Geography is the study of earth spaces and places. Geographers are concerned with the distribution and patterning of physical and human phenomena in earth space, including the nature and magnitude of human impact on natural environments. Protecting sustainable environments and managing the earth’s valued resources – land, water and air – are of vital interest to geographers. The geographic concepts of place and landscape provide a framework for understanding the role of culture in the evolution and development of urban and rural landscapes. Political, social and economic processes, when examined from a spatial (geographic) and temporal (historical) perspective, enable students to appreciate and understand the dynamic processes associated with the development of local and regional landscapes. The B.A. Major in Geography features two areas of specialization – Natural Resource Management orUrban & Regional Management – and a General stream designed to broaden an understanding of physical and human geography. Theoretical and applied course work in each stream are designed to strengthen communication skills in oral, written and visual presentations, and to provide a range of transferable skills, notably in the areas of spatial analysis, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS). Students will be challenged to think critically, analyze problems, and seek resolutions to conflicts, particularly in the fields of natural resource management and urban growth management. The B.A. Minor in Geography provides the flexibility to tailor a program that best suits educational and/or career goals. Students in the concurrent Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program have an opportunity to complete a Minor in Geography as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the concurrent degree. Geography is a teachable subject in the British Columbia secondary system. VIU’s dedicated, industry-standard GIS lab features the most up-to-date software packages, and the program provides ample opportunity to apply these computer-based tools and techniques. Small class sizes and active student-faculty interaction strengthen each student’s learning experience.

Labour market demand for graduates with strong academic and applied backgrounds in geographic studies remains high – regionally, nationally, and internationally. This is particularly true of graduates with skills in geographic communication, spatial analysis, and GIS. Recent Canadian-based human resource studies report that GIS activity will soon surpass $1-billion annually. Remuneration for entry-level jobs in the field of GIS is well above the norm for undergraduates seeking full-time employment opportunities upon graduation. Some graduates may wish to pursue post-graduate studies in Geography, or in such diverse fields as education, urban planning, natural resource management, law, or public administration.