Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Geography and Sociology

at Keele University United Kingdom

On our exciting new flagship MSc, you’ll interact with entrepreneurs and start-ups, working on real-life business projects while you learn to give you the skills, knowledge and versatility to create and lead change with confidence in dynamic, unpredictable, complex and diverse environments.

Capitalising on Keele Business School’s co-location with the Smart Innovation Hub, you’ll engage not only with leading academics but with start-ups and entrepreneurs to gain a thorough grounding in current theories and concepts of enterprise and innovation, while watching entrepreneurs in action.

Thanks to our involvement in the EU-funded Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP), you’ll be able to experience the challenges business managers face first hand, giving you a unique insight into broader business operations and the technological, legal, financial, ethical and economic constraints in developing new products, processes or services. To date, we’ve helped over 200 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Team building, group work, research, presentations and projects will help you develop vital management skills, such as business planning, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, delegation and time management.

Studying Education and History at Keele will enable you to develop your appreciation of various global histories and how education has evolved whilst enjoying the rich history of our local area. In your spare time, you might find yourself exploring the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon metalwork most likely deposited in the 7th century in the then Kingdom of Mercia. The Staffordshire Hoard provides a window to England in the 6th and 7th centuries and also to the warrior elite that existed during these times and now rests less than 5 miles away from Keele.

Education at Keele is distinctive because of its strong focus on contemporary issues in education and policy making. You will explore educational topics such as the nature of learning, the history of education, and changes to educational policies and practices. You'll consider Education's relationship to the economy, its historical evolution, its impact on people’s life chances and identities, how education is organised, and how learners learn. We aim to introduce you to many of the big questions concerning education and schooling both in the UK and also internationally. Why do we go to school? What should we learn? How should we learn it? What is the main aim of education? You will explore the ways in which education has been central to social and political change around the world.

Alongside this, you’ll develop an understanding of different approaches to history, developing a range of methods used in their pursuit. The programme will carry you chronologically from the medieval period to the present, and span the globe. You will be introduced to a wide range of history – from political, social, economic and cultural history to the history of gender, health, sexuality and religion. Throughout your first year, you may engage in modules that encourage you to explore topics such as how European rulers tried to strengthen their authority with the increase of military power between the late fifteenth and late seventeenth centuries, or some of the key defining moments in History which may include the 1720 South Sea Bubble in Britain, the 1791 Haitian Revolution or the 1933 Bauhaus movement. 

Ongoing developments in IT, transport and communications have accelerated the pace of globalisation leading to increased interconnectedness of national economies and an integration of markets in the world’s economy. Employers, large and small, need managers who can see the big picture when it comes to spotting opportunities and solving business issues, who understand the impact of different cultures, markets and geographies.

Grounded in theory and practice, our MSc focuses on developing your understanding of business and management within a global context, offering a deep insight into areas such as strategic management, cultural management issues, ethical and environmental issues and international value chains.

Referring to real-life business examples and hearing direct from practitioners, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic and tactical challenges of operating internationally when confronted with, for example, mergers and acquisitions or foreign direct investment. We’ll also share our own research, for example, studying the role of Chinese trade union organisations on collective wage consultation and strikes, and the challenges of developing countries’ labour market, income and employment.

We’ll uncover some of the different and often fascinating trade practices that exist across continents and countries, such as the varying age restrictions on child labour, often influenced by historical, cultural and social background. You’ll also be exposed to the unique challenges of identifying, managing and training a global workforce with diverse staff of multiple nationalities and ethnicities, with the chance to take part in a practical mock interview scenario.

You’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government and beyond. Our teaching is informed by research and also reflects what’s happening now in industry. You’ll have access to our own computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software.

The course may cover a set of modules providing a specialism in information systems, evolutionary systems, or creative computing. There’s a strong emphasis on programming – but don’t worry if you don’t have A Level Mathematics, because the course covers what you need to know. 

Geology is a science fundamental to modern day living, with geologists discovering society’s major resource needs including metals, minerals, energy and groundwater. The combined honours Geology course covers a range of topics which may include looking at rocks, minerals and fossils and geological processes. Geology is a practical subject with applied problem-solving laboratory classes and field courses where you will learn how to interpret and map geological features, and explore for future geological resources. 

The Sociology course involves a mix of compulsory and research-led modules to enable you to think independently, critically, and imaginatively about the issues that shape our everyday lives and our futures. Through a mix of lectures, seminars, and workshops you will study societies, social problems, and how they impact upon the lives of individuals.

We will consider how our lives are shaped by relationships with other people, institutions, habits, and ways of thinking that make up the complex societies in which we live. You will be encouraged to develop sociological explanations for the wide-ranging changes taking place in the contemporary world and think about potential solutions to social problems. In the final year of your studies, you will receive individual supervision to carry out your own piece of social research.

BA (Hons) Geography at Keele allows you to focus specifically on your preferred area of human geography, or to explore Geography as an integrated discipline concerned with people and their environment. You will develop interdisciplinary perspectives, problem-solving skills and the ability to research, evaluate and synthesise information from diverse sources.

Your course may include training in professional and research skills, and opportunities for either a module or a whole year of work placement.

This single honours programme has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

You’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government and beyond. Our teaching is informed by research and also reflects what’s happening now in industry. You’ll have access to our own computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software.

The course may cover a set of modules providing a specialism in information systems, evolutionary systems, or creative computing. There’s a strong emphasis on programming – but don’t worry if you don’t have A Level Mathematics, because the course covers what you need to know. 

Geology is a science fundamental to modern day living, with geologists discovering society’s major resource needs including metals, minerals, energy and groundwater. The combined honours Geology course covers a range of topics which may include looking at rocks, minerals and fossils and geological processes. Geology is a practical subject with applied problem-solving laboratory classes and field courses where you will learn how to interpret and map geological features, and explore for future geological resources. 

Our Data Science graduates are trained from first principles in Computer Science and Mathematics. The two disciplines are blended seamlessly throughout your degree. You will study fundamental mathematical and statistical techniques alongside modern software development methods. You will have the opportunity to apply your learning immediately using real-world datasets in our cutting-edge computing labora

You will undertake significant development projects, including a final year data science dissertation led by academics with current research specialities in artificial intelligence, big data and statistical modelling. You'll explore a wide variety of advanced technical topics which may include cloud computing, as well as academic research, industry-focused professional skills and practical problem-solving ensure you are fully equipped for an exciting and intellectually stimulating journey as a Data Scientist. tories.

Throughout your studies you will:

• follow a full research training programme leading to the completion of an original dissertation in a topic of your choosing;
• take core modules designed to deepen your understanding of methodologies appropriate to the study of literature from the Renaissance to the present;
• choose an optional module from a variety of disciplines, including English or American Literature, Creative Writing or Film, or you can choose to take a Work Placement module;
• work with a research-active supervisor to develop and pursue your dissertation, and participate in the academic life of the School of Humanities more generally;