Study focus areas
Our program offers 4 study focus areas:
- physical geography
- human geography
- environment and sustainability
- geomatics
We have defined these categories to give you a guide to course selections, especially for the last 2 years of study. These are not program requirements, and you will not see any sort of designation on your degree.
Physical geography
Physical geographers study the patterns of climates, landforms, vegetation and water. They also explore how these elements interact. Topics include geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography and ecology.
UVic has expertise in climate change modelling and impacts. We are also known for geomorphological studies, particularly in coastal and Arctic environments.
Upper-level courses
- GEOG313 - Field Studies in Mountain Meteorology
- GEOG358 - Landscape Ecology
- GEOG370 - Hydrology
- GEOG371 - Water Resources Management
- GEOG373 - Applied Climatology
- GEOG376 - Process Geomorphology
- GEOG391 - Topics in Geography: Karst Geomorphology
- GEOG405 - Dynamics of the Cryosphere
- GEOG424 - Field Studies in Coastal Geomorphology
- GEOG474 - Field Studies in Biogeography
- GEOG476 - Advanced Studies in Geomorphology
- GEOG477 - Field Studies in Physical Geography
- GEOG484 - Advanced Studies in Weather and Climate
Human geography
Human geographers study how people create places and organize space. They examine our interactions in places and across distances. They explore how we understand ourselves and others in our localities, regions and the planet. Explore the world through the lenses of social, political, cultural and economic geography.
Our program prioritizes social justice. It applies to urban planning, community health, immigration, anti-racism, global development and personal space.
Upper-level courses
- GEOG310 - Global Migration
- GEOG316 - Field Studies in Human Geography: Food and the City
- GEOG317 - Field Studies in Sustainable Communities
- GEOG332 - Urban Development in the Global South
- GEOG339 - Disaster Management and Community Resilience
- GEOG340 - Cities and Planning
- GEOG346 - Health, Environment and Community
- GEOG347B - Geographies of Development
- GEOG380 - Community Mapping
- GEOG386 - Contemporary Geopolitics
- GEOG391 - Topics in Geography: Indigenous Geographies
- GEOG391 - Topics in Geography: Landscapes of the Heart
- GEOG406 - Sustainable Cities
- GEOG409 - Personal Space
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Urban Mobility
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Community-Based Participatory Research
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Anti-Racism and Geography
Environment & sustainability
Environmental geography is about using geographic data. It studies the links between nature and society. Topics include environmental governance, sustainability, biogeography, conservation, ecology, resource management and coastal studies.
The sustainability and environment stream focuses on innovative socio-ecological governance, resource management, conservation, and activism. It does so amid global crises, ongoing colonialism and Indigenous resurgence in Canada (especially Coastal BC), the US and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Upper-level courses
- GEOG301 - Environmental Impact Assessment
- GEOG303 - Conservation and Ecology of Whales
- GEOG314 - Global Environment Change and Human Response
- GEOG353 - Coastal and Marine Management
- GEOG358 - Landscape Ecology
- GEOG371 - Water Resources Management
- GEOG438 - Aquaculture in British Columbia
- GEOG450 - Environment and Sustainability in Practice
- GEOG453 - Field Studies in Coastal and Marine Management
- GEOG456 - Wildlife Conservation
- GEOG474 - Field Studies in Biogeography
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Indigenous Environmental Activism
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Ecology and Politics of the Killer Whale
- GEOG491 - Advanced Topics in Geography: Whale Geography
Geomatics
Combine geography and computer science into a field known as geomatics. This includes learning how geographic information systems (GIS) and visualization tools use GPS, satellite imagery, drone data and spatial mapping. Learn how to collect, process, analyze and display data and use maps to improve our world.
The geomatics stream trains in geographic tools, like GIS and remote sensing. It applies these tools to solve problems in climate change, urban planning, forest fire surveillance and resource management.
Upper-level courses
- GEOG319 - Remote Sensing of the Environment using Passive Sensors
- GEOG322 - Digital Remote Sensing of the Environment using Active Sensors
- GEOG323 - Cartography
- GEOG328 - GIS Analysis
- GEOG329 - GIS Applications and Tools
- GEOG418 - Advanced Spatial Analysis and Geo-statistics
- GEOG420 - Field Studies in Coastal Geomatics
- GEOG422 - Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing
- GEOG428 - Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
Elective courses
These courses complement any of our focus areas.