Geography

Department of Environment and Society

Geography is the study of the relationships between human society and the physical environment. Geography involves everything from environmental studies and human impact on the environment to the availability and location of the earth's resources to the physical processes that occur at the earth's surface and the spatial interactions among society and the physical environment.

There are two areas of emphasis offered as majors:

Geographic Information Science Emphasis
The GIS emphasis combines a focus on geospatial science and technology with conceptual knowledge about geographical problem solving and spatial thinking. The curriculum emphasizes techniques for spatial analysis of vector and raster data, analysis of remote sensing data, modeling and programming, and mapping using GIS software tools. This emphasis provides students with necessary knowledge and skills for careers in the growing geographic information science and technology field.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Peter Howe peter.howe@usu.edu

Human-Environment Emphasis
The human-environment geography emphasis combines the conceptual exploration of geographical approaches to understanding the human-environment relationship with tools for problem-solving and spatial thinking, including in the geographic information sciences. The curriculum emphasizes hazards geography, environmental history, political ecology, and land change science. This emphasis provides students with the ability to bridge effectively the social and biophysical sciences and engage in a broad variety of international and environmental careers.

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Claudia Radel claudia.radel@usu.edu

Program Resources

Peter Howe

Peter Howe

Associate Dean for Strategic Innovation

Environment and Society

Phone: (435) 797-9457
Office Location: NR 218
Claudia Radel

Claudia Radel

Department Head | Professor

Environment & Society

Phone: (435) 797-0516
Office Location: NR 201B