Programs
The BS in Geography & Environmental Studies prepares students for careers that are vital for a world with a rapidly changing climate. The BS in GES provides students with a fundamental knowledge of the Earth's surface, its myriad environments, and the many ways in which humans interact with and are affected by these environments. Comprised of 48 units, the major allows flexibility in course selection depending on your areas of interest and your career pathway, while providing a solid background in human, physical and regional aspects of the discipline.
The BS in Geographic Information Science will prepare students for cutting-edge careers in a variety of industries. The BS in GIS features a strong technical component based on in-depth training in geographic information systems and remote sensing technologies, along with applied practice in geospatial analysis and spatial data science techniques. Students in the program will explore the application of these techniques in various industries including health and human services, public safety, natural/environmental sciences, retail/marketing, urban planning, government, and transportation.
Students can select from a variety of topical and skill-based subject areas including:
| Climate Change & Atmospheric Science |
Natural Resources & Conservation |
Hydrology & Water Environments |
Spatial Data Science |
| Forensics & Crime Mapping |
Geomorphology & Land System Science |
GIS & Remote Sensing |
Cartography & Geo-visualization |
| Environmental Justice |
Drones & Image Capture |
Culture & Community |
Urban Environments |
| Health Equity & Neighborhood Wellbeing |
Decision-making & Governance |
Natural Hazards & Sustainability |
Economy & Development |
Undergraduate Programs
The Geography and Environmental Studies program prepares students to understand the environment around us and to interpret the patterns found across Earth’s surface. Comprised of 48 units, this major allows flexibility in course selection, while providing a solid background in human, physical and regional aspects of the discipline.
The Geographic Information Science program features a strong technical component based on applications of geographic information science (GISci), cartography and remote sensing, along with training in geospatial analysis and data presentation. Students in the program will explore the application of GISci in various industries including, health and human services, public safety, natural/environmental sciences, retail, urban planning, government and transportation.
A minor in Geography is comprised of 20 units, with no more than 6 units in the lower division. The student must consult with a Geography advisor to develop an approved program best suited to the student’s individual needs. A program may be selected that will provide the student with exposure to several of the major realms of geography or emphasis in one particular aspect of geography (e.g., geomorphology, GIS, climatology, cultural, economic, ecology, cartography, urban).
A minor in GIS is comprised of 21 units focused on courses involving geographic information science and related technologies.
Graduate Programs
The Master of Arts in Geography provides the student with a high degree of flexibility in the selection of courses used to meet the program requirements. Courses may be selected from any of the graduate offerings in geomorphology, climatology, biogeography, economic geography, cultural geography, urban geography, regional geography, cartography and geographic information science. This degree prepares students for advanced Ph.D. study, community college teaching and professional careers in business, government or industry.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers, within the Master of Science in Geographic Information Science (MSGISci) degree, a highly structured specialization program in which most of the requirements are met with graduate courses dealing with various aspects of GIS. This program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in this highly technological subfield of geography.