Geography Higher recommended

entry to this course is at the discretion of the department. However, learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills, knowledge and understanding required by the following or equivalent qualifications and/or experience:

• National 5 Geography Course or relevant component Units at an A or B grade.
• National 5 Environmental Science Course or relevant component Units at an A or B grade.

 

3 mandatory units and assignment:

H27G 76 Geography: Physical Environments          6 SCQF credit points

H27H 76 Geography: Human Environments           6 SCQF credit points

H27J 76 Geography: Global Issues                          6 SCQF credit points

Course assignment                                                  6 SCQF credit points

 

Physical Environments

In this Unit, learners will develop and apply geographical skills and techniques in the context of physical environments. Learners will develop mapping skills in geographical contexts. Learners will develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the complex processes and interactions at work within physical environments on a local, regional and global scale. Key topics include: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Personalisation and choice is possible through case studies and areas chosen for study.

 

Human Environments

In this Unit, learners will develop and apply geographic skills and techniques in the context of human environments. They will develop research skills in geographical contexts. They will develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the complex processes and interactions at work within urban and rural environments and the management of urban and rural land use change in developed and developing countries. Key topics include: population, rural land use change and management, urban change and management. Personalisation and choice is possible through contexts chosen as case studies.

 

Global Issues

In this Unit, learners will develop and apply geographical skills and techniques in the context of global geographical issues. They will develop skills of numerical and graphical analysis in geographical contexts. They will develop and apply knowledge and understanding of complex global geographical issues which demonstrate the interaction of physical and human environments and the strategies adopted in the management of these issues. Key topics will include at least two of: river basin management; development and health; global climate change; trade, aid and geopolitics; energy. Personalisation and choice is possible through the issues selected for study.

 

Assignment

The assignment will allow learners to apply gathering, processing, interpreting, evaluating and synthesising skills as they research a geographical issue. They will have an open choice of the topic or issue chosen for study.

 

 

Geography National 5       

Structure: three mandatory Units and an Assignment:

 

H27G              Geography: Physical Environments                   6 SCQF credit points

H27H              Geography: Human Environments                    6 SCQF credit points

H27 J               Geography: Global Issues                                    6 SCQF credit points

H27K              Geography: Assignment                                        6 SCQF credit points

 

Physical Environments

In this Unit, learners will develop geographical skills and techniques in the context of physical environments. They will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of the processes and interactions at work within physical environments. Key topics include: location of landscape type; formation of key landscape features; land use management and sustainability; and weather. Learners will study a selection of landscape types from contexts within the UK. Landscape types will be: glaciated upland and coastal landscapes. Field work is built into this course to offer learners the opportunity to get first-hand experience of the landscapes studied. Personalisation and choice is possible through the landscape types and areas of study chosen.

 

Human Environments

In this Unit, learners will develop geographical skills and techniques in the context of human environments. They will develop detailed knowledge and understanding of the processes and interactions at work within human environments. They will study and compare developed and developing countries drawn from a global context. Topics include: contrasts in development; world population distribution and change; issues in changing urban and rural landscapes. Personalisation and choice is possible through the contexts chosen as case studies.

 

Global Issues

In this Unit, learners will develop skills in the use of numerical and graphical information in the context of global issues. They will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of at least two significant global geographical issues. These key topics include climate change; the impact of human activity on the natural environment; environmental hazards; trade and globalisation or tourism and health. Within these topics they will study major global issues and the strategies adopted to manage them. Personalisation and choice is possible through the issues selected for study.

 

Conditions of award

To gain the award of the whole course, the learner must pass all of the three Units as well as the course assessment. The course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the course award. Within the course assessment is an Assignment which is the pupil’s own choice of topic.

 

Recommended Entry

While entry is at the discretion of the department, candidates will normally be expected to have the following or the equivalent:

• Geography or another Social Subject at National 4 level.

 

This course may provide progression for pupils with National 4 in Geography who wish to continue with Geography but for whom Higher would be too demanding in S5. Success at National 5 in S5 may lead to Higher Geography in S6.