B.A. in Geography

Geographers study the physical and human features of the earth, integrating physical sciences, biological sciences and social sciences. In SDSU’s Geography Program, students are introduced to a strong foundation in physical and human geography, supported by skills in Geographic Information Systems and other methodologies. Because Geography is an interdisciplinary science, we have 7 relevant emphases that are designed to immerse students in studies that appeal to specific areas of interest, thus providing flexibility within a more structured context. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, including emphases in: Environment and Society - This emphasis is concerned with human-environmental interactions, including the impacts of human activity on the earth and the consequences of environmental change on society. Students will learn concepts and tools that help them understand and address contemporary environmental issues, and, more importantly, study solutions to some of these issues. Human Geography and Global Studies - This emphasis deals with the spatial aspects of human existence: how people and their activities are distributed in space, how they use and perceive space, and how they create and sustain the places that make up the earth’s surface. It focuses on the connections between global and local scales and teaches students how to think geographically about global issues such as poverty, migration, environment and development, and changing technology. Integrative Geography (this one requires a minor in another department) - This is a comprehensive program in geography, which integrates topics from all of the emphases and requires students to minor in a related discipline. Methods of Geographical Analysis - This emphasis focuses on the various techniques and methods used by geographers to represent and analyze geographic information about the natural and social world. These methods include cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, spatial statistics, quantitative and qualitative analysis. Career Opportunities: Upon graduation, many types of careers are available to Geography students to match the many avenues a Geography student may study. Students have jobs in fields in GIS, environmental and natural resource planning and management, urban planning, and others. The Department regularly has guest speakers from various career areas associated with Geography such as GIS Specialists, Hydrology and Watershed Management, City Planning, Natural Resource Management, and others The Geography Department has a strong internship program where students can receive course credit for working in a company or agency in a field of their interest.