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Geography & Environment: Academic Programs

Broad Exposure and Focused Career Training

Our department offers a variety of programs related to geography and the environment including five baccalaureate degree programs, four minors and four concentrations. The programs include a BA and minor in Geography, a BA and minor in Environmental Studies, a BS and minor in Planning, a BS and Minor in GIS and a BA in Integrated Studies in Geography and Environment.  The concentrations include: Geoscience, Environmental Science, Applied Geographic Knowledge and Skills (GeoEducation), Geographic Inquiries into Global Issues and a certificate in cartography and GIS. All of these programs integrate theory and practice, blending both academic and applied facets of geography, environment, planning, and geospatial technologies.

In support of its teaching, research and outreach, the Department houses the Geospatial Research Laboratory (GeoLab) which includes three state of the art computer labs in which students learn to use the latest, high level GIS software (a site license for the full ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop package) using state-of-the-art hardware platforms and peripherals including large format high resolution plotters and scanners as well as survey quality global positioning system (GPS) receivers.  This equipment is used by faculty for research and outreach projects. Students have full access to these labs in which they can pursue class projects and research, often working closely with faculty members.

Our department also works closely with the College of Education to ensure that our dual major program meets the requirements and scheduling needs of education majors. Upon graduation departmental majors pursue a variety of options including continuing their education at the graduate level, teaching elementary or secondary school, working in environmental firms, as planners or as GIS specialists in various agencies, environmental protection departments, engineering firms, software development firms and in many other areas.

Bachelors of Art in Geography

The field of geography is one of the most exciting and dynamic disciplines at Rowan University. Far more than memorizing capital cities and place names on a map, geography is an engaging field that has a wide diversity of specializations. The common themes that unite all geographers are the scientific exploration of the earth and spatial analysis. One branch of geography focuses on people (human geography) and the other branch focuses on the environment (physical geography). There are multiple sub-disciplines within the field that cover everything from geology and climatology to demography and planning.

Explore our course offerings and find out more about our Geography degree requirements.

Read about our travel abroad courses.

Bachelors of Science in Geographic Information Science (GIS)

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has become one of the hottest areas of interest for students and a highly marketable skill. Often listed as a "recession-proof" job, GIS technicians, analysts and specialists find employment in planning and engineering firms, in state and local government, and in many non-profit and advocacy organizations. Spatial analysis allows us to explore complex data sets and see how many environmental factors can impact a place. Visualization tools that are a part of GIS software allow us to explore data in 3D and across time periods. GIS is the tool to explore our world.

Explore our GIS course offerings and find out more about this degree.

Bachelors of Science in Planning

More on the BS in Planning coming soon.

Bachelors of Art in Environmental Studies

More on the BA in Environmental Studies coming soon.

Concentrations

View the requirements for our minors and concentrations.