Our Courses

Undergraduates

Students enrol in Geography through the First Arts programme, which enables Geography to be studied alongside two or three other subjects. After the end of the First Year, students may then choose to specialise by taking Single Major Geography, to take Geography as part of a Major/Minor subject split, or to continue into Double Major. In both Second and Third Years the Department offers a wide range of options, ranging from Economic Geography to Natural Hazards in Second Year, and from Ecosystems through Environmental Politics to City in Film in Third Year. Field work is delivered through specialist modules and integrated into several others, and in Third Year students may opt for a placement module, working with an organisation outside the university. Further details available through Course Finder.

Students can also join us through the BSc Biological and Geographical Sciences intake through the CAO. These students take must select Biology (15 credits), Geographical Sciences (15 credits) and Mathematics (15 credits) and a further subject for 15 credits.

Postgraduates

As indicated in the Course details below, Geography offers taught Masters programmes, alongside research degrees (MLitt and PhD)
PhD and MLitt _ Research Postgrads Information sheet 2022_2023 For research degrees, prospective applicants are advised to start a dialogue with staff who share their research interests and/or the Director of our Graduate School, Associate Professor Ronan Foley.

Our taught Masters programmes are:

MA Geography
A flexible, student-centred taught masters designed for those who wish to develop their understanding of human geography while also gaining experience in field-based, experiential and publicly engaged research and learning.We accept applications from Geography and related fields. Now in its fifth year, the degree is available on a MA Geography full-time (1 year) or MA Geography part-time (2 year) basis.
MA Geography brochure 2022_2023

MA Spatial Justice
This new MA examines the geographical dimensions of justice through unique public engagement opportunities with civil society partners and cutting-edge research modules. Students will learn to document and map forms of discrimination, violence and displacement at different scales, and consider how citizens can challenge the legacies of and existing structural injustices, and seek more equitable alternatives. The degree is available on a full-time MA Spatial Justice (1 Year) or part-time MA Spatial Justice (2 year) basis.
Geography - MA Spatial Justice brochure 2021

MSc in Climate Change
A course designed for graduates and public policy officials interested in securing an advanced knowledge of climate change, climate change modelling, impact assessment, and potential mitigation strategies in an Irish context.

MSc Climate Change information

Maynooth University Masters Programme from InVision Communications on Vimeo.

MSc in GIS/Remote Sensing
A course designed for graduates and for professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge of GIS and Remote Sensing and their capacity to apply technology to collect and analyse spatial data sets.
MSc GIS and Remote Sensing Information sheet 2022_2023

What will I learn by taking the Geography Programme?

Irrespective of which degree programme is taken, the aim of the undergraduate course is to provide the highest quality of teaching and learning in the discipline of Geography taking into account the diverse backgrounds and abilities of students at Maynooth University. Thereafter, the curriculum is designed:

To develop students' understanding of the discipline of Geography so as to deepen their understanding of the ways in which physical systems and human societies interrelate and develop across both space and time.
To promote competencies in the usage of analytical skills, techniques, and technologies, including those related to the identification, sourcing, collection, storage, and analysis of data and evidence, and the evaluation and presentation of results or findings.
To foster autonomous and independent thinking within the student body, including the ability to critically reflect upon geographical concepts and theories and their application.
To nurture academic and generic competencies so as to contribute to the wider needs of society at local, national, and international levels

Having completed an honours programme in Geography at Maynooth University students should be able to:

Dimension of learning	Learning outcome
Knowledge of the discipline of Geography	Demonstrate comprehension of the nature of change within human societies Demonstrate comprehension of the nature of change within physical environments. Demonstrate comprehension of the reciprocal relationships between physical environments and human societies. Demonstrate an understanding of key concerns within specified systematic branches of the discipline Apply understanding of key geographical concepts (space, time, place, landscape, scale, environment, mobility) in different situations.
Analytical and technical competencies	Demonstrate comprehension of the diversity of techniques and approaches involved in collecting geographical information. Demonstrate comprehension of the diversity of techniques and approaches involved in analysing geographical information. Identify the challenges involved in applying research design and execution skills within field-based settings. Design, execute, and present an independent research project.
Intellectual and critical thinking skills	Appreciate the contested and provisional nature of geographical knowledge. Identify and formulate questions or problems. Demonstrate an ability to synthesis information Develop a sustained and reasoned argument. Evaluate and articulate weaknesses in the arguments of others.
Transferable skills	Use ICT effectively and appropriately to select, analyse, present and communicate information. Undertake independent and self-directed study and learning to achieve successful outcomes. Work as a participant or leader of a group to contribute effectively to the achievement of objectives. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.

Undergraduate
Title	CAO/PAC code
BACHELOR OF ARTS	MH101
BSc-BIOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES - 4 years	MH203

Postgraduate
Title	CAO/PAC code
M.LITT.(RESEARCH) - 2 years Full-time, 3 years Part-time	MHN04 (FT), MHN05 (PT)
MA GEOGRAPHY - 1 year full-time	MHN60
MA GEOGRAPHY - 2 years Part-time	MHN61
MA GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL JUSTICE - 1 year full-time	MHN66
MA GEOGRAPHY: SPATIAL JUSTICE - 2 year part-time	MHN67
MSc CLIMATE CHANGE - 1 year full-time	MHN56
MSc GEOGRAP.INFORMATION SYSTEMS & REMOTE SENSING - 1 year full-time	MHN58
PhD GEOGRAPHY - PhD: 4 years full-time, 6 years part-time; MLitt by Research: 2 years full-time, 3 years part-time	MHN02 (FT), MHN03 (PT)
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN GEOGRAPHY - 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time	MHN64;MHN65

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Maynooth University Department of Geography

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What will I learn by taking the Geography Programme?

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