Geography is the study of the Earth and its people. Because of the breadth of its subject matter, it integrates information from a wide variety of other disciplines and examines that information from a spatial perspective. For those individuals that are curious about the world, there are few disciplines that will satisfy that curiosity as much as geography. Unfortunately, there are many myths about the nature of geography and the job opportunities available, which often prevent people from pursuing it as a career. However, most people find the discipline interesting once they fully understand it.
Recently, the world's population passed the six billion mark and it continues to grow rapidly. With so many people to be housed, fed and educated while resources are becoming increasingly scarce and damage to the environment accelerates, many environmental and social issues are becoming more acute and difficult to solve. For this reason, geography has become increasingly focused on the nature of the relationship between humans and their environment, and on how these relationships vary from one culture to another. The resource limits that every society must deal with also affect such things as the social, political and economic characteristics of a society and the way in which that society interacts with others. The Geography Program at Sam Houston State University provides students with an increased awareness of the spatial differences between the multitude of world cultures and environments, and with a basic understanding of why these differences exist.
The study of the world requires that students learn about the physical environment, with its variety of landforms, weather and climate, and that they also learn about people and cultures. They also learn how the physical environment and humans have interacted to create a variety of cultural regions, each with its own unique characteristics. Through a study of these things, students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the fact that we live in an increasingly interdependent world in which the welfare of the environment and of other cultures affects all of us.
Geography's focus on spatial relationships, in conjunction with new advances in technology, have led to the development of new geographical tools-principally Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) - that are now used by many geographers in a wide variety of fields. Additional educational and research opportunities using GIS are available through arrangements with the campus-based Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES). In combination with knowledge of cartography, students that study GIS are well prepared for careers involving applications of GIS related to the environment and urban planning. Geographers also find employment in government and business, as well as in teaching. In order to try to meet the needs of as many students as possible, we offer both a B.A. and a B.S. in geography. The department also offers B.A. Composite and B.S. Composite degrees with an emphasis in geography. For a listing of the courses we offer, visit the course listing in the catalogue. The geography program has 6 full-time geographers and one half-time position in both geography and geology.