Geography Major Geography Minor
Geography is a broad and exciting subject that allows students to learn a variety of critical and technical skills and ways to understand the spaces of our world. Geography majors at Rutgers approach spatial phenomena by specializing in one of three tracks: (1) Global Culture, Economics, and Society; (2) Environment; or (3) Geographical Techniques. Because it is such a diverse field representing multiple interests, a degree in Geography at Rutgers prepares undergraduates for work in many different directions depending on the ways students tailor their focus within the three tracks. Graduates of our program have continued on in careers with environmental agencies, government service, regional and city planning, international humanitarian aid, private sector business, and have pursued graduate degrees in Geography and related fields. Geography is a subject that will deepen your knowledge about the spatial dimensions of life on Earth, through looking at the climate and the physical landscape, the human relationship to environmental concerns, as well as global social, political, and economic systems.
In both the Geography major and minor you can specialize in one out of three track, which are:
Global Culture, Economics, and Society
Classes within this track are primarily focused on human geography, and address topics such as global political systems, dynamics of race, gender, and other aspects of identity, international development, urbanization, international economic networks, and regional geographies such as in The Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe, or Latin America.
Environment
Classes in the Environment track cover a range of environmental topics from both human and physical geography. Students who choose this track will gain specialized knowledge about environmental hazards and disasters, the dynamics of global climate change, the Earth’s physical geography, and different human responses to global environmental issues.
Geographical Techniques
Students who focus on the Geographical Techniques track will be developing their expertise by using spatial data to create maps and other visual tools. Classes in the Geographical Techniques track focus on cartography, the use of remote sensing data, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), spatial data analysis, as well as how we can critically understand maps and the power that they hold.
Learn more about Study Abroad & Internships
We encourage students to take advantage of Study Abroad and internships and work individually with students to incorporate those experiences in our program.
Please meet with one of the program advisors to learn more. Advising Appointment Schedule
Geography is about understanding Planet Earth and the relationships humans have with the environment. Investigating and mapping the world of today requires specialized skills. The geography curriculum at Rutgers provides the technical training and theoretical grounding to meet today’s environmental challenges while encouraging students to envision the world of the future in which they will be important decision-makers. The program is big enough to equip students with a full portfolio of essential techniques but small enough to accommodate individual needs. Teaching formats vary from large lectures to seminar-type meetings.
As a supplement to class and lab, the well-established internship program provides valuable real-world experience for students while they earn up to six credits towards the degree. The department also has a good record for majors going on to graduate work at the masters and doctoral levels.
Some current courses offered in geography include:
- Transforming the Global Environment (450:102)
- Maps, Power, and The Digital World (450:208)
- Natural Hazards and Disasters (450:311)
- Climate Change (450:313)
- Geographic Information Systems (450:321)
- Geography of the Development (450:363)
