Are you interested in the way the environment influences our culture? Do you see connections between transportation systems and the materials we use to build and create? 

In the Social and Environmental Geography major, you'll work to deepen your understanding of not only global environmental issues like climate change, globalization, deforestation, and pollution but also critical social issues like immigration, government policy, and the way power is used and distributed.

These crucial challenges are interconnected and developing knowledge across disciplines will help you in developing nimble solutions that don't just address one piece of the larger puzzle. 

In this major, you'll get the chance to learn from disciplines across the sciences and humanities to further your ability to address issues that matter to you.

Through a combination of courses in Geographic Information Science, data analysis, and courses in geography, you'll develop the ability to not only think in terms of time and space but also to work with quantitative and qualitative research, develop models and maps of your work.

You'll be able to communicate your knowledge through geovisualizations and state of the art cartography as well as the social and environmental issues at stake within these maps.

Below is a list of some of the issues and topics you'll study:

Global Challenges

• Global climate change
• Deforestation
• Pollution
• Ozone depletion
• Waste management
• Desertification
• Geopolitics
   

Policy and Law

• Conservation
• Social justice
• Socioeconomics
• Global conservation
• Imbalances of power
• Territories and governance
• Immigration and law
• Urban planning and development
   

Ecological Systems and Human Impact

• Environmental regulation
• Soil degradation
• Land use impacts
• Land form changes
• Plant distribution
• Climatology
   

Techniques and Tools

• Ecological system management
• Emergency management
• Cartography
• Geographic Information Sciences
• Spatial analysis
• Remote sensing