Major & Minors in Geography - Department of Geography and Environment %

Geographers study the relationship between people, place, and environment.

With Geography and Environment, you learn about how biophysical systems affect everyday human life and well-being, as well as about how social and political systems shape environments– locally and globally.

Geography and environment at Carolina trains students in diverse skills to create, model, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to address issues relevant to communities, policy-making, and research.

At Carolina, you can

Interested in Geography and Environment? Here are some FAQ and answers!

What can I do with a Geography and Environment degree?

Geography has very broad applications and can serve many different career paths. In our department, geographers work on issues of sustainable urban development, climate change, access to health care, and development inequities.

To learn more about what Carolina geographers do, check out our 2018 and 2019 Geography and Environment Department newsletters, or follow us on Twitter @geographyunc!

Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Geography and Environment for more information on courses, requirements, and planning your geography and Environment major.

What courses does the Geography and Environment department offer?

The Geography and Environment Undergraduate Handbook and the Undergraduate Bulletin provide more information about the department, major and minor course requirements, and course registration, and the UNC Academic Catalogue has a complete list of courses offered in geography and environment. You can find the course listings for this semester under the “Courses” menu.

I want to be a geographer! Which courses shall I take?

Geography and Environment offers courses in humanistic social sciences, quantitative reasoning, computer programming, and research-based learning. To help you create a degree that works best for you, we have developed geography pathways –suggested groupings of courses that reflect professional concentrations. We offer pathways in Climate Science, Environmental Systems, Health and Disease, International Development, Diversity and Justice, Urban Planning, and more!

The courses listed in the Pathways 2018 document are recommendations to guide your course selection. As a Geography and Environment major, you can use these pathways to build a curriculum that addresses your specific areas of interest and goals. You can also design your own pathway!