arrow

This paper is designed to provide students with an introduction to law and policy relevant to the practice of environmental planning and management...

15 25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY209 Health, People, Place right arrow

This paper draws on critical analysis of health, people and place to introduce contemporary developments in socio-cultural geography. Attention is...

15 25B (Hamilton) & 25B (Online)
GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities right arrow

This paper introduces students to Māori geographical perspectives and examines key events that shape Māori communities and their relationships to...

15 25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY228 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems and Big Data right arrow

GIS and big data are revolutionising the application of Geography in the job market. This paper provides foundational knowledge in digital Geography...

15 25A (Hamilton)
PHILO217 Environmental Ethics right arrow

A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the...

15 25H (Online)
POPST201 Population Studies right arrow

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary field of Population Studies. Students will develop a sound understanding...

15 25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
Code and paper title Points
ENVPL300 Planning in Aotearoa New Zealand right arrow

This paper provides students with a practical understanding of the broad range of different types of contemporary urban planning which occurs in New...

15 25A (Hamilton)
ENVPL302 Māori Resource Management right arrow

This paper introduces Māori principles of resource management and examines their relevance to contemporary planning processes.

15 25A (Hamilton)
ENVPL309 Urban Spatial Analysis right arrow

This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will...

15 25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY301 Disasters and Development right arrow

Development has a significant influence on the way in which hazards impact on people, and the occurrence of disasters alters the scope of...

15 25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY302 Cultural Mapping right arrow

This paper delves into social and cultural geography, introducing key concepts, approaches, and methodologies for cultural mapping. This consists of...

15 25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY309 Social and Cultural Geographies of Difference right arrow

This paper is a forum for debate in critical geographies of difference. Key concerns are intersections between gender, ethnicity, nationality and...

15 25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Tauranga)
GEOGY328 Geographical Information Systems right arrow

GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is...

15 25A (Hamilton) & 25A (Online)
PHILO317 Environmental Ethics right arrow

Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of...

15 25H (Online)
Code and paper title Points
ALPSS500 Academic & Professional Research & Writing right arrow

In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills...

30 25A (Online) & 25B (Online)
ENVPL500 Advanced Environmental Assessment and Planning right arrow

This is a project-based paper that provides an understanding of how environmental assessments are prepared, and used to assist decision-making and...

15 25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL504 Plan Making right arrow

This paper covers the steps involved in plan-making and plan-implementation processes. This includes issues identification; visioning; definition of...

15 25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL508 Plans and Consents right arrow

This paper is designed to provide students with skills and experience in the application of resource management plans and the resource consent...

15 25X (Block)
ENVPL509 Urban Spatial Analysis right arrow

This paper will provide students with hands-on spatial analytical skills for environmental planning practice in an urban context. Students will...

15 25B (Hamilton)
ENVPL510 Planning Theory right arrow

This paper discusses the various theories that influence how we plan our world. It will cover issues such as power, justice, governance, politics...

15 25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY500 People, Place, Power right arrow

This paper is a forum for debate in geographies of people and power. Key concerns are the intersections between gender, Māori, Indigeneity...

30 25A (Online)
GEOGY520 Human Dimensions of Environmental Change right arrow

This paper examines the increasing risks imposed on human communities by global environmental change. The paper establishes a platform for the...

30 25B (Hamilton)
GEOGY538 Automated Spatial Analysis using Geographic Information Systems right arrow

Automated GIS, using programming or scripts, are extremely powerful compared to the 'point and click' environment, and are the most practical method...

15 25X (Block)
GEOGY558 Applied Geographic Information Systems for Research and Planning right arrow

GIS is used widely in a range of industries and government agencies, and graduates competent in GIS are sort after for employment. This paper is...

15 25A (Hamilton)
GEOGY591 Research Project right arrow

A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.

30 25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY592 Dissertation right arrow

A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.

60 25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY593 Geography Thesis right arrow

An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

90 25X (Hamilton)
GEOGY594 Geography Thesis right arrow

An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

120 25X (Hamilton)
Code and paper title Points
GEOGY800 Geography MPhil Thesis right arrow

120 25X (Hamilton)
Code and paper title Points
GEOGY900 Geography PhD Thesis right arrow

120 25I (Hamilton) & 25I (Tauranga) & 25J (Hamilton) & 25K (Hamilton) & 25X (Hamilton) & 25X (Tauranga)
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2025 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 23 Dec 2024 01:00am