Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physical Geography

at University of Hertfordshire - De Havilland Campus United Kingdom

Literature can offer new perspectives on familiar themes, as well as open doors to unfamiliar ideas and cultures which are temporally or spatially remote from your own. It is an ideal source for philosophical reflection, exploring and challenging the assumptions that frame the way we think, act and see the world around us.

Our BA Philosophy and English Literature degree encourages you to expand your imaginative capacities and to critically reflect on possibilities for how the world could be, by engaging with a wide variety of perspectives. You will gain skills in understanding how to read and interpret in context, and in how to formulate your own arguments, to arrive at your own conclusions.

In your first year, you might choose to study international and American literature or revisit Shakespeare and consider his cultural relevance today through fictional, cinematic and TV adaptations. In Philosophy, you might explore questions which lie at the heart of much literature, such as whether anything can give meaning to life, and whether our striving to achieve anything of significance is ultimately futile, even ridiculous. The philosophy of film and literature module addresses the assumption that anything is possible in fiction and considers the extent to which that is true.

All our English Literature and Philosophy lecturers are active researchers, so you’ll share the excitement of doing original work in a supportive and highly-rated academic community. Our Philosophy team is in the top 15 in the Guardian League Table 2019 and rates as one of the 100 best Philosophy departments worldwide in the 2017 QS rankings.

In your second year, you’ll focus on period-based literature from the Renaissance onwards and gain an understanding of literary history, from Elizabethan verse and drama, via Augustan poetry and the emergence of the novel in the 18th century, to the radical transformations of the Victorian age, and the emergence of modernity in the 20th century. In Philosophy, you’ll choose from a variety of topics, which includes a module on the nature of art, expression and representation (in literary as well as visual art), and modules on influential texts in philosophy, such as Plato’s Republic.

The final year allows for even more opportunity to tailor your degree to reflect your own interests. On the literature side, themed options include children’s literature, young adult fiction, Renaissance tragedy, 21 st century American literature, European crime fiction, literary adaptations and the culture of print in the 18th century. A wide variety of Philosophy modules are available, including modules on feminist philosophy, the nature of language and meaning, and a module on Nietzsche, who is well-known for his literary style.

• A flexible programme of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find especially interesting
• An exceptional academic team, conducting internationally renowned research
• Stimulating, innovative courses that allow you to make rewarding connections between two disciplines
• CV-building potential through work placements and extra-curricular activities

Our BA Politics & International Relations and Philosophy degree allows you to explore the ethical and philosophical questions that help to shape and challenge national and international politics and political agendas.

Here at Hertfordshire, as well as learning about philosophical and political theory, you’ll be doing rigorous and creative thinking of your own. Our internationally regarded academics will help you learn to address the arguments of others, to understand and engage with them so that you can arrive at your own conclusions and create your own original work.

You will also explore topical practical questions. Issues that arise as a result of increasing political focus on different dimensions of security, for example, are raised in the modules ‘Terrorism and Security’ and ‘The State in the 21st Century’. Philosophy will help you to understand the ethical implications and social situatedness of security politics through modules such as ‘Social and Political Philosophy’, ‘Contemporary Moral Philosophy” and ‘Nietzsche, Genealogy and Morality’.

Key social issues, such as, gender equality will be addressed from the perspective of both disciplines in ‘The Politics of Gender’ and in ‘Feminist Philosophy’. Modules will also debate the ways in which religious belief is a driving force behind social and political events in today’s globalised world.

You will be taught by experts who work at the cutting edge of their research disciplines and will share the excitement of doing original work in a supportive and highly-rated academic community. Our Philosophy team is in the top 15 in the Guardian League Table 2019 and rates as one of the 100 best Philosophy departments worldwide in the 2017 QS rankings.

You will be able to undertake a placement or study abroad year to gain professional experience or increase global awareness to build skills relevant to your studies in Politics and International Relations and Philosophy.

Explore the English Language from a variety of different angles and further your skills with a unique film course which combines the study of film as an art form with learning the practical skills of film making.

Our BA English Language and Film degree introduces you to the scientific study of the English Language and allows you to examine human communication in different contexts. You’ll be taught by research-active academics working in cutting-edge areas.

In your first year you’ll be introduced to film criticism, genre and style. You’ll also explore the diversity of use of the English language including regional variants, pidgin and creole English, language and ethnicity, and slang and street English. Core modules in your second year focus on English grammar and the sounds of English. You can explore theories of how and why language developed and study language-related real-life problems such as plagiarism and crime investigation in forensic linguistics. You’ll also gain knowledge of film production and you’ll think more about European or US cinema.

In your final year you can follow modules in different topics, including child language and communication, clinical linguistics, gender and language, and formulaic language, informed by our academics’ own research specialisms. You’ll also have the opportunity to make your own video essay as one of your film modules.

We give you:

• A flexible program of study, allowing you to concentrate on areas you find especially interesting
• A supportive, research-active academic team
• Access to huge online databases to underpin your original research projects
• CV-building potential through practical experience and extra-curricular activities
• An expert film team with in-depth knowledge of the film industry plus the opportunity to get involved with local cinemas and our own bespoke film club
• A guaranteed post-graduation interview with the School of Education

This course focuses on high-end 3D games art and has been recognised as one of the best courses of its kind. It explores the digital modelling of characters and environments, shading techniques and level creation. You will explore the design side as well by using the latest software in our award-winning Film, Music and Media Building. You’ll discover how to create optimised shapes and textures and apply them to real-time 3D graphics. You’ll also explore games and gaming trends, looking at scenarios that can be applied to PCs, consoles and interactivity and VR. This course is accredited by Creative Skillset, reflecting the highest standard of teaching.

• The 3D Games Art & Design degree is the study of games art rather than games programming.
• Creative Skillset Accredited.
• The degree explores digital modelling of characters and environments, and develops animation as well as shader techniques and level creation.
• You will be taught to create optimised geometry and textures and apply them to PC game engines, gaining an understanding of the technological restrictions of real-time 3D graphics.
• The degree examines sound tracks and creating sound effects.
• You will explore games and gaming trends, looking at scenarios for PCs, consoles and interactive TV.
• Our students and graduates frequently win awards - Sam Bang recently won 2016 Search for a Star competition. Find out more about him.
• Voted School of the Year and Game of the Year in both Next Gen and Virtual Reality categories in the Rookies 2016.

If you want a career in photography, this is the course for you. Through a range of projects, you’ll explore and evolve your vision and practice in photography. Through practical workshops, you will learn technical expertise and through feedback and group sessions you will critique and expand your visual language. You’ll also study the theoretical side of photography, including its fascinating history and contemporary practices. Experimentation, creativity and collaboration are encouraged and facilitated throughout the course. The course has a clear industry focus that aims to develop your professional awareness. A key part of your Final Year is learning how to operate as a freelancer, interact with clients and approach potential employers. This culminates in the presentation of your final portfolio to employers and public-facing graduate shows.

The friendly and supportive course encourages you to explore and evolve your photographic vision and practice through a programme of workshops, seminars, lectures and work experience opportunities. Through a sequence of practical projects, you gain a range of technical skills and professional knowledge. Experimentation and risk-taking are encouraged together with the critical study of photographic histories, theories and contemporary practices.

The photography programme emphasises professionalism and industry relevance. The tutors and visiting lecturers are practising photographers or potential employers from the media industries such as working photographers, agents, artists, art directors, marketing professionals and curators.

• This Photography degree is designed for those that want to work towards a career as a professional photographer or in related media professions.
• The degree prepares you for employment in a range of photography-related professions.
• You'll explore and evolve your individual photographic vision and practice, specialising in your chosen genre.
• Our tutors and visiting lecturers are practising photographers or potential employers.
• Our student work is increasingly getting recognised within the photographic world. Our industry partners are high profile and recent student work placements include the prestigious photography agency Magnum. In addition, we have a number of interns working for the BBC.
• Our lively talks programme also allows students to show and discuss current work-in-progress and receive direct feedback from key figures. Our recent visitors include Tereza Cervenova, Matthew Finn, Alexandra Lethbridge, Carl Bigmore, Sebastian Edge from The North London Darkroom and contemporary photographic agency Together Associates.

On the MSc in Power Electronics and Control, the development of skills and advancement of knowledge focus on enabling you to solve multidisciplinary problems related to energy conversion, renewable energy systems integration and energy efficiency. Alongside this there will be the opportunity for you to develop practical skills for the analysis, design and application of power conversion systems in key areas of industry.

You will cover subject specific subjects such as Advanced Power Electronics and Control and Control of Engineering Systems alongside cohort taught subjects to develop their management skills and their employability.

The successful postgraduates of the course will acquire the knowledge and understanding, intellectual, practical and transferable skills necessary for the analysis and synthesis of problems in engineering and manufacturing through a combination of experimental, simulation, research methods and case studies. You can expect to gain work in a range of disciplines within a variety of industries from specialist technical roles to positions of management responsibility.

This course will give you a deep, considered appreciation for the role physical activity and sports play in today’s global society. You’ll explore the importance of both community and high-performance sport, while looking at the challenges involved in engaging an inactive population. You’ll also examine the significance of large-scale sports events, using key concepts and theories to appraise sports policy and individuals’ behaviour. At every stage, and in every context, we’ll encourage you to use your new-found insights to evaluate sports development practice.

Children's Nursing is a highly skilled, rewarding and caring profession where you can make a real difference to people’s lives. You’ll promote health and provide whole-person care in hospitals and the community. However, this pre-registration course will give you the specialist skills needed to help children and young people, as well as educate and support their families. Half the course will be spent at the University, where you’ll learn the theoretical foundations of nursing. The other half will be spent in a variety of clinical settings, developing your hands-on skills. The integration of theory and practice will ensure you become a skilled, competent, compassionate and committed children’s nurse.

• On this programme you will develop a sound knowledge of Children's Nursing. You will learn about 'normal' childhood development and behaviours and in time become competent in recognising and managing the deviations from this norm.
• The programme lays the foundation for your continuing personal and professional development throughout your career as a Children's Nurse.
• Throughout the programme your theoretical studies will be supported by clinical experiences in a range of children and young people's settings, including in and out of hospital environments.
• 100% of our Child Nursing graduates went on to employment or further study within 6 months according to the latest national Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey.

This course is ideal if you have an interest in technology and software development and how they can be applied to benefit individuals and organisations.
Core topics include foundations of computation, programming, multimedia, networks, databases, operating systems, software engineering and professional issues. In addition, you’ll choose from a wide range of specialist modules to tailor your degree to your interests. As well as gaining an understanding of the wider context in which systems operate, you’ll develop your communication and team-working skills. Thanks to the nature of this degree, you’ll develop the broad skills many employers are looking for while keeping your career options open.

You will be taught the fundamental principles of the subject, which will be illustrated with current real-world technologies and applications wherever possible.

This course has been developed in accordance with industry guidelines to give you a professionally grounded, challenging and creative education, focusing on architecture, principles of urbanism, landscape and building construction. You’ll work within a professional, studio-based architectural environment on a variety of industry projects, including houses, shops, museums, public buildings, squares, cities and civic centres.You’ll also visit and analyse places and engage with the social, political and economic factors that influence architecture and society. By working individually and in multidisciplinary teams, you’ll gain an understanding of cultural and urban conditions, learn how to improve the built environment and develop a sharp commercial awareness of the architecture industry.

The BA (Hons) Architecture award will provide graduates with a professional network to facilitate early career development after graduation.

The School of Creative Arts prides itself on providing our students with a strong technical and professional design education, and we place significant value on the preparation of our students for the world of work.  

The Architecture programme has a range of world-class industry partners who engage with us in teaching and learning and in providing current and future thinking on contemporary practice.

We place our students in a unique position to understand, explore, and intervene in the changing landscape as it evolves from the ideal social settlement of the Garden Cities of the early twentieth century to the post-war New Towns and future cities.

Find out more about our expert teaching staff.