University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Geography, BS

In high school, your geography class probably focused on maps and locations – but the field is so much broader than that. Geography bridges the physical and human world, using both scientific and humanistic methods to explain, predict, and interpret people's impact on the planet and the planet's impact on people.

UWM's geography students graduate with exceptional abilities, both intellectual and technological, to analyze data about space, place, and people - and how they relate to each other. They understand how to make sense of seemingly unrelated pieces of information by bringing together diverse facts and values. They also are adept at presenting information visually - for example, maps!

Some examples of research topics that today's geographers are tackling include climate change, land use patterns, environmental justice, racial segregation, migration and refugees, natural hazards, and animal migration.

Geographic Information Science (GIS) is a growing specialty within geography. GIS is a technical system for capturing, storing, and analyzing diverse types of data in relation to location on Earth, and it enhances decision-making in both the private and public sectors. For example, a small town may use GIS data to determine where to place fire stations and personnel based on patterns of forest fires and populations; or a corporation may use GIS to plan the location of a new store based on shopping and traffic patterns.

At UWM, students can either focus on GIS or choose another specialty track: the urban track, investigating the dynamics of cities and urbanization; the climate-environment track, for those interested in climate change, natural hazards, and environmental problems and policy; or the globalization, societies and cultures track, for a broad approach to human geography and issues like economic, social, and racial inequality; migration; and cultural change.