Presentation:
The Degree in Geography and Planning(LGP) aims to fulfill an undergraduate programme’s objectives in the general framework of Social Sciences, providing a spatial and holistic approach to subjects with a territorial incidence; and, at the same time to constitute an introduction to geographic knowledge and techniques for pursuing a professional or scientific research path. Its general objectives are to convey knowledge and provide the necessary theoretical and methodological tools for students to understand and question the complex relations between human and biophysical systems, and to intervene enterprisingly, effectively and responsibly in land use planning and management domains. LGP focus on skills development for duty performance within professional work settings in the context of regional and local development, urban planning, natural hazards prevention, requalification and rehabilitation of degraded areas, conservation and environmental education, among other fields of action.
Learning outcomes:
Learning outcomes focus, on the one hand, on students acquiring a solid set of theoretical knowledge, and being acquainted with methods and techniques of various fields of Physical, and Human Geography, as well as of the scientific areas that complement the basic training in LGP. On the other hand, CU related to land planning and management aim at an integrated understanding of the theoretical and methodological body of reference, of the principles, strategies and measures, and of processes and actors involved, at the national and international contexts. These outcomes and the measurement of their degree of fulfillment translate into the strong practical component of each CU of the course, which consolidates competencies for spatial analysis based on a systemic approach to territorial dynamics. Additionally, illustration of the lectured subjects with case studies, and the organization of thematic field trips encourage a critical reflection on today’s spatial transformations.
In parallel, the DGEO periodically organizes extracurricular training courses designed to expand students' skills, especially the ones related to spatial analysis and GIS ('GPS: principles of operation and use' in 2014; 'Spatial Analysis - GIS', 'Exploration of OpenStreetMap data', and 'ArcGIS Online' in 2012), and also those focusing on the development of soft skills ('Application of soft skills and tools' in 2013 and 2012).
Teaching methodologies:
Teaching methodologies adopted in the Course´s CU develop skills to analyze and interpret the relationships between biophysical, socio-economic, cultural, political and administrative systems, which are reflected in the territory. Debates in class, texts commentary and recension, and written reports stimulate the capacities for analytical, synthetic and critical thinking about factors and processes that determine geographic dynamics. Case studies and practical exercises help to consolidate and apply theoretical knowledge; to systematically identify data, methods and techniques appropriate to the analysis of specific subjects; to reproduce situations similar to those within professional contexts; and to encourage problem-solving skills. Special emphasis is placed on GIS field, which support analysis and decision-making. Soft skills, such as teamwork, time management, ability to communicate in different media and to various audiences, are also improved.
Practical work within LGP allows students to develop research skills, namely: literature research and review; theme problematization and research question formulation; collection and treatment of primary and secondary data; (carto)graphic communication of results; and, scientific writing. Oral presentations also enable to acquire key skills for scientific knowledge communication/dissemination. Students participate with their work, developed within LGP, in scientific events that already had several editions: Congress of the Portuguese Geography (APG); ESRI Users Meeting (ESRI Portugal); Geography and Planning Journey, a biennial initiative of DGEO and the students’ association, GeoPlanUM; Physical Geography and Environment Meeting (DGEO and GeoPlanUM); CULT-G International Meeting in Cultural Geography, organized by DGEO and students; Scientific Capacity Show, exclusively dedicated to students every year (DGEO and GeoPlanUM).
Location:
Universidade do Minho
Campus de Azurém
Guimarães
Duration of the study programme:
3 years / 6 semesters
Contacts:
Head of the Degree Study Programme: Prof. Doutor António José Bento Gonçalves
Telephone: 253 510 560
Email: sec@geografia.uminho.pt
Specific Entry Requirements:
National exam to one of one of the following tests:
– Biology and Geology;
– Economy;
– Geography.
Vacancies:
40 students
Career opportunities:
LGP focus on skills development for duty performance within professional work settings in the context of:
- land use planning (local and regional);
- urban planning;
- natural hazards prevention;
- requalification and rehabilitation of degraded areas;
- conservation and environmental education;
- regional and local development
- among other fields of action.
Students with this degree also have the specific requirements to apply for the ‘Master of Education in History and Geography’.
Application:
At the ‘Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES)’ website:
http://www.dges.mctes.pt/DGES/pt
Study Plan:
1st Year/1st Semester
Physical Geography I (5 ECTS)
Human Geography (5 ECTS)
Graphic Expression and Cartography (5 ECTS)
General Geology (5 ECTS)
Introduction to Statistics (5 ECTS)
Theory in Geography (5 ECTS)
1st Year/2nd Semester
Physical Geography II (5 ECTS)
Population Geography (5 ECTS)
Introduction to GIS (5 ECTS)
Biogeography (5 ECTS)
Statistics for Geography (5 ECTS)
Planning Theories and Methodologies (5 ECTS)
2nd Year/3rd Semester
Planning and Environmental Law (5 ECTS)
Dynamic and Climatic Geomorphology (5 ECTS)
Database Applied to GIS (5 ECTS)
Territorial Management Instruments (5 ECTS)
Landscape Planning (5 ECTS)
Heritage and Landscape (History) (5 ECTS) - Optional
Forest Geography (5 ECTS) - Optional
2nd Year/4th Semester
Regional Development (5 ECTS)
Natural Hazards and Landscape Planning (5 ECTS)
Hydrology (5 ECTS)
Urban Geography G(5 ECTS)
Geography of Economic Activities (5 ECTS)
Contemporary Cultural Geography (5 ECTS) - Optional
Geological Heritage and Geoconservation (5 ECTS) - Optional
Demography (5 ECTS) - Optional
Applied Climatology (5 ECTS) - Optional
3rd Year/5th Semester
Physical Geography of Portugal I (5 ECTS)
Human Geography of Portugal I (5 ECTS)
Environmental Impact Studies and Assessment (5 ECTS)
Urban Planning Theory (5 ECTS)
Remote Sensing and GIS (5 ECTS)
Strategic Communication and Territory (5 ECTS) - Optional
Modern and Contemporary Urbanism (5 ECTS) - Optional
Health Geography (5 ECTS) - Optional
European Expansion (History) (5 ECTS) - Optional
3rd Year/ 6th Semester
Physical Geography of Portugal II (5 ECTS)
Human Geography of Portugal II (5 ECTS)
Applied Geomorphology (5 ECTS)
Rural Geography (5 ECTS)
Urban Design and Composition (5 ECTS)
Option UMinho - Optional
Notes:
- Optional Credit Units of 3rd and 5th semesters are available both to students from the 2nd and 3rd Years of the studyprogramme, in order to broaden their range of choice. Students enroll each year to one optional CU, among those available.
- Optional Credit Units of the 4th semester are taught only to students of the 2nd Year of the course. Students enroll to one optional CU, among those availble.
- Students wishing to continue their training entering the Master´s in Teaching of History and Geography (2nd Cycle) have the opportunity to choose optional CU of the scientific area of History (H), thereby assembling a set of credits needed to meet the Master’s access conditions.
- Option UMinho, in the 6th semester, is a crosscutting optional Credit Unit of free choice dependent on the UMinho’s disciplinary offer in each school year. Only some examples of Option UMinho's CU are presented.