Chair: W. Meyer
Department Site
The discipline of geography bridges perspectives in the social and natural sciences. In addition to deepening knowledge of biophysical and social change processes in their own right, diverse methodological approaches uncover the relationships between humans and natural and social environments. Students are exposed to the full spectrum of disciplinary subfields—physical, human, and nature-society geography as well as geographical techniques. They use integrative explanatory frameworks to grapple with critical areas of inquiry: the geopolitics of conflict, climate science, biogeographies of endangered species, public health, urban planning, disaster mitigation, international development, environmental and social justice, and natural resource management, among them. In exploring these themes, geography students move beyond passive knowledge consumption and toward the production of knowledge, applying their skills and perspectives through collaborative work with faculty, fellow students, and members of the wider community. Each of the introductory courses offered by the Department of Geography addresses aspects of these themes. Descriptions of introductory courses can be found in the University Catalog, or for courses available to first-years in the fall, refer to the bottom of this page.
The major provides a good foundation for graduate work or future employment in both the private and public sectors. Recent graduates have pursued graduate study and/or careers in geography, environmental science, alternative energy resources, population studies, international development, public health, public policy, urban planning, architecture, forestry, meteorology, environmental law, land-use planning, and an array of business applications.