Geography at Virginia Tech
The VT Geographer - Vol. 1 (2004)
The VT Geographer - Vol. 2 (2006)
The VT Geographer - Vol. 3 (2007)
The VT Geographer - Vol. 4 (2008)
Where are we?
Virginia Tech, also known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is located in Blacksburg on a plateau situated between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The area is noted for its natural beauty, healthy atmosphere, proximity to historical points of interest, and outdoor recreational opportunities. The campus is 35 miles west of the Roanoke-Salem metropolitan region and is easily reached via Interstate 81 and U.S. 460. Commercial airline service is provided through Roanoke. The University's southwest Virginia location, adjacent to Appalachia and midway between Washington D.C. and Atlanta, provides exceptional opportunities for the study of all dimensions of geography in a wide variety of rural and urban settings.
Who are we?
Founded in 1975, the Geography Department at Virginia Tech is part of the College of Natural Resources. Department offices, labs, and facilities are located in Major Williams Hall (named in 1957 for the first Virginian known to have been killed in WWI), which is situated in the Upper Quad area of the Virginia Tech Campus.
The Department offers both B.A. and M.S. degrees. We participate in the College of Natural Resources doctoral program in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis. At the undergraduate level, our basic goals are to foster a liberal education in Geography balanced with preparation for more advanced study and the increasing variety of careers the discipline offers. At the graduate level, the M.S. program in geography emphasizes developing professional confidence in the tools, substance, methodology, and theory of the discipline. Thesis and non-thesis options in a 30 semester-hour program prepare students for a variety of careers in teaching, research, planning organizations, business, and government.
The Department of Geography maintains linkages with numerous other programs at Virginia Tech, including:
Center for Geospatial Information Technologies (CGIT)
Office of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (OGIS)
The Center For Environmental Applications of Remote Sensing (CEARS)
The Office of International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED)
