About

Geography is the science of place and space – the earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another and how people interact with the environment. This is a discipline that bridges the social sciences and natural sciences and that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites as a growing career field.

The Geography (BS) - General Geography degree provides you with a broad understanding of geography in a strong liberal arts context. It does not require a language, but rather 15 hours of ancillary courses to complete a concentration of your choosing.

Ninety percent of the program’s students get jobs in their fields within six months of graduation. All majors graduate with a resume, cover letter and professional portfolio website to show employers or grad schools.

You will be especially marketable in the field of geography when you also complete Appalachian’s undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems  with just four additional courses.  Many students choose to double major by pairing this degree with Community and Regional Planning.

After Graduation

Employment: Students graduate career-ready, and over 90% are hired into the GIS or planning job markets. Employers include the U.S. Government, State of North Carolina, the Nature Conservancy, National Geographic Society, and local governments throughout North Carolina.

Graduate School: Students who wish to pursue a graduate education may stay at Appalachian for an extra year and receive a Master of Arts in geography.

People

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  Alumna Profile: Rhiannon Reed-Kelly ’20

  Mountaineer Rhiannon Reed-Kelly ’20 has her eye on international urban design, with aims to combine her interests in planning and sustainable development to create positive changes for people and the natural environment. She plans to pursue her master’s degree in urban design in Ireland.

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  Alumnus Profile: Evan Montpellier '17

  He’s traveled to the Andes to study precipitation and to Montana and the North Carolina coast to analyze tree rings. With Appalachian’s accelerated admission program, he’s nearly finished with a master’s degree after taking graduate courses his senior year.

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  Alumna Profile: Sarah Moncelle ’14

  A social science researcher at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Moncelle applies her geography degree toward community-based data collection.

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  Alumna Profile: Stephanie Smith ’07 ’10

  “My time at Appalachian taught me how to be a self-directed, creative, driven and independent thinker.”

  - Stephanie Smith ’07 ’10, global information systems program manager for Grand Canyon Trust

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  Faculty Profile: Dr. Derek J. Martin

  Dr. Derek J. Martin has been working with a team of students on a monitoring project on the Watauga River. In this video, he and the students talk about the research and how they have adapted their fieldwork during COVID-19.

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  Faculty Profile: Dr. Baker Perry

  “In both the Himalayas and the Andes, climate change is not some abstract idea. It’s direct. It’s observable and it’s something that people are very concerned about because it’s had direct impacts on their livelihoods.”

  - Dr. Baker Perry, who has ascended to great heights for climate science research

  Meet more faculty

Related Programs

• Geography (BA)
• Community and Regional Planning (BS)
• Geography (BS) - Geographic Information Systems

Minors

A minor is not required. Popular minors include:

• GIS Certificate
• Planning
• History
• A foreign language
• Geology
• Biology

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

• The Student Planners Association (SPA) and Appalachian Geographical Society are student-run, university-recognized organizations consisting of major and non-major members who are interested in fellowship, outings, fun, and learning more about planning and geography.
• Gamma Theta Upsilon Honor Society is an international honorary academic society for geographers founded in 1928. To join, you must be enrolled in any of the geography majors and meet one of two GPA requirements.
• North Carolina ArcGIS Users Group is a non-profit organization that creates a forum for the exchange and distribution of knowledge, techniques, and data for people across North Carolina using associated with ESRI and GIS software.
•  North Carolina Geographic Alliance- Since 1987, the North Carolina Geographic Alliance has sought to enhance geographic education in North Carolina Schools.  Over the years the NCGA has produced teaching materials, provided professional development, and advocated for geography as an integral part of the curriculum. 

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.  There are currently faculty led trips to study planning and community development in Ecuador and Peru.  Dr. Baker Perry also takes 15 students to study climate change in the Andean region each summer.