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Geography
Geographers
study the physical and human features of the earth, concentrating especially
on explaining the location of these features and on the environmental
relationships among them. In doing such studies, geographers integrate
the theories of the physical sciences, biological sciences, social
sciences, and the humanities. Those geographers who emphasize the study
of the earth's physical features (such as landforms, vegetation, and
climate) focus on the processes that produce these features. As social
scientists and humanists, human geographers explore such topics as the
arrangement of people on the earth's surface, land use patterns, urbanization,
resource and energy usage, and environmental conservation.
Because geography is so varied and offers such a wide range of careers upon graduation, geographers have diverse abilities, such as protecting and managing natural resources, planning for workable and enjoyable cities, utilizing computer technologies, working toward clean and healthy environments, and helping people in developing countries improve their lives. The geography student is creative, enjoys challenges, can learn through observations and research, and enjoys the satisfaction of improving conditions in our societies.
Program Overview
SDSU's
Geography Department is well known throughout the United States, and
students are from many different states, as well as from different countries.
The SDSU geography major offers a broad range of fields from which to
select a specialization, and the faculty members are equally diverse
and recognized in their specializations. The specific fields include
a B.S. in geographic information science and a B.A. in one of the following
emphases: general geography (the study of both physical and cultural
aspects of geography); physical geography (emphasizing a scientific study
of the earth's features); natural resource and environmental geography
(concerned with human impacts on the earth); urban and regional analysis
(dealing with modern planning technologies and solutions in the development
of cities); and methods of geographical analysis (providing a background
in geographic information systems, cartography, spatial statistics, and
remote sensing). Majors must complete a program in one of the above fields.
The Geography Department also offers a Certificate in Geographic Information Science. Geography majors and other students who are interested in learning about mapping from satellites, atlas production, terrain analysis, computer graphics, surveying, and aerial photography should consider this program.
Special Features
- Student organizations include the Geography Club, for all students in geography courses and students chapters of professional organizations such as the Association of Environmental Professionals. Gamma Theta Upsilon, the honorary geography society is open to those students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their major course work.
The
Geography Department has excellent computer graphics facilities in
its
Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research and the Spatial Analysis
Lab.
These facilities support instruction and research pertaining to computer
cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing/image processing,
and spatial statistics.
- Internships are available with the coordinator's consent. Students can work in various government agencies and private companies under joint supervision of agency heads and the course instructor. These internship programs provide not only credits toward graduation, but also practical training for a future career in geography.
- The offices of the Geography Department provide a comfortable reading room with couches, tables and chairs that are available at any time for studying and small group projects.
Faculty Highlights
The Department of Geography, with 17 full-time faculty members. The department faculty members have a wide range of backgrounds, from highly technical and computer intensive to humanistic. The faculty members are particularly well traveled (even more than one would expect of geographers) and come from all parts of the world (we have colleagues who were born in Asia, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe).
Among the faculty members are specialists in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, urban planning and landscapes, environmental and natural resources, demographics, meteorology, physiography, biogeography, Latin America, Europe, Australia/Pacific, United States, coastal resources and economics.
The Geography Department has the most research active geography department in the CSU system. Over the most recent 3-year period, SDSU geography faculty wrote 106 refereed journal articles, 66 refereed book chapters, and 12 books. Much of the research undertaken is supported by research grants from agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, NOAA, the California Department of Fish and Game, and many others. Funding for these grants over the last 6 years has totaled over $6 million. These grants help to support what is widely considered the finest single laboratory for the application of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems technology in the country. The grants also allow the department to hire a large number of students to work on the projects and provide the students outstanding professional experience.
Among the many honors recently bestowed on individual geography faculty are the SDSU Senate's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Anderson Medal for Outstanding Service granted by the Association of American Geographers (AAG), the AAG Award for Distinguished Scholarship, and the SDSU Alumni Outstanding Faculty Award, and the SDSU Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor Award.
Student Perspective
The policies and practices of geography are
essential for the future growth and development of the world.
- Seth Hall, Geography Major
I anticipate using my geography degree to get
involved in either city planning or local/regional/state regulation. I
would like to be involved with businesses to ensure/consult in operating
on a 'green' basis.
- Liz Bojorquez, Geography Major
I feel that earning a degree in geography at
SDSU will provide insight into a broad range of subjects that directly
relate to my ability to contribute to making the world more livable for
all creatures great and small. I know that the career opportunities open
to geography majors are expanding at an above average rate of job growth,
and that with the diversity of companies seeking geographers, I can remove
likelihood of boredom from the career decision equation.
- Dana Purviance, Geography Major
Career Opportunities
Upon
graduation, many types of careers are available to geography students.
Every year during National Geography Awareness Week, the department hosts
a career workshop and brings in professionals from geography-related careers
to speak to the students about career opportunities. One of the fastest
growing careers is in the GIS field, with students obtaining jobs in many
different public and private agencies that utilize the GIS technology.
For instance, SDSU geography students have found GIS-related jobs in natural
resource agencies, defense-related companies, the Navy, environmental
and planning companies, among others.
Jobs have consistently been available in the environmental and planning areas for the natural resources and urban geographers, such as environmental consulting firms, urban and transportation planning firms, Caltrans, National Park Service, California State Parks and Recreation, MTDB, SANDAG, and other public and private agencies. The Geography Department has a strong internship program, and students often obtain permanent positions in these companies.
To further explore career options in this field, visit the Career Services Web site.
General Catalog
You can view more complete information regarding the Geography program in the General Catalog. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the University. Catalogs are distributed at all Academic Orientation programs. To order a catalog, call (619) 594-7535.
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Geography
Department
College of Arts and Letters
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4493
Email: drichard@mail.sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-5437
Fax: (619) 594-4938
Office location: Storm Hall, Room 323
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm