Why Study Geography? Because in an ever more connected world, place still matters.

How do physical and national boundaries affect power and inequality?    

Why is water central to global politics, culture, and economics? How does place influence who we are, how we act, and the choices we make?    

Geography isn’t just about knowing your way around a map. It’s about knowing your way around our changing world. In our geography courses, you’ll gain in-demand skills: critical analysis, communication, a global perspective, and an understanding of human-environment dynamics.    

Discover the #WhyofWhere.

Questions about the program? Schedule an appointment with our departmental advisor. 

Chart Your Course

Within our department, you'll work with real data about real-world situations around the globe. Through this authentic exploration, you'll develop an understanding of the processes that shape the world around us, from the climate to politics to environmental and social injustice.

Gain Real-World Experience

The best way to learn about geography is to get out into the world and experience new places. Our students are drawn to experiential learning opportunities such as internships and study abroad programs.

Experiential Learning

What You Can Do With a Geography Degree

A Geography or Spatial Data Science and Technology major can prepare you to work in many fields. Learn about possible careers and hear from alumni.

Explore Careers

Reframing Climate Change Narratives

“Climate change is threatening both glaciers and salmon in Washington State, putting the state’s economy, culture, and ecosystems at risk. However, the overlapping climate change issues are framed and understood in different ways by different stakeholders which affects policy and climate action. Through extensive narrative review and analysis, I found that the spatial location of a stakeholder (in-state vs. out-of-state) has a significant impact on the framing of these climate issues, and that by combining narratives of actionable climate issues (like salmon declines) with more hopeless ones (glacier retreat), we can transform climate narratives to be more effective for inspiring climate action.”

—Jenna Travers, Geography minor

Events

Drones Defying Gravity

December 5, 2024

GEOGRAPHY - Are flying robots taking over? Not in this geography class, where students learn how to control the drones that will help map our future. The course Mapping with Drones invites students—whether they're majoring in environmental studies, geography, or journalism—to explore the basics and fundamentals of using drones to map the geographic features of a location.

UO intern summer: Charles Petrik

October 18, 2024

GEOGRAPHY, GLOBAL STUDIES - A student in the College of Arts and Sciences and Clark Honors College, Charles Petrik was drawn to his opportunity with the mayor’s office of Medellin, Colombia, because he is passionate about cultural exchange. While interning, he lived with students from all over the U.S., but his work at the office was conducted entirely in Spanish. In addition to a language “crash course,” Petrik analyzed pothole and public space data, creating representations that city officials could use to identify areas for infrastructure projects.

Wet springs don't always lessen summer fire risk, experts say

June 3, 2024

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, GEOGRAPHY - Damp weather in the winter and spring doesn’t necessarily protect against wildfires later in the year, according to University of Oregon researchers. Instead, increased moisture can act to increase the threat of fire as summer heat bakes the landscape.