Undergrad BA and BS Concentrations

Human Geography

• • Human Geography is a broad concentration for students interested in exploring the breadth of human geography. It also provides the greatest flexibility for students interested in geography as a second major.

  • Students in the program gain valuable research and career skills in ethnographic fieldwork, landscape analysis, cartography, statistical analysis, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Science.

  • Human geographers pursue rewarding careers in education, business, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

Environmental Geography and Sustainability

• • Environmental Geography and Sustainability centers on understanding environmental issues, environmental justice and sustainability within the contexts of politics, economy, society and culture.

  • Students majoring in geography with a concentration in Environmental Geography and Sustainability gain analytical and geographical skills and perspectives appropriate for careers in fields such as environmental advocacy, conservation, energy management, urban and regional planning, local, state and national government, and education.

Climate Change and Society

• • The Climate Change and Society concentration provides geography-grounded perspectives on climate change, impacts, and responses. Coursework emphasizes social-science based understanding of climate change issues, climate justice, policy, mitigation and adaptation, as well as environmental issues and environmental policies and a foundational understanding of physical geography and climatology.

  • Students majoring in geography with a concentration in Climate and Society gain analytical and geographical skills and perspectives appropriate for careers in fields such as disaster mitigation and planning, environmental advocacy, urban and regional planning, local, state and national government, and education.

Globalization and International Studies

• • The Globalization and International Studies concentration emphasizes the value of both international experience and global and regional coursework.

  • Students in this concentration must complete at least 6 credits of their undergraduate work outside the United States either through an accredited study abroad program or through a departmentally-approved internship or other appropriate international experience.

  • “Globalization” courses for this concentration are world-wide in scope; “International Studies” courses are grounded in specific world regions.

Geographic Information Science & Technology

• • GIST provides a set of analytical skills for handling geospatial information. These skills are in high demand in both the private and public sectors, and across the broad spectrum of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

  • The GIST concentration provides students with a background in the science, techniques, and application of these geospatial skills that will enable them to embark on public and private sector careers or to undertake further studies in geography, planning, public policy, ecology, environmental science and other fields.

Urban Geography

• • Students with a concentration in Urban Geography study urbanization, cities, and urban issues in global context. Urban geography at UMass Amherst emphasizes the role cities play in issues of environmental justice and sustainability.

  • Urban geography is a foundation for a wide range of careers in fields ranging from urban and regional planning, transportation and business logistics to local, state and national government, and non-governmental advocacy for a wide range of social groups.