Geography

About Us

Geography bridges the social and natural sciences, and provides geospatial analyses of environmental and socio-economic problems. Geographers are among the government officials, community leaders, activists, researchers, and business people who use data-driven research to develop solutions to complex environmental, social, economic, and political problems.

The Geography Program provides a foundation for understanding human-environment problems and implementing equitable solutions. We offer opportunities for engagement in environmental, social justice and ethical issues through applied research and learning in the Denver Metropolitan Area, and beyond. Our flexible curriculum allows students to choose courses and learn from faculty experts in four sub-areas of Geography: Sustainability, Geographic Information Systems, Physical Geography, and Planning.

If you are curious about the world around you, enjoy maps and other kinds of spatial data, and want to make a difference in your community, Geography may be for you! We offer a Geography BA, Geography Minor, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate, Sustainability Studies Minor, and a Climate Change minor.

Where to Find Us

The Geography program is housed in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. We are located on the Auraria campus in downtown Denver.

Geography Mission and Student Learning Outcomes

Geographers are among the government officials, community leaders, activists, researchers, and business people who use data-driven research to develop solutions to complex environmental, social, economic, and political problems. Geography is unique in bridging the social sciences and the natural sciences, and in providing geospatial analyses of environmental and socio-economic problems. The program provides a foundation for understanding problems and implementing equitable solutions to improve the quality of human-environment dynamics. Engagement in environmental, social justice and ethical issues is facilitated through applied research and learning in the Denver Metropolitan Area. The Geography curriculum combines fundamental courses in natural and social systems and geospatial science with specialized electives within four disciplinary sub-fields – Political Economy Approaches to Sustainability, Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography, and Planning. Students have flexibility in choosing courses and pursuing their areas of interest. The major prepares students for professional careers in both the private and public sectors as well as for graduate studies.

The mission of the Geography Program is to: 

1. Provide a multidisciplinary education guided by multi-scale geographical approaches that emphasize human-environment interactions, sustainability, spatial analysis, and solutions to socio-economic and environmental inequities;
2. Facilitate students’ community engagement in environmental, social justice and ethical issues through research and learning in the Denver Metropolitan Area;
3. Develop problem solving skills through critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Examine the relationships between human and physical systems. 
2. Demonstrate competency in both writing and oral presentation of geographic information. 
3. Evaluate geographical information for its appropriateness for practical uses, such as decision-making and problem solving. 
4. Select and apply analytic tools to examine spatial issues, problems, and conflicts. 
5. Design, plan, and evaluate solutions for complex multi-dimensional geographical problems. 

Our program in geography will prepare you for graduate study in a geography-related field in addition to careers such as the following: