Geography is the study of the relationships between human society and the physical environment. Geography involves environmental studies, human impact on the environment, availability and location of the earth's resources, physical processes that occur at the earth's surface, and the spatial interactions among society and the physical environment.
The College of Natural Resources conducts extensive research and development in the geographic information sciences. It works extensively with the Environmental Systems Research Institute software company to assure that graduates of the geography program gain proficiency in the latest tools for analyses of geographic information and mapping of the earth's surface.
Emphases:
In addition to completing the 29-credit geography core, all students must complete 33 credits in one of the following emphasis areas.
- Human-Environment Geography: This emphasis provides a broad overview of the relationships between humans and their environments across different cultures, economies, and geographic locations around the globe. It requires an understanding of the dynamics of geology, meteorology, hydrology, biogeography, ecology, and geomorphology, as well as human behavior, decision making, and perception in relation to the environment.
- Geographic Information Science: This emphasis assists students in gaining a solid foundation of geographic information analysis. Areas of application include geography, natural resources, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning.