Geography and Sociology MA (Hons)

Why is the world configured as it is? That's the core of geography - the study of how our planet works. Do you have a keen interest in cultures and societies? Curious about the inter-relation of politics and the environment? Geography may be for you Through geography, you can explore biophysical processes, from volcanic eruptions to flooding and landslides. You can also study the human processes that give shape to cities, states, and communities – all against the backdrop of a changing climate. You can study geography as either a natural science or a social science. - Physical Geography is a natural science and examines the Earth's surface processes. - Human Geography is primarily a social science, though it also has close links to the humanities like history and philosophy. Through this Master of Arts (MA) Geography, you will be able to specialise in Human Geography. This discipline is key to understanding and resolving many of the most pressing problems faced by society. Geographers study many different aspects of the modern world. They bring their research to inform on topics such as: - immigration - mobility - public health - deprivation - urban justice - indigenous struggles - land rights - everyday life You'll learn about the relationships between people and their social, cultural, political, and economic worlds. Our MA in Geography also includes aspects of physical geography, as it is important to understand our impact on the world and our ways of living within it. The degree is flexible, so you will have opportunities to build your degree around areas that you are most curious or passionate about. On our Joint Honours programmes, you can combine your studies with another academic discipline. This will enable you to understand the world from the perspectives of different academic disciplines in an area you are most passionate about. Sociology examines how individual choices are affected by wider social forces and how they can be understood by placing them in their social context. At Edinburgh, we study the relationship between individuals and groups, issues of belonging and identity, the social causes of cooperation and conflict, and the way societies and social institutions are formed and change over time. You will also learn to compare different national contexts and understand contemporary social issues from a global perspective. If you choose to study geography at the University of Edinburgh, you will become part of an academic community in one of the leading geography departments in the UK, and one of the top-ranked universities in the world. As a result, you will learn from geographers who are at the forefront and drivers of change and are undertaking world-leading research in a wide range of areas.