GENERAL AIMS

The objectives of the University of Alicante Degree in Geography and Land Use Planning reflect recent international trends in the discipline and increasing social demand in the areas of knowledge, research, planning and management of land, and consequently, the demands of the labour market.

The fundamental purpose of the degree course is to train professionals who should then be capable of drawing up proposals in the field of land planning, evaluation and management, while also providing them with the necessary content for a critical understanding and analysis of territorial processes.

The general aims of the University of Alicante Degree Course in Geography and Land Use Planning can be summarized as follows:

• To provide a general, integrated training in the fundamentals, epistemological developments and research methods of Geography as a discipline.
• To develop the capacity to analyse, interpret and diagnose territorial processes and problems, taking both spatial and time dimensions into account.
• To develop an understanding of the interrelations between environmental, economic, social, cultural and political phenomena which account for territorial diversity on a range of levels.
• To develop the skills necessary for obtaining, analysing, processing and representing geographical and cartographical information, and carrying out field work.
• To develop the capacity to work in land management, reinforcing the practical nature of the degree course.
• To provide the knowledge necessary for undertaking teacher-training for secondary-school Geography, independently of having to obtain the post-graduate degree required by the State educational authorities.
• Creating the basis for further post-graduate, specialised or interdisciplinary studies with a marked territorial component.

• Credit structure of the degree course
• Distribution of credits per subject type
• General description of the course programme
• Optional subjects
  

CREDIT STRUCTURE OF THE DEGREE COURSE

Subjects in the Degree in Geography and land Use Planning, each worth 6 European ECTS credits, are organised into semesters.  Specifically, students are required to take 5 subjects each semester, to complete 30 credits per semester and 60 credits per year, for a total of 240 credits over four years.

In order to make the course compatible with other activities, students are allowed to take a part-time course consisting of 30 credits per academic year.

DISTRIBUTION OF CREDITS PER SUBJECT TYPE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE PROGRAMME

In accordance with the general guidelines established by the University of Alicante, the 240 credits corresponding to the Degree are distributed as follows:  

            - core module: 60 credits

            - compulsory module: 156 compulsory credits

            - final project, 6 compulsory credits

            - optional module: 18 credits.

The Degree in Geography and Land Use Planning and the Degree in History share a common foundation course; thus, 60 core credits are common to both degrees.

The course programme for the Degree in Geography and Land use Planning is organised as follows:

- 4 years/ 240 credits (the first year comprises the Foundation Course shared by the Degrees in History and Geography and Land Use Planning).

- Subjects comprising geographical content (compulsory subjects) have been grouped into the following modules: Physical Geography, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Geographical methods and techniques, and Land Use Planning.

- Subjects have been organised so that basic content is taught in the initial academic years (1st year, 2^nd year and part of the 3^rd year), whilst subjects regarding the practical application of geography and land use planning are taught in the 3rd and 4^th years. In addition to including strictly geographical content, the new Degree in Geography and Land Use Planning also incorporates subjects from History, Art and Philosophy (in the Foundation Course), and from Law, Economics and Urban Planning. The aim is for students to acquire an understanding of Spanish and world history over a range of time periods, History of Art, History of Philosophy, Administrative Law (particularly with regard to urban planning and the environment), Economics (with regard to economic history and applied and regional economy) and Urban Planning. By structuring subjects in this way, the course aims to offer the basic and applied education - incorporating land, environmental and regional development issues on a range of levels - now considered essential for present day geographers.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

The choice of optional subjects includes work experience (6 credits). Optional subjects include those subjects specifically related to Geography and Land Use Planning, and compulsory subjects from other degrees in the same area of knowledge, i.e. Social Sciences and Law. Students are required to take three of the following optional subjects:

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT (IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Students who study an undergraduate degree at the University of Alicante must confirm a minimum level of B1 in a foreign language (a B2 is recommended) in order to obtain the diploma.  

The required language level is in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

The language accreditation requirement can be obtained previously or at any time during university studies. However, the language requirement will be necessary in order to be able to assess the final year project.

The different forms of obtaining such language requirement can be consulted in the additional information in this section.  

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LANGUAGE TEACHING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

Students who want to have a career in non-university teaching when they finish their studies are recommended to obtain the teaching competence certificate (Valencian and/or foreign languages).

This certificate can be obtained by taking specific itineraries in your university studies or by taking the UA teaching competence course in Valencian, German, French and English.

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FINAL YEAR PROJECT (TFG)

All the official undergraduate degrees must be completed by preparing and defending a final year project, which must be done in the final phase of the studies and be aimed at the assessment of competences associated to the degree.

The final year project must be an original, independent and personal work. The elaboration of it may by individual or coordinated. Each student will prepare this project under the supervision of a tutor, allowing students to show the received training content in an integrated many, as well as the acquired competences associated to the undergraduate degree.

In order to register in the final year project, students must comply with the requirements established in the “Regulations for continuation studies for students registered in undergraduate degrees at the University of Alicante”. Among the requirements established to be able to register in the final year project, a minimum of 168 credits must be passed in undergraduate degrees with a total of 240 credits, and a minimum of 228 credits in undergraduate degrees with a total of 300 credits or more.

In order for the final year project to be assessed, a B1 level of a foreign language (B2 is recommended) must be confirmed.

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• Access routes
• Procedure for applying for admission
• Number of places and pass marks

ACCESS ROUTES

Admission to this degree course is open to any applicant who meets one of the following entrance requirements:

1.     SPANISH BACCALAUREATE (LOMCE) UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Although students can access university by means of any Baccalaureate specialization, the recommended one is Humanities and Social Sciences .

Admission scores for this degree can be improved by taking the specific modules of the University Entrance Exam (PAU) as indicated in the table below with their respective weightings.

TABLE 1

2.     PREVIOUS BACCALAUREATES WITH OR WITHOUT A PASS IN THE UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAM (PAU): Students who have completed their Baccalaureate under previous education systems and have passed the PAU will be able to use the mark obtained in their application.

However, students can take specific exam modules during the voluntary PAU exam period in order to improve their admission score as shown in table 1. They can also sit for the obligatory PAU exams, in which case they will have to take all the exams scheduled during this period.

3.     VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: Vocational educational qualifications such as senior technician, senior technician of plastic arts and design, or senior technician in sports is the preferred professional area although access to this degree may be through any professional field.

Admission scores can be improved by taking the PAU exam in up to 4 of the modules in table 1.

4.     STUDENTS FROM EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION OR OTHER STATES WITH WHICH SPAIN HAS AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT: Accreditation is required and issued by Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).

Students can sit for exams in subjects included in the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), organised by the UNED, in order to improve their admission score up to 14 points as indicated in the weightings in Table 1.

5.     STUDENTS FROM FOREIGN EDUCATION SYSTEMS: Prior to applying for the validation of their foreign Baccalaureate, students may sit for up to 4 exams in subjects offered by the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE) organised by UNED (at least one subject from the core subjects).

The weightings indicated in table 1 will be applied to core and/or optional subjects.

6.     OTHER: University degrees and other similar qualifications. University entrance exam for students over 25 (preferential option: Social and Legal Sciences ). Access on the basis of professional experience (applicants over 40 years of age). Access to applicants aged 45 years or more by means of an exam.

Weightings of the subjects of the specific phase of the Proof of Access to the University (PAU) in the previous years

High School Diploma Subjects

Academic Years 2010-11 2011-12

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Academic Years  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

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PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION: PRE-ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION

• Anticipated number of places offered during the first pre-enrolment session: 50

• In order to apply for a place, the procedure and pre-enrolment periods established each year must be observed. Information concerning the application procedure  (Pre-enrolment).

• Applicants admitted to a course must formally register within the timescale established annually in the enrolment calendar. Registration Information.

NUMBER OF PLACES AND PASS MARKS

• "Pass marks" indicated correspond to the results of the first adjudication of June.
  
• The definitive marks can be inferior to the here collected.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

University of Alicante graduates in Geography and Land Use Planning are expected to acquire the basic proficiencies necessary for professional practice in any of the six professional profiles defined by Law and included and updated in the 2008 report issued by the College of Geographers:

1. Land planning and management.

2. Local and regional development.

3. Physical environment, natural resources and the natural environment.

4. Regional population analysis and demographics.

5. Geographical information technologies.

6. The knowledge society, education and geography teaching.

Professions for which the degree qualifies its holder:

- Geographers, as teachers, professionals and researchers.

IMPLEMENTATION

TIMESCALE

Once a course has been phased out, the subjects corresponding to the course will no longer be taught. Students who do not wish to take the new degree course subjects are entitled to sit four examinations in the two academic years following the end of each year. Any students wishing to continue their studies after sitting and failing these tests will be required to follow the new plan, according to the adaptation system established in the new plan.

Timescale for the phasing out of examinations

Former Degree in Geography (1999 plan)

CREDIT EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN THE FORMER DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY AND THE NEW DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY AND LAND USE PLANNING

DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY AND LAND USE PLANNING. SYLLABUS SUMMARY

Internal Quality Assurance System (SGIC) of the Title

• Structure of the Centre for Quality
  • Comission of Internal Quality Guarantee
  • Other Commissions  
• Handbook SGIC
• Procedures
  • Strategic (PE)
  • Key (PC)
  • Support (PA)
  • Measurement (PM)

• Management of the SGIC (Access to ASTUA)

Follow-up of the Title

• Self-reports UA
• External reports AVAP 
• Other reports
• Improvement Plans
• Progress and Learning Outcomes