Geography is the study of the Earth's physical features, human societies, and the relationship between the two. It explores where things are, why they are there, and how they interact over space and time. Physical geography focuses on the natural environment: landforms (mountains, valleys, deserts), climate and weather, water bodies (rivers, lakes, oceans), ecosystems and natural resources. Human geography focuses on human societies and their activities: population and migration, cultures and languages, cities and urban development, economic activities and globalization.
Geography helps us understand the world and how we fit into it. It explains how natural events (like earthquakes, hurricanes or climate change) affect people. It can also be an important body of knowledge for planning cities, managing resources, and solving environmental problems.
A geography major gives you a powerful mix of academic knowledge and practical skills that are valuable in many careers. These skills apply across industries like environmental science, urban planning, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), education, business and government, and include:
Geography is the study of spatial aspects of the physical environment, human activities, and the nature of their interactions. Geography draws upon theories from both the physical and social sciences. As physical scientists, geographers study earth processes and the resulting features; climate, soils, vegetation, tectonics, landforms and resources. As social scientists, geographers examine human behaviors and the patterns humans create through economics, religion, language, urbanization, folk and popular culture, and ethnic identities which are reflected in the landscape. Geography utilizes a regional approach to examine the interrelationships between the physical environment, economy, culture, politics and history of specific locations, such as California, Europe or Asia. The Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer (AA-T in Geography) degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Geography at a California State University campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU System, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
