Exploring the IB Geography syllabus provides a clear view of the skills and knowledge you'll acquire throughout the course. Join us as we unpack the key concepts of the syllabus, giving you a better understanding of what to expect on your learning journey.

The IB Geography syllabus is made up of three components:

Geography

In the option topics component of the IB Geography syllabus, SL students select two topics, while HL students choose three from the following list:

Geographic themes

In this topic, you will explore the following:

Drainage basin hydrology and geomorphology

The drainage basin as an open system with inputs (precipitation of varying type and intensity), outputs (evaporation and transpiration), flows (infiltration, throughflow, overland flow and base flow) and stores (including vegetation, soil, aquifers and the cryosphere) systems and

River discharge and its relationship to stream flow, channel characteristics and landforms hydraulic radius

River processes of erosion, transportation and deposition and spatial and temporal factors influencing their operation, including channel characteristics and seasonality

The formation of typical river landforms, including waterfalls, floodplains, meanders, levees and deltas

Hydrograph characteristics (lag time, peak discharge, base flow) and natural influences on hydrographs, including geology and seasonality factors

How urbanization, deforestation and channel modifications affect flood risk within a exacerbate drainage basin, including its distribution, frequency and magnitude and mitigate

Attempts at flood prediction, including changes in weather forecasting and uncertainty in climate modelling places

Flood mitigation, including structural measures (dams, afforestation, channel modification and levee strengthening) and planning (personal insurance and flood preparation, and flood warning technology)

Two contrasting detailed examples of flood mitigation of drainage basins Geographic knowledge and understanding inquiry

Physical and economic water scarcity, and the factors that control these including the causes and impacts of droughts; the distinction between water quantity and water quality in relation to

Environmental consequences of agricultural activities on water quality, to include water pollution (eutrophication) and irrigation (salinization) management

Detailed examples to illustrate the role of different stakeholders

Growing human pressures on lakes and aquifers, including economic growth and population migration

Internationally shared water resources as a source of conflict

Case study of one internationally shared water resource and the role of different stakeholders in attempting to find a resolution

The importance of strengthening participation of local communities to improve water management in different economic development contexts, including sustainable water use and efficiency, and ensuring access to clean, safe and affordable water management

Increased dam building for multipurpose water schemes, and their costs and benefits intervention in

Case study of contemporary dam building expansion in one major drainage basin

The growing importance of integrated drainage basin management (IDBM) plans, and the costs and benefits they bring

Growing pressures on major wetlands and efforts to protect them, such as the Ramsar Convention

Case study of the future possibilities for one wetland area aluation (Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities

How natural processes or human interference in one part of a drainage basin may bring spatial interactions with other parts/places [Sy] aim to

How water management actions take place at personal to global scales [Sy/Ev] synthesize the

Different perspectives on the costs and benefits of water management strategies [Ev] throughout the

How water cycling and water system flows can be represented graphically [Sk]

Freshwater

The operation of ocean currents, including their distribution, nutrient and energy transfers and the importance of oceanic conveyor belts

Atmosphere–oceanic interactions associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation atmospheric and

(ENSO) and La Niña cycles and their climatic, environmental and economic effects ocean systems

Detailed examples of the geographic impacts of El Niño and La Niña

The formation, distribution and physical impacts of hurricanes on coastal margins, including storm surges

Case study of one hurricane and its impacts on coastal places and people

The changing role of oceans as a store and source of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs

Interactions between oceans and coastal places

Physical influences on coastal landscapes, including waves, tides, sediment supply, lithology, vegetation, subaerial processes and wave processes (littoral drift, hydraulic action and abrasion) interactions with

The characteristics and formation of coastal landforms of erosion and deposition, oceans including wave cut platform, cliff, stack, spit and beaches

Advancing and retreating coastlines, including the role of isostatic and eustatic processes, and the associated landforms (relict cliff, raised beach, fjord)

The role of coastal processes, wind and vegetation in sand dune development

Coastal erosion and flooding management strategies, including cliff line stabilization and managed retreat stakeholders in

One coastal management case study focused on the decision-making process and perspectives of different actors

Conflicting land-use pressures on coastlines, including commercial land uses

(tourism, industry and housing) and conservation measures

One case study to illustrate the roles of, and outcomes for, coastal stakeholders

Management of coral reefs and mangrove swamps, including different stakeholder perspectives on their use and value

Detailed examples of both ecosystems and their issues

Sovereignty rights of nations in relation to territorial limits along coastal margins and exclusive economic zones (EEZs)

Causes and consequences of increasing demand for the abiotic resources of oceans, including minerals, oil and gas managing the

Trends in biotic resource use (fish and mammals) and the viability of alternatives to oceans as a overfishing, including aquaculture, conservation areas and quotas global commons

Strengths and weaknesses of initiatives to manage ocean pollution, including local and global strategies for radioactive materials, oil and plastic waste

The strategic value of oceans and sources of international conflict/insecurity, including the contested ownership and control of island, canals and transit choke points

One contemporary geopolitical case study focusing on a contested ocean area ation (Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities

How changes in one part of an ocean or coastal margin may bring spatial interactions with other parts/places [Sy] be integrated into

How ocean exploitation and management take place at varying scales [Sy/Ev] the study of the

Varying perspectives on the costs, benefits and effectiveness of management [Ev] additional

How ocean and atmospheric systems, and their interactions, can be represented graphically [Sk]

Oceans and coastal margins

In this topic, you will learn about the following:

The characteristics of extreme environments

Global-scale distribution of cold and high altitude environments (polar, glacial areas, periglacial areas, high mountains in non-polar places) and hot arid environments (hot deserts and semi-arid areas) environments

Relief and climatic characteristics that make environments extreme, including unreliability and intensity of rainfall in arid environments and the risk of flash floods

How relief, climate, human discomfort, inaccessibility, and remoteness present challenges for human habitation and resource development

Detailed examples for illustrative purposes

The changing distribution of extreme environments over time, including the advance and retreat of glaciers and natural desertification

Glacial processes of erosion, transport and deposition, and landscape features in glaciated areas, including cirques/corries, lakes, pyramidal peaks/horns, arêtes, glacial troughs; lateral, medial and terminal moraine and erratics in extreme

Periglacial processes of freeze-thaw, solifluction and frost heave, and periglacial environments landscape features, including permafrost, thermokarst, patterned ground and pingos

Physical and chemical weathering in hot arid environments, and erosion, transportation and deposition by wind and water

Hot, arid landscape features, including dunes, wadis, rock pedestals, mesas and buttes

Case study of one cold environment to illustrate the issues man and physical opportunities and challenges for mineral extraction in arid vironments, including inaccessibility and climatic and political factors

Case study of one arid environment to illustrate the issues portunities and challenges for tourism in extreme environments

Detailed examples illustrating the involvement of local and global stakeholders

One case study illustrating the human and physical dimensions of desertification creasing competition for access to resources in extreme environments, cluding the role of indigenous groups, civil society organizations, transnational rporations (TNCs) and militia groups

One case study to highlight the issues w technology and sustainable development in extreme environments, cluding greater use of solar power and desalination e impacts and management of global climate change in extreme vironments, including adaptation by local populations

(Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities w places and people in extreme environments are affected by spatial teractions with other places and people [Sy] into the study of the e varying spatial scale of the processes and challenges associated with above. No additional fferent kinds of extreme environment [Sy/Ev] teaching time is rying perspectives on how and why extreme environments are managed [Ev] w glacial systems and climatic data are best represented graphically [Sk]

Extreme environments

Mechanisms of plate movement including internal heating, convection currents, plumes, subduction and rifting at plate margins to geophysical

Characteristics of volcanoes (shield, composite and cinder) formed by varying events of differing types of volcanic eruption; and associated secondary hazards (pyroclastic flows, type and magnitude lahars, landslides)

Characteristics of earthquakes (depth of focus, epicentre and wave types) caused by varying types of plate margin movement and human triggers (dam building, resource extraction); and associated secondary hazards (tsunami, landslides, liquefaction, transverse faults)

Classification of mass movement types according to cause (physical and human), liquidity, speed of onset, duration, extent and frequency

The distribution of geophysical hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, mass movements) hazard risks for

The relevance of hazard magnitude and frequency/recurrence for risk different places management

Geophysical hazard risk as a product of economic factors (levels of development and technology), social factors (education, gender), demographic factors

(population density and structure) and political factors (governance)

Geographic factors affecting geophysical hazard event impacts, including rural/urban location, time of day and degree of isolation

Two contemporary contrasting case studies each for volcanic hazards, earthquake hazards and mass movement hazards (see guidance above) hazards to affect

For each geophysical hazard type, the case studies should develop knowledge and understanding of: – geophysical hazard event profiles, including any secondary hazards – varied impacts of these hazards on different aspects of human well- being – why levels of vulnerability varied both between and within communities, including spatial variations in hazard perception, personal knowledge and preparedness

Geophysical hazards

(in relation to long-term management of touristic resources). Geographic knowledge and understanding

The growth and changing purpose of leisure time for societies in different geographic and developmental contexts processes give rise

The categorization of touristic activities (cost, duration, destination) and sporting to leisure activities activities (cost, popularity, site)

The link between economic development and participation in leisure activities

Detailed examples to illustrate recent changes in participation for two or more societies at contrasting stages of development

Factors affecting personal participation in sports and tourism, including affluence, gender, stage in lifecycle, personality, place of residence

Tourism and sport at the local and national scale

Human and physical factors explaining the growth of rural and urban tourism hotspots including the role of primary and secondary touristic resources shape places into

Variations in sphere of influence for different kinds of sporting and touristic sites of leisure facility, including neighbourhood parks and gyms, city stadiums and national parks

Factors affecting the geography of a national sports league, including the location of its hierarchy of teams and the distribution of supporters

Large-scale sporting, musical, cultural or religious festivals as temporary sites of leisure and their associated costs and benefits

Case study of one festival in a rural location, its site factors and geographic impacts

Tourism and sport at the international scale

Niche national tourism strategies with a global sphere of influence, including adventure tourism, movie location tourism and heritage tourism to participate in

The role of TNCs in expanding international tourism destinations, including the global tourism and costs and benefits of TNC involvement for different stakeholders sport

Costs and benefits of tourism as a national development strategy, including economic and social/cultural effects

Political, economic and cultural factors affecting the hosting of international sporting events, including Olympics and football World Cup events

Case study of costs and benefits for one country hosting an international event

Managing tourism and sport for the future

The consequences of unsustainable touristic growth in rural and urban tourism hotspots, including the concept of carrying capacity and possible management options to increase site resilience tourism and sport at

The concept of sustainable tourism, including the growth of ecotourism varying scales

One case study of sustainable tourism in one low-income country

Factors influencing future international tourism, including greater use of social media, international security and diaspora growth

The growing importance of political and cultural influences on international sport participation, including international agreements, inclusion via changing gender roles and the growing importance of the Paralympics on (Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities

How leisure use of a place is influenced by spatial interactions with other places [Sy] into the study of the

People’s freedom and ability to participate in leisure activities is subject to above. No additional multiple influences from personal/local to global scales [Sy/Ev] teaching time is

Different perspectives on the costs and benefits of how places are used for leisure activities and who is allowed to participate [Ev]

How trends and changes in visitor and impact data can be shown graphically

Leisure, tourism and sport

Global patterns in food/nutrition indicators, including the food security index, the hunger index, calories per person/capita, indicators of malnutrition and health between

The nutrition transition, and associated regional variations of food consumption and places nutrition choices

Global patterns in health indicators, including health-adjusted life expectancy

(HALE), infant mortality, maternal mortality, access to sanitation and the ratio between doctors/physicians and people

The epidemiological transition, the diseases continuum (diseases of poverty to diseases of affluence), and the implications of a global ageing population for disease burden

The merits of a systems approach (inputs, stores, transfers, outputs) to compare energy efficiency and water footprints in food production, and relative sustainability in different places food production and

The physical and human processes that can lead to variations in food consumption consumption, and

The importance of diffusion (including adoption/acquisition, expansion, relocation) in the spread of agricultural innovations, and also in the spread of diseases, and the role of geographic factors (including physical, economic and political barriers) in the rate of diffusion

Geographic factors contributing to the incidence, diffusion and impacts

(demographic and socio-economic) of vector-borne and water-borne diseases

One detailed example of a vector-borne disease and one detailed example of a water-borne disease

The roles of international organizations (such as the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and World Health Organization), governments and NGOs in combating food insecurity and disease relation to influence

The influence of TNCs (agribusinesses and the media) in shaping food consumption over diets and health habits

Gender roles related to food and health, including food production/acquisition and disparities in health

Factors affecting the severity of famine, including governance, the power of the media and access to international aid

One case study of the issues affecting a famine-stricken country or area

Future health and food security and sustainability

Possible solutions to food insecurity, including waste reduction for sustainable

One case study of attempts to tackle food insecurity

Advantages and disadvantages of contemporary approaches to food production, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), vertical farming and in vitro meat

The merits of prevention and treatment in managing disease, including social marginalization issues, government priorities, means of infection and scientific intervention

Managing pandemics, including the epidemiology of the disease, prior local and global awareness, international action and the role of media

One case study of a contemporary pandemic and the lessons learned for pandemic management in the future on (Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities

The spatial interaction between geographies of health and food/nutrition [Sy] can be integrated

Contrasts in the scale of causes and solutions to food and health challenges [Sy/Ev] into the study of the

Perspectives of stakeholders on the priorities for health care and food security [Ev] teaching time is

How patterns in health and the diffusion of disease can be represented graphically

Food and health

Characteristics of urban places, including site, function, land use, hierarchy of settlement (including megacities) and growth process (planned or spontaneous) urban places,

Factors affecting the pattern of urban economic activities (retail, commercial, populations and industrial), including physical factors, land values, proximity to a central business economic activities district (CBD) and planning

Factors affecting the pattern of residential areas within urban areas, including physical factors, land values, ethnicity and planning

The incidence of poverty, deprivation and informal activity (housing and industry) in urban areas at varying stages of development

Urbanization, natural increase and centripetal population movements, including rural–urban migration in industrializing cities, and inner city gentrification in post- industrial cities change over time to

Centrifugal population movements, including suburbanization and counter- urban systems urbanization

Urban system growth including infrastructure improvements over time, such as transport, sanitation, water, waste disposal and telecommunications

Case study of infrastructure growth over time in one city

The causes of urban deindustrialization and its economic, social and demographic consequences

Urban microclimate modification and management, including the urban heat island effect, and air pollution patterns and its management stakeholders in

Case study of air pollution in one city and its varying impact on people

Traffic congestion patterns, trends and impacts management of,

Case study of one affected city and the management response

Contested land use changes, including slum clearances, urban redevelopment and the depletion of green space

Detailed contrasting examples of two affected neighbourhoods and their populations

Managing the impacts of urban social deprivation, including the cycle of deprivation and geographic patterns of crime

Building sustainable urban systems for the future

Urban growth projections for 2050, including regional/continental patterns and trends of rural–urban migration and changing urban population sizes and structures urban systems

Resilient city design, including strategies to manage escalating climatic and geopolitical risks to urban areas

Two detailed examples to illustrate possible strategies

Eco city design, including strategies to manage the urban ecological footprint

Two detailed examples to illustrate possible environmental strategies

Smart city design and the use of new technology to run city services and systems, including purpose-built settlements and retrofitting technology to older settlements on (Ev) and Skills (Sk) opportunities

How urban changes over time are affected by a place’s economic and demographic spatial interactions with other places [Sy] into the study of the

Contrasts in the scale of changes and challenges facing different urban areas above. No additional teaching time is

Varying perspectives of different social groups on the costs and benefits of different urban strategies, and priorities for action [Ev]

How urban patterns, movements, flows and trends/temporal changes can best be represented graphically [Sk]

Urban environments

For the core component, both SL and HL students explore three units.

SL and HL core

In this unit, students explore the following topics:

Population and economic development patterns

Physical and human factors affecting population distribution at the global scale varies between

Global patterns and classification of economic development: places

middle-income countries and emerging economies

Population distribution and economic development at the national scale, including voluntary internal migration, core-periphery patterns and megacity growth

Two detailed and contrasting examples of uneven population distribution

Synthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities

The relative importance of different influences on where people live and spatial interactions between places at varying scales

Detailed examples of two or more contrasting countries e consequences of megacity growth for individuals and societies

One case study of a contemporary megacity experiencing rapid growth e causes and consequences of forced migration and internal displacement

Detailed examples of two or more forced movements, to include environmental and political push factors, and consequences for people and places nthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities w the impacts of population change and spatial interactions between places n be categorized and represented graphically

One case study of a country benefiting from a demographic dividend nthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities w population change may affect the power balance between groups of people local, national and international scales

Changing population

The atmospheric system, including the natural greenhouse effect and energy balance (incoming shortwave radiation and outgoing longwave radiation) affect the global

Changes in the global energy balance, and the role of feedback loops, resulting energy balance from:

solar radiation variations, including global dimming due to volcanic eruptions

terrestrial albedo changes and feedback loops

The enhanced greenhouse effect and international variations in greenhouse gas sources and emissions, in relation to economic development, globalization and trade

The complexity of the dynamic climate system and the spatial interactions of different processes and feedback mechanisms

Climate change and the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, including: climate change on

Collections

Physics

Biology

Chemistry

IB Geography Syllabus + Topics

Geographic themes

Freshwater

Oceans and coastal margins

SL and HL core

Changing population

Global climate—vulnerability and resilience

HL core extension

Power, places and networks

Human development and diversity