Human Geography

Geography is the study of the environments created on the earth's surface by nature and people. The physical and biological elements of these environments, as well as their economic and social structure, historical development, spatial organization, interrelationships, management and planning form the subject matter of Geography. Geography, therefore, relates closely to other fields in natural science, social science and the humanities, and geographers take courses in these related fields along with their geography courses. Students specializing in other subjects often select one or more geography courses to deepen their understanding of the resource base, culture and economy of those parts of the world in which they are interested.

Employment opportunities for geographers exist in many branches of international organizations, government, industry, and education. Geographers work at all levels of government service, especially in agencies responsible for environmental management; land and resource analysis; development of historic districts and sites; urban transportation planning; urban and regional development planning; trade promotion; community social services; geographic systems design and data analysis; transport network design and the processing of archival, survey, and cartographic information. In business, geographers work in marketing, locational analysis, resource development, and in consulting firms engaged in project evaluation, land use planning and natural heritage conservation. They often also find work in the non-profit sector as policy analysts, cartographers and geographic information science specialists, community organizers, and educators.

Students studying Geography may take either an H.B.A. or H.B.Sc., depending upon the subjects they wish to emphasize. The Department offers Specialist, Major and Minor Programs in Geography, and contributes courses to various departmental and college programs including American Studies; Anthropology; Archaeology; Canadian Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies; Equity Studies; School of the Environment; Environmental Geosciences; Urban Studies; Ethics, Society and Law and International Relations; and European Studies. Counselling and advice may be obtained from the Associate Chair, Undergraduate or the Undergraduate Counsellor.

Associate Chair, Undergraduate:
Professor M. Farish, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 5040, farish@geog.utoronto.ca

Undergraduate Counsellor:
K. Howat, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 5044 (416-978-6455), undergraduate.geography@utoronto.ca

General Enquiries: 416-978-3375

Regarding Geography and Planning Programs

Admission to major and specialist programs will be determined by a student's mark in 0.5-1.0 GGR credits at the 100 and/or 200-level. See program descriptions for details on the entry requirements. These are limited enrolment programs that can only accommodate a limited number of students. Achieving the marks required does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year.

Double majors in Geography may only overlap 1.0 credit. Students combining any of our Minor programs with a Specialist/Major program would normally be allowed to overlap only 1.5 credits towards both programs. Double minors can overlap 1.0 credit. Students combining the Focus in Planning and the Focus in Urban Geography can overlap 1.5 credits. Students that choose to specialize or major in one of the three Geography programs cannot minor in the same program but may do so in another Geography program. 

Generally, students may only take 1.0 credit of an Independent Research Project toward their program requirements.

Use the University of Toronto International Application if you:

• currently reside outside of Canada, AND 
• are not currently studying, and have not previously studied in Canada, AND
• are not applying to any other Ontario university

Prospective international applicants who wish to apply to other Ontario universities in addition to the University of Toronto should use the OUAC 105 Application (see below).

If you have already applied with the OUAC 105 Application, you do not need to apply to the University of Toronto with the International Application. (If you submit both applications, your second application will be cancelled with no possibility of a refund.)

Note that you will need to pay a non-refundable fee of $180.

University of Toronto has contracted with the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) to provide application processing services. When you begin the application process, you will be transferred to the OUAC website where you will complete and submit your application. You will be required to create an OUAC Account (if you do not already have one). You may have only one OUAC Account. Direct any application process questions to the OUAC.