VCE Units 3 & 4 - Geography

VCE Units 3 & 4 - Geography

Overview

VCE Geography enables students to examine natural and human phenomena, how and why they change, their interconnections and the patterns they form across the Earth’s surface. In doing so, they develop a better understanding of their own place in the world and of those in other parts of the world. These skills deepen understanding of places, environments and human interactions.

Unit 3 – Changing the Land

This unit focuses on two investigations of geographical change: change to land cover and change to land use. Natural land cover is altered by many processes such as geomorphological events, plant succession and climate change. People have modified land cover to produce a range of land uses to satisfy needs such as housing, resource provision, communication and recreation.

Areas of Study

1. Land Cover Change– In this area of study students investigate two major processes that are changing land cover: melting glaciers and ice sheets, and deforestation by analysing these processes, explaining their impacts and evaluating responses.
2. Land Use Change – In this area of study students focus on a local area and use appropriate fieldwork techniques and secondary sources to investigate the processes and impacts of land use change.

Unit 4– Human Population: Trends and Issues

This unit investigate the geography of human populations. Students explore the patterns of population change, movement and distribution, and how governments, organisations and individuals have responded to those changes in different parts of the world.

Areas of Study

1. Population Dynamics – In this area of study students undertake an overview of world population distribution and growth before investigating the dynamics of population change over time such as growth and decline in fertility and mortality and population movements.
2. Impact of Tourism: Issues and Challenges – In this area of study students investigate the growing population of one country and the ageing population of another country including the issues and challenges that arise while evaluating the effectiveness of strategies in response to these issues and challenges.

Forms of Assessment

• Fieldwork Report
• Case Studies
• Structured Questions
• Research Report
• Examination

 

Prerequisites and Corequisites

It is an advantage to have completed Unit 1 and 2 Geography.