Undergraduate programs

Geography is a point of view, a particular way of looking at and thinking about the earth. The questions that geographers ask about places, landscapes, and environments distinguish it from other subdivisions of knowledge. In contrast to the narrow focus of many disciplines, geography is broad and diverse,  capable of examining interrelationships and interconnections, while stressing synthesis  as well as the importance of social and environmental justice, and the efficient, equitable and sustainable use of resources.

The BA Major Urban Studies and BA Specialization Urban Planning are multidisciplinary programmes designed to introduce the students to the processes of planned change in urban environments. Urban Planning provides courses involving field studies, planning projects and the acquisition of technical skills.  

Environmental and sustainability science is the study of the natural environment with a focus on how human activity affects our planet, and how we can create a more sustainable future. It is a multidisciplinary approach to questions related to climate change, loss of biodiversity, severe weather events, degradation caused by pollution and disturbance, the sustainability of resource use, endangerment of species and natural systems. It provides a holistic perspective on environmental problems by combining the knowledge from various scientific disciplines: geography, geology, biology, chemistry and engineering.

Environmental geography is the branch of geography that describes the spatial aspects of interactions between humans and the natural world. It requires an understanding of the dynamics of climatology, hydrology, biogeography, geology and geomorphology, as well as the ways in which human societies conceptualize the environment. This program draws on courses within physical geography, including a distinctive strand of courses dealing with environmental issues, resources and management. Teaching and learning methods are diverse, ranging from lectures and tutorials through to a variety of practical work in cartography, GIS, remote sensing and statistics.

Geospatial technologies encompasses all of the applications and technologies developed to collect, represent and analyze spatial data. This includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Digital Cartography and the Geoweb. The aim of these programs is to provide solid training around the different aspects and uses of these technologies while also inviting students to think critically about the ways in which these technologies influence and shape our experience of the world.

Interested in a Bachelor of Science? You may wish to also consider a minor in multidisciplinary studies where you conduct actual scientific research. Find out if the Science College is right for you!