Oklahoma State University

1081

Geography Geography is a diverse discipline concerned with the surface of the earth and its immediate atmosphere. Geographers study the similarities, the differences and interactions among phenomena in this region. Geographers are interested in the economic, social, political and environmental qualities of places, and in how these attributes interact. Geographers attempt to understand human behavior by answering such questions as: Where do people work? Where do they play? Where do they live? Why do people make these locational choices? What are the consequences of these decisions and behavior? Because the physical environment is important in many explanations of spatial behavior and spatial patterns, geographers have traditionally concerned themselves with relationships between humans and their environment. What impact do people have on the land? What impact does the land have on people? How do people perceive their environment? How does this perception influence their activities? Finally, geographers examine spatial patterns and behaviors in specific regional contexts. These analyses occur at many levels—world-wide, national and local. These kinds of studies lead to suggestions for change and improvement—the application of geography to contemporary rural, urban and regional problems. Thus, many aspects of urban, regional and national planning are geographic in nature. No academic discipline has broader interests than does geography, and the Department of Geography allows students the flexibility to pursue studies that lead to a wide range of educational goals and careers. Students with interests in resource management and environmental challenges, planning, real estate, economic development, international affairs, travel, remote sensing, unmanned aerial systems, geographic information systems (GIS), area studies, management or education are among those who can be accommodated. A geography minor program is also available and complements many other fields of study. Those who wish to study geography tend to be interested in their own surroundings and in other places. They may also possess a curiosity about maps, a fundamental geographic tool. Students of geography will become familiar with fieldwork, remote sensing, digital technologies such as GIS, the global positioning system (GPS), computer mapping, and social media—tools which facilitate geographic inquiry and analysis. Many careers are available to the geography major or minor. Recent graduates have been employed in the public and private sector in jobs involving urban and regional planning, GIS mapping and analysis for oil and gas projects, community development, locational analysis for business and industry, resource planning and management, the Foreign Service, cartography and teaching. Geography also provides an excellent foundation for a liberal education and is a good basis for a career in business, industry or government. The department manages the Center for Applications of Remote Sensing, a palynology/paleoecology laboratory, a computer mapping facility, spatial database facility, field mapping equipment such as Global Positioning System receivers, an interactive weather analysis system with satellite data feed, and two ARC GIS equipped geographic information system laboratories. The Journal of Central Asian Studies is an international journal housed in the department and edited by a faculty member.

The department specializes in three areas: nature-society dynamics, including resource management; cultural and historical geography; and geographic information systems, including unmanned aerial systems. Complementary coursework supporting these specialized areas is available in other departments. The Department of Geography offers BA and BS degrees in Geography with the ability to specialize in one of four degree tracks. These tracks are Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management; People, Place, Society; Global Studies; and Environmental Change and Sustainability. We also offer the BA in Global Studies and the BS in Geospatial Information Science. An advanced program leading to the MS and PhD degrees is also available. The department also sponsors students in the interdisciplinary MS and PhD programs in environmental science. Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) The certificate in GIS provides students with broad exposure to principles and applications of GIS. A student who has earned the certificate is well-versed in general GIS theory and has knowledge and/or practical exposure to the following: 1. hardware and software used in GIS, 2. planning and construction of spatial and non-spatial databases, 3. GIS analyses (performed on data related to the student's area of interest), and 4. representation of data in both mapped and tabular form. Requirements for the certificate are designed to parallel skills needed by GIS professionals. Through elective courses, students focus on one of several areas of specialization. Admission into the certificate program is open to anyone enrolled as an undergraduate student, graduate student or special student at OSU. To receive a certificate in GIS, a student must complete 21 hours of coursework in GIS and related topics and hold a bachelor's or more advanced degree from OSU or an accredited college. Students may work toward the certificate while completing their bachelor's or graduate degree. Global Studies Global Studies combines the study of world regions with cultural, environmental, economic, political and other facets of globalization and global change. Global studies offers practical and vital knowledge about the world, how it works and why it is changing. Faculty in Geography who teach in the Global Studies program have extensive experience with research, teaching, study abroad, and travel around the world, with specialties in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Central Asia and the Middle East. A Global Studies degree prepares students for both international and domestic careers with the federal government and a wide variety of NGOs, charitable organizations, and other agencies involved in different aspects of regional and global development. The ongoing growth and global expansion of Christian missions, many of which originate and are coordinated by Oklahoma- based churches and charities, will benefit from students with a degree in Global Studies. It is also an ideal second major for many other degree programs both within and beyond A&S (e.g. Foreign Languages, Political Science, International Business, International Agriculture). Students with a Global Studies degree can serve the needs of Oklahoma, the nation and the world by joining a workforce of globally-minded people who can easily function in a world that is increasingly interconnected.