The Geography Concentration prepares students for a holistic examination of the Earth including ecosystem and atmospheric processes, natural hazards and environmental management, relationships between nature and society, and understanding relationships between events around the world that cause changes to both in natural and socio-economic systems. Coursework will discuss topics such as spatial analysis, environmental protection, global security, international cooperation and regional development that ensure that students will become better stewards of the planet. Geography is interdisciplinary and offers diverse career opportunities in areas such as environmental management, disaster management and response, regional and economic development, careers abroad, and geographic information systems.
Within the geography concentration, students can focus on three areas of study:
Environmental Hazards which examines the causes and impacts of both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Prevention or avoidance, mitigation, public policy, and legislation are studied in detail. Graduates focused in this area are well-prepared to work for local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as private environmental engineering firms.
Geographic Information Systems which develops expertise with geographic information technology: geographic information systems (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), and remote sensing (imaging of the earth from aircraft and satellites). Students in this area of focus develop skills in spatial analysis, environmental modeling, and computer programming.
Global Environment and Development focuses on understanding the evolving international arena through regional and thematic studies of economic interrelationships, geopolitical systems, and various cultural aspects associated with challenges of human society’s interactions with the natural environment. Graduates focused in this area are prepared for work in positions concerned with political, economic and health issues at the global scale as well as in other fields ranging from foreign service, geography education, local, state and federal agencies, and private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).