Why Study Geography?

What is Geography?

Geography is the study of physical and human landscapes, the processes that affect them, how and why they change over time, and how and why they vary spatially. Geographers consider, to varying degrees, both natural and human influences on the landscape, although a common division separates human and physical geography.

Why Study Geography?

Geography is a very attractive major for today's students. The field provides marketable skills and the broad perspectives on the physical and cultural world that enable graduates to enter the workforce confidently. For similar reasons, geography provides a sound foundation for students who plan to pursue graduate work in a variety of fields, from geography to business, urban and land use planning, resource management, and international development.

Geography is the study of earth as the home of people. (Yi-Fu Tuan)

From natural disaster response to urban sprawl to peace and justice, Geographers have the skills and knowledge to deal with a variety of issues. Geography students study people and places using both traditional methods and using the latest and greatest geotechnology.

To become a Global Citizen

Being a global citizen is about understanding and valuing the Earth as precious and unique, and safegaurding the future for those coming after us. A Global citizen is someone who: is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen; respects and values diversity; has an understanding of how the world works economically, politically, socially, culturally, technologically, and environmentally; is outraged by social injustice; participates in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global; is willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place; takes responsibility for their actions. If you want to become a global citizen, study Geography.

Studying Geography is FUN!

Studying Geography can take you to distant lands and cultures. You can learn about different peoples and places. You can develop the skills that will help you recognize and make sense of the patterns, distributions, and interactions between living things and their environment. Geographers often travel and study places by experiencing them first-hand. They have the opportunity to use cutting edge technology to study the landscapes and patterns that define who we are and what we do.

A Geography major will lead to a GREAT Career

A question students often ask themselves and their teachers is “What can I do with geography?” This question is not unexpected, because while it is easy to understand getting excited about maps, different cultures and environments, and even becoming "global citizens" through geography, it is harder to see how geographic knowledge can lead to good jobs or meaningful careers. However, in recent years people have come to realize that large numbers of societal problems and issues have geographic dimensions and that education and training in geography provide essential skills for real-world problem solving. As a result, geography has become a necessary ingredient in hundreds of different jobs.