University at Buffalo (UB)
Do you love studying maps? Are you curious about why things happen where they do? If you like thinking about our impact on the planet, then there's a place for you here—where you can study everything from world hunger and hazardous waste to erosion, trade, transportation and more. How does dust in the atmosphere affect climate change? What is the optimum amount of soil water content for a forest to thrive under extreme temperatures? Why do some maps omit places that are popular with people who are LGBTQ? Join us and find out.
Geography at UB is a flexible major, with a small number of required classes, and then the freedom to take lots of electives in areas like earth science, urban geography, development geography, forest ecology, environmental hazards, health behaviors, oceans and international trade. Whether you choose to concentrate in a specific area or not, you'll learn how to collect, describe, analyze and interpret data. You'll discover how to create and analyze maps and models. And you'll get hands-on training in the software required to be successful in your future career.
It's a big world out there, and we want you to experience it.
At UB, you can do an internship to build your professional network while getting valuable experience. Students can work with UB faculty on research projects, which is another great way to build relationships and gain new skills.
Of course, UB also has hundreds of student clubs where you can make friends and have fun. We host events throughout the year, where you can meet well-known guest lecturers and explore common interests. And if you love to travel, we encourage you to study abroad.
Develop a more efficient map for bus routes in a city. Help a hospital prevent the spread of diseases in a community. Reduce the risk of life-threatening floods. Find the ideal sites for solar panels and other sources of renewable energy. These are just a few of the paths you can follow as a geography graduate, in a career that can take you around the world.
This degree provides opportunities for a career with a government agency (including federal agencies, state organizations and local planning offices), a university, a nonprofit organization, or a business (such as a consulting company or real estate developer).
Popular career choices include:
At UB, you'll find faculty with expertise in a wide range of areas such as watershed processes, environmental management, remote sensing and dynamic modeling.
Our faculty members are respected scholars and researchers who have received support from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, as well as other government agencies and companies. In addition, they have been named SUNY Distinguished Professor and earned the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. They have been quoted in "Forbes," "New York Magazine" and other leading media outlets.
But perhaps most importantly for you, our faculty members are teachers and mentors who bring real-world experience to the classroom and are here to help guide you along your path.