Geography Major

Why study geography at Geneseo?

Known as a "bridging" discipline that focuses on human-environment interaction, geography unites the natural and social sciences. Geneseo offers both natural science and social science courses, integrating them in areas such as sustainability, climate change, conservation, resource management, urban and regional planning, biogeography, and geographic information systems (GIS).

Faculty encourage students to get involved in directed studies, internships, study abroad experiences, field experiences, teaching practicums, service-learning, and academic conferences. The department also has a long tradition of supporting one-on-one academic and professional advisement and individual student-faculty research. Students are well prepared to pursue careers or further education, and graduates have an excellent record of professional and graduate school placement.

Program Options

• BA in Geography
• Minor in Geography
• Minor in Sustainability Studies
• Minor in Urban Studies

Additional Options

• Concentration in Geography with Childhood Education with Special Education (1–6)
• Concentration in Geography with Early Childhood/Childhood Education (B–6)
• Microcredential in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Program Highlights

• Bachelors Program of Excellence Award from the American Association of Geographers (2018)
• Award-winning faculty; 100% with PhD in geography
• Student-faculty research averages 20 directed studies per year where students work one-on-one with professors on independent projects, most of which result in presentations at academic and professional conferences. Student research is often supported financially with internal and external grants. 
• Dedicated modern classroom, lab, and research spaces for Physical Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Cartography in a recently renovated building
• Strong tradition of field study and study abroad (Argentina, Ghana, Canada, Netherlands) 
• Geography Club activities include Mapathon events, a global service activity sponsored by YouthMappers, an international network of university-student-led chapters.