Training goals

The goals of the Degree in Geography are defined by the recent evolution of this scientific discipline in an international context, the increase in the demands of society related to the field of spatial planning and territorial development, and by new professional requirements.

The general goals of the Degree in Geoagraphy are as follows:

1. To ensure a general grounding of the fundamental knowledge of geography, its epistemological development and its research methods.
2. To ensure that students are able to put theoretical, methodological and instrumental knowledge into practice, make comprehensive analyses, interpret spatial problems and processes, and make territorial diagnoses.
3. To be able to explain territorial diversity and complexity, and the interrelations of natural environmental phenomena with economical, social and cultural phenomena.
4. To ensure that students are able to act and take part in the management of territory by drawing on their training in geography.
5. To develop the specific skills related to work techniques, particularly those related to the obtention, analysis, process and representation of geographical information and fieldwork.
6. To ensure that the mecessary knowledge to teach geography at secondary school level is given, in accordance with the current legislation.
7. To enable graduates to take postgraduate or specialisation courses in which a territorial component is dealt with.

Competences

Specific Competences

Personal Competences

• Knowledge of the history and thoughts of the geographical discipline.
• Knowledge of regional spaces.
• Knowledge of human, economical and social geography.
• Knowledge of physical and environmental geography, and the ability to relate them to human activities.
• Knowledge of the theories, legal provisions and practical issues concerning spatial planning.
• Knowledge of the theories of territorial interpretation and the explanations given for territorial diversity.
• Knowledge of how to combine general and specialised analysis by interrelating phenomena in different territorial situations.

Systemic Competences

• Methods of geographical information.
• Methodology and ability to conduct spatial planning projects and fieldwork.
• Methodology for geographical research.

Instrumental Competences

• Ability to use geographical information as a tool for interpreting  the territory.
• Ability to teach, disseminate and raise awareness about geographical and territorial issues.
• Ability to combine temporal and spatial dimensions in the explanation of social issues that are related to land.
• Ability to relate and summarise transversal territorial information.
• Ability to plan activities and services.
• Ability to express information by means of cartography.
• Ability to draw up and interpret statistics.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and manage landscapes.

General Competences

Personal Competences

• Ability to put scientific methods into practice.
• Ability to analyse and summarise.
• Ability to reason critically.
• Ability to solve problems and take decisions.
• Ability to take initiatives.
• Ability to understand the principles and implications of professional ethics.

Systemic Competences

• Ability to work with an intra- or interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work in international contexts.
• Leadership.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations.
• Motivation for rigor and quality.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to human rights and the eradication of inequality.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
• Sensitivity to environmental issues.

Instrumental Competences

• Ability to learn autonomously.
• Ability to organise and plan.
• Ability to put theoretical knowledge into practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing in one's mother tongue, both with experts and laypeople.
• Knowledge of a foreign language.
• Knowledge of applied computing.
• Ability to manage information.