Academic Program

This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.

Faculty

Professors Burnett, Klepeis, Loranty (Chair), Meyer, Monk, Scull
Associate Professor Ballvé
Assistant Professors Hamlin, Mitchell-Eaton
Visiting Assistant Professor Hartnett
Teaching and Research Support Technician and Laboratory Instructor Kong

Geography bridges perspectives in the social and natural sciences to study people and the environment. 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 use integrative explanatory frameworks and geospatial analytical tools to grapple with critical areas of inquiry: the geopolitics of conflict, climate science, biogeographies of endangered species, urban planning, housing and homelessness, disaster mitigation, international migration, environmental and social justice, and natural resource management, among them.

Four 100-level courses – , , , and  – introduce prospective majors and other interested students to the perspectives of the discipline. Two courses required for majors –  and  – provide a grounding in the biophysical environment of human activity and key tools for geographical analysis.

Exposing students to the full spectrum of disciplinary subfields – physical, human, and nature-society geography as well as geospatial techniques – the major provides a good foundation for graduate work or future employment in both the private and public sectors.

Courses offered in the department fall into a number of overlapping clusters representing major foci of the discipline.

Climate and Environmental Science:

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Geospatial Analysis:

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Human and Nature-Society Geography:

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Nature-Society Geography:

      Full-credit courses:

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 Urban Geography:

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Awards

The Peter Gould Award in Geography — awarded by the department to a senior geography major who has enriched the geography community through exemplary leadership, service, and achievement.

The Shannon McCune Prize in Geography — awarded by the department to the senior geography major who has been judged by the department's faculty to demonstrate outstanding academic merit and promise.

The Kevin Williams '10 Endowed Memorial Fellowship Award — established in memory of Kevin Williams '10 to provide stipend support for one or more geography majors to travel while studying abroad.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit should be arranged in consultation with the department chair. Typically, the department will accept for major credit a maximum of two geography courses taken from department-approved study abroad programs and/or Colgate study groups. Courses taken from non-approved programs may be eligible for one major credit with department approval. Regardless of the source, the number of non-Colgate courses used for major credit in geography cannot exceed two. To be accepted, courses must be comparable in quality and scope to courses offered at Colgate. Students who hope to transfer course credit must consult with the department chair prior to enrolling elsewhere. Transfer credits may not be used to satisfy the department's required courses.

Advanced Placement credit is awarded for the AP Human Geography exam with a score of 4 or 5, effective fall 2025.

Honors and High Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors in a major can find the additional requirements on the relevant major page. Use the links below in the Majors and Minor section to navigate.

Related Major

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Australia Study Group (fall term)

This study group is sponsored by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Program (ENST) and focuses on the social and environmental diversity of Australia. It is led by a member of the geography or ENST faculty and provides a valuable complement to the Colgate-based geography curriculum. See .

 

Majors and Minors

Major

Minor

Courses