Undergraduate Students
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Geography is more than maps
It’s the study of how people affect the planet and how physical features of the planet affect people.
Geography majors study the world from a spatial perspective. They investigate conditions and patterns — applying location data to everything from the insect density across a region, to how commuters move in a given area, to seasonal climate variations and their effects on the environment.
Geography majors study the conditions of people, societies, the environment, and how they are interrelated. They use cutting-edge tools and techniques to solve problems related to natural disasters, the spread of disease, urban sprawl, climate change, population change, biophysical systems, sustainability, transportation issues, the global economy, and much more. Students also will take specialized courses covering geospatial technology and their applications to human and environmental problems.
The Department of Geography offers a Bachelor of Arts in geography and a Bachelor of Science in meteorology.
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Bachelor of Arts in GeographyStudy the patterns and processes connecting places and regions across the globe. Learn about societies and cultures, environmental systems, human-environment relationships, international development, and geospatial science, while utilizing cutting-edge technology.
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Bachelor of Science in MeteorologyStudy weather forecasting and atmospheric sciences with a significant focus on using geospatial technology to study how landforms affect weather patterns. Learn to predict severe weather and assess its impacts on both humans and the environment.
What makes Virginia Tech’s Department of Geography a great choice?
According to College Factual, Virginia Tech is ranked among the top 20 best geography schools in the U.S., and is the No. 2 ranked bachelor's program in the southeast. The department has 21 faculty members and a full-time professional academic advisor who are committed to student success.
Instruction comes from our top-notch teaching and research faculty. You will receive personal attention and opportunities to do real-world research with peers and professors. You'll also have the benefits of being at a large research-intensive university while being in a department with the feel of a smaller college.
Undergraduates in the Virginia Tech Department of Geography are involved in research that can include fieldwork at sites around the world. Geography faculty members are working in Australia, Asia, Africa, and across the U.S. There are opportunities for students to study abroad for a semester or for a shorter term during winter and summer breaks. Experiential learning is required of undergraduates and is often cited by students as their favorite academic experience at Virginia Tech.