Geography & Environment

Bachelor of Arts: GEOGRAPHY Bachelor of Science: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Bachelor of Arts

Geography

Geographers study physical and biological environments, human societies and their spatial interactions, and utilize both environmental science and social science perspectives. Geographers seek to analyze the processes, spatial patterns and consequences of human-environment interaction, and address issues of sustainability, using maps, fieldwork and geospatial technologies such as GIS to solve real-world problems.

Geographers at the forefront: mapping COVID-19

BA Geography:Required coursesGeog 101 Our Physical EnvironmentGeog 102 The Human Environment orGeog 107 World Regions and InterrelationsGeog 205 Geographic TechniquesGeog 500 Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change (junior level writing course)Geog 690 Senior Seminar in Geography & Environmental Science

Distribution: One course from each area

Geog 302-399 Physical environmentGeog 401-499 Human geographyGeog 550, 552, 575, 646, 647, 648, 651 Human-environment interaction in a regional contextGeog 601-668 Geographic techniques or applied geography

Electives: 12 units (3-4 classes) organized around coherent areas of study within geography. Students are encouraged to meet with a B.A. Geography major adviser to develop their theme to best prepare for suitable careers. Some examples of areas of study:

Resource managementEnvironmental studiesGeographic information scienceHuman geographyPhysical geographyUrban environment, transportation & land use

BA Geography: ElectivesPhysical/Environmental Science

312 Geography of Landforms313 Earth's Climate System314 Bioclimatology316 Biogeography317 Geography of Soils342 Surface Water Hydrology

Human geography423 Geographic Perspectives on Gender & Environment425 Economic Geography432 Urban Geography434 Geographies of Health and Health Care445 Geopolitics and Globalization455 Geography of Ethnic Communities

Regional550 Geography of the United States and Canada552 Geography of California575 Emerging China

Resource management402 Human Response to Natural Hazards427 Agriculture and Food Supply428 International Political Economy of Food and Hunger430 Transforming Food and Ag Systems: Local to Global600 Environmental Problems and Solutions642 Watershed Assessment and Restoration644 Water Quality646 The Geography of Marine Resources647 Geography of Water Resources648 Management of National Parks and Protected Areas657 Natural Resource Management: Biotic Resources666 Geography of Garbage: Recycling & Waste Reduction

Environmental studies421 Future Environments422 Environmental Perception600 Environmental Problems and Solutions644 Water Quality651 San Francisco Bay Area Environmental Issues652 Environmental Impact Analysis667 Environmental Justice668 Politics, Law, and the Urban EnvironmentUrban environment, transportation and land use

432 Urban Geography433 Urban Transportation435 Geography of Global Transportation437 Bicycle Geographies454 San Francisco on Foot455 Geography of Ethnic Communities601 Field Methods in Human Geography658 Land-Use Planning667 Environmental Justice668 Politics, Law, and the Urban Environment

Geographic information science603 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems604 Environmental Data Science606 Cartography610 Remote Sensing of the Environment I611 Remote Sensing of the Environment II620 Geographical Information Systems621 GIS for Environmental Analysis625 Programming for Geographic Information Science629 Coastal and Marine Applications of GIS

Bachelor of Science

EnvironmentalScience This degree prepares students for

graduate school or for direct entry into a career as an environmental scientist or environmental manager in industry, government, or NGOs.

Some agencies that hire environmental scientists are the EPA, National Parks Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, CA Departments of Fish & Wildlife, Conservation, Water Resources, Parks & Recreation, Forestry & Fire Protection, Cal EPA, Water Resources Control Board, Air Resources Board, Coastal Commission, and various conservancies.

BS Environmental ScienceRequired courses

Geog 101 Our Physical EnvironmentGeog 102 The Human Environment

Geog 160 Introduction to Environmental Science

Geog 205 Geographic Techniques

Math 226 Calculus I

Chem 180 Chemistry for Energy & Environment

Biology Biol 150 (plants), 170 (animals), or 313 (ecology)

Physics Phys 111 & 112 or 220 & 221Geog 500 Physical and Human Dimensions of Climate Change (junior level writing course)

Geog 603 Introduction to GISGeog 690 Senior Seminar in Geography & Environmental Science

Elective Distribution

Environmental Science 11-12 units

Environmental Management 11-12 units

Analytical Methods 7-8 units

BS Environmental Science11-12 units from: Environmental ScienceGeog 312 LandformsGeog 313 Earth's Climate SystemsGeog 314 BioclimatologyGeog 316 BiogeographyGeog 317 SoilsGeog 342 Surface Water HydrologyGeog 644 Water QualityChem 380 Chemistry behind Environmental Pollution

11-12 units from: Environmental ManagementGeog 421 Future EnvironmentsGeog 427 Agriculture & Food SupplyGeog 642 Watershed Assessment & RestorationGeog 647 Geography of Water ResourcesGeog 648 Management of National Parks & Protected AreasGeog 652 Environmental Impact AnalysisGeog 657 Natural Resource Management: Biotic ResourcesGeog 666 Geography of Garbage: Recycling & Waste Reduction

7-8 units from: Analytical MethodsGeog 602 Field MethodsGeog 604 Environmental Data ScienceGeog 610 Remote Sensing of the Environment IGeog 611 Remote Sensing of the Environment IIGeog 620 Geographical Information SystemsGeog 621 GIS for Environmental AnalysisGeog 625 Programming for Geographic Information ScienceGeog 629 Coastal and Marine Applications of GISBiol 458 Biometry

Department FacilitiesResources:• Map Library

• Home to the Department’s extensive map and field equipment collection, the Map Library also serves as a study space and student lounge.

• GIS & Remote Sensing Labs• There are two GIS / Remote Sensing computer

labs available for students to use in the Department: the Geographic Analysis Teaching Lab and the Institute for GIScience Research Lab.

• Institute for Geographic Information Science at:• http://gis.sfsu.edu

• Research Labs• In addition to the two computer labs, the

Department operates a soil & geomorphology lab, a water quality lab, and a physical geography & climatology lab. If these research labs sound interesting to you then perhaps the Department of Geography & Environment is the place for you.

Field Research The Department of Geography & Environment has a long tradition of field research, and supports this work with a rich array of field equipment, for:• Land Survey• GPS• Water quality assessment• Hydrologic monitoring• Micrometeorology• Soil analysis• Multispectral cameras on drones

Access to field sites is provided using two department vans and a fleet of bicycles.

Meadow ResearchStudies of greenhouse gas biogeochemical cycles in restored and unrestored meadows. Multidisciplinary seasonal and spatial analysis of meadow hydrology, micrometeorology, plant physiology, soils, and geomorphology. Sara Baguskas, Andrew Oliphant, Kevin Simonin, Jerry Davis, Leonhard Blesius

Institute for GISci/Geog Envt staff: Anna Studwell, Quentin Clark, Kevin Physioc

Faculty-Led Research ProgramsDepartment faculty, students and staff are involved in environmental research in a wide range of environments, in California and abroad.

Research Publications:

https://geog.sfsu.edu/publications-listing

Graduate Theses:

https://geog.sfsu.edu/theses

Organizations and Events37 Degrees North – Geography & Environment Club

• Student run club that focuses on community outreach and environmental conservation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Events:• Welcome Picnic in Golden Gate Park

We start the new school year off right with a picnic in Golden Gate Park for all current and former Geography & Environment students.

• Department Holiday PartyThe Department ends the calendar year in festive fashion and acknowledges those who have completed their degrees during the fall semester.

• Department Graduation CeremonyHeld in May at the conclusion of the spring semester, the Department’s graduation ceremony is our opportunity to acknowledge and thank students for their hard work and many accomplishments.

Thank you for visiting the Department of Geography & Environment

We hope to see you in the fall!