Welcome to the Department of Geography

The Department of Geography offers a major and minor in geography, as well as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) minor for non-geography majors and a concentration area in GIS for majors. The department emphasizes GIS laboratory work, internships, collaborative faculty-student research, and service learning to give our students a solid foundation in geographic principles and techniques, as well as an appreciation for the diversity of people and places. It makes extensive use of computer skills to explore a wide range of topics, from regional studies to remote sensing.

With foundations in both the natural and social sciences, geography prepares students for a wide range of careers in government, the private sector, and education. Geographers create digital maps, perform location analyses for retail and service stores, analyze land use and urban planning, work with census data, teach, and hold a wide variety of other jobs. Graduates also pursue advanced degrees in geography, business, urban and regional planning, community development, GIS, and natural resource management.

There are environmental, economic, and political reasons why geography is important. In addition, there is a life-enriching benefit of knowing and appreciating the world in which we live. Geography is our way to notice the world. Geography allows us to take note of the rich tapestry of people and landscapes that cover the planet we live on, which is, as far as we know, the most exotic and fascinating planet in the entire universe. If the most exotic and fascinating planet in the entire universe isn’t worth noticing, understanding, and appreciating, what is?

 

David Imus - Imus Geographics, Eugene, OR