Geography is the study of people and their relationships with their environment.  It is concerned with helping to develop an understanding of the physical, social and economic processes which shape that environment. In keeping with the mission of the school we encourage lifelong learning skills and learning for life through research and reading the world around us.

Geography encourages active enquiry-based learning: project work, field work and street/internet research work all encourage students to find information, transform it and then analyse it.

Subject Aims

• To promote awareness of the spatial patterns of environmental phenomena, both natural and cultural.
• To develop an understanding of natural, social and economic processes.
• To develop an understanding of complex interactions in the world and their constant changes.
• To encourage to be sensitive to awareness of their own country and elsewhere.
• To contribute to students understanding of current issues.
• To encourage students to develop their natural curiosity.
• To develop organized thinking and cognitive abilities.
• To improve numeracy and literacy in all students.

Subject Objectives

Knowledge

Students should be encouraged to develop understanding of the:

• Physical environment
• Social and cultural phenomena
• Interactions and effects of the interactions of physical, cultural, social and economic phenomena.
• The nature and diversity of physical and cultural environments in Ireland and elsewhere.

Skills

Students should develop the following skills:

• Figure Drawing/Interpretation
• Map Drawing/Interpretation
• Photograph Analysis
• Investigative Skills
• Presentation skills
• Communication skills
• Social Skills – e.g. team work
• Information Technology Skills

Senior Cycle

Geography is a popular subject at leaving certificate level and is allocated 5 class periods per week.

The Leaving Certificate syllabus is presented in five sections:

Core

1)      Physical Geography

2)      Regional Geography

3)      Geographical investigation and skills

Elective –  Patterns and processes in economic activities

Option – Geoecology

Students have the opportunity to acquire practical skills when undertaking the fieldwork study. This study takes place in 6th year and is worth 20% of the total leaving certificate geography examination marks.

Career Opportunities

There are many career opportunities available to students who study geography for their leaving certificate. Some of which include;

• Marketing
• Tourism
• Agriculture
• Outdoor leisure
• Oceanography
• Environmental science
• Anthropology
• Development studies
• International aid / NGO work
• Community development
• Local government planning
• Weather and climate analyst
• Land surveyor
• Teaching (Primary/ Post-primary / TEFL)
• Urban planning
• GIS specialist
• Landscape architect