Studying geography as a Christian

Geography is much more than colouring, maps and field trips; it’s everywhere! Within the first five minutes of watching the news, you’ll encounter various geographical topics: climate change debates, the impact of international trade on national economies, and energy resource controversies.

You may have several questions about Geography: What do students learn at GCSE and A-level? Why study it? Can it enrich your child’s faith? And what challenges may it pose?

This article answers these important questions, helping you support your child as they learn about the people and environments that inhabit our world.

What’s Geography?

Geography serves as a bridge between natural science, social science, and humanities. At its core Geography is about understanding how places and spaces are shaped by the two-way relationship between people in societies and their environments.

Human geography places more emphasis on the role of people in shaping places, with common topics including Globalisation, Urbanisation and Population Dynamics. Physical geography focuses more on the natural world and includes topics such as Water and Carbon Cycles, Glacial Systems and Coastal Landscapes.

Both human and physical geography explore the interplay between people, societies, and their environments. For instance, when studying natural disasters, students analyse how physical factors (e.g. volcano type) and human factors (e.g. land use) shape a disaster’s impact.