Module: Geographical Fieldwork & Observation Skills

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Geographical Fieldwork & Observation Skills
Module Code	GEO1011 (ITS: GY107)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	History & Geography
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Students will be introduced to key fieldwork skills including fieldwork planning and design, participation (including Health and Safety), and accurate acquisition of data, utilisation of fieldwork equipment, interpretation, analysis and reporting of data. Key skills including: field journaling; landscape observation; Sketch mapping; Mapping; GIS; measuring and photographing. Students will participate in fieldwork activities and will be encouraged to apply skills and knowledge to real world situations. Students are expected to attend and engage in the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E265C16-321E-0001-D665-15F417F24B40
2. How to organise and plan fieldwork.
5. 1
6. 1E265C16-3BA3-0001-A380-9F171CB314E1
7. Accurate acquisition and mapping of data
10. 2
11. 1E265C16-4153-0001-4C5C-1CF032B0CC40
12. Analysis and Interpretation of spatial data
15. 3
16. 1E265C16-469D-0001-5C32-175C102114A0
17. Field equipment and its use
20. 4
21. 1E265C16-5032-0001-BFDF-A170BE50E200
22. Field Journaling, data transfer and interpretation
25. 5
26. 1E265C16-57B0-0001-E4B6-C34D31531AF4
27. Reporting skills
30. 6
31. 1E265C16-59A7-0001-EFCA-19A9E6EA163B
32. Mapping
35. 7
36. 1E265C16-5F4E-0001-3882-B8F0117CBB30
37. Carrying out fieldwork
40. 8

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures, seminars and practicals
Independent Study	51	Independent reading, expansion on in-class material and completion of practical exercises
Fieldwork	50	Preparation and implementation of fieldwork and associated assignments
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20481	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Hamidreza Rabiei Dastjerdi	Module Teacher	Almar Ennis

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Assignments throughout the module	50%	As required
Report(s)	Fieldtrip report	50%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Clifford, N., French, S., & Valentine, G. Sage.: 0, Key Methods in Geography,
Phillips, R. and Johns, J. Sage: 0, Fieldwork for Human Geography,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None