Geography allows you to study the physical world and how humans interact with it. While it’s technically a science, it also encompasses politics, economics and public policy.
If you just read the sentence above, you might be thinking that there are some similarities between geography and the study of engineering. And you’d be right!
Engineering is about solving problems and creating solutions in the real world, and what better way to understand this world than through geography? Studying for a Geography A-Level gives you valuable insights into how natural and human environments interact, an understanding that’s critical for engineers in several different fields.
Geography is a uniquely interdisciplinary subject, equipping you with skills and knowledge that transcends both physical and social sciences.
There are slight variations depending on the syllabus you’re studying. But for the most part, the Geography A-level is split into two main components – physical geography and human geography.
Physical geography
If you studied geography at GCSE level, then you’ll remember that this branch of geography is concerned with the physical systems that shape and govern our world: for example the study of water and carbon cycles, coastal systems & landscapes, and glacial systems and landscapes.
You’re also likely to study natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis. This can be useful if you’re interested in civil or environmental engineering; you could find yourself having to design structures that have to withstand these hazards, especially with climate change becoming more of a consideration in the coming decades!
Human geography
Again, you’ll likely be familiar with a number of human geography concepts if you studied it at GCSE level.
When studying the Geography A-Level, you’ll study topics like global governance, contemporary urban environments and resource scarcity.
Some of these topics will be highly relevant to disciplines such as civil engineering, environmental engineering and chemical engineering.
What soft skills will you gain from studying Geography at A-level?
Because it’s such an interdisciplinary subject, A-Level Geography is uniquely placed to offer you a range of useful qualitative and quantitative skills, whether it’s fieldwork or data analysis.
Advanced analytical skills
Studying A-level Geography helps you to develop the ability to dissect and interpret complex data sets, a skill essential in engineering disciplines like geotechnical, environmental, and transportation engineering.
Geography teaches you to analyse and interpret diverse sets of data – skills that are highly transferable to engineering. Whether it’s understanding traffic flow in a city or analysing soil data for construction, these skills are crucial.
Developing a problem-solving approach
Tackle real-world geographical issues, fostering a problem-solving approach that you’ll mirror in addressing engineering challenges, from designing infrastructure to environmental remediation.
Fostering a global perspective & cultural sensitivity
Geography can give you valuable insights into different cultures and global issues, preparing you to work in diverse teams and on projects that have global impacts, a frequent scenario in multinational engineering firms.
Specifically, geography gives you a global perspective on issues like urbanisation, deforestation, and water resources. Engineers with this global understanding are better equipped to create viable and sustainable solutions.
Effective communication
As we said at the beginning, engineering gives you the ability to complex geographical concepts clearly and concisely – a skill that’s equally important when presenting engineering projects to clients, stakeholders, or the public.
Team-building and leadership
Because geography is a subject that requires a lot of teamwork and group work, an essential skill in engineering where teamwork is often the key to project success.
Analysing and visualising geographical information
Geography A-Level requires you to have a good understanding of the geospatial technologies (eg Geographic Information Systems, or GIS) that are used to collect, analyse and present geographical data. You’ll also be asked to to collect and use digital and geo-located data, and understand a range of approaches to use and analyse such data
Some engineering fields also require you to have a good knowledge of GIS. For example, the Institute of Civil Engineers points out that GIS is an essential tool in civil engineering, as it can be used in capital projects to analyse and visualise spatial data.
Valuable fieldwork experience
Geography often involves fieldwork, giving you practical experience in data collection and analysis, enhancing your research skills – a big plus for any engineering career.