Geography
What is Geography?
Geography is the study of Earth! It is a spatial science that deals with the impacts of humans on the natural environment and the location and patterns of physical features and processes, climate and biogeographical regions, geo-morphology, human settlements, land use and resources. Geography explores the distribution of natural and human phenomena including economics, political regions, cultural landscapes, urbanization, and other global processes.
| Contact |
|---|
| Chairperson Jacquelyn Hams |
| Phone 818-778-5566 |
| Email hamsje@lavc.edu |
| Office Location Allied Health & Sciences Building (AHS) |
| Office Hours email for availability |
|
Department Earth Science |
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Pathway STEM & Social and Behavioral Sciences |
Programs
Geography Degrees
Majors in Geography acquire a global, spatial perspective that provides a foundation for a deeper understanding of the development of human society and the planet we call home.
Since Geographers study Earth, the discipline covers a wide range of interests represented by many different fields of study. Therefore, many diverse career opportunities are available to Geography graduates.
Click the tabs below to find out about Geography degrees and career options.
Many internship opportunities await Geographers, and the Associate degree in Geography (AA) will help you get started and prepare you for further career specialization down the line.
Associate degree in Geography (AA)
Students completing the Associate degree in Geography for Transfer (AA-T) will have satisfied the lower division major preparation at most CSUs in Geography. Most careers in Geography will require an advanced degree (Bachelor, Masters, or Doctorate).
Associate degree in Geography for Transfer (AA-T)
The American Association of Geographers (AAG) said it best:
“Professional geographers pursue a wide and ever-growing range of career paths. From academia to private firms, from nonprofit organizations and NGOs, and state, local, and federal government agencies, geographers can be found working in every sector of the workforce.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for geographers was $88,900 in 2022. Even the lowest paid 10% of Geographers made $57,430 annually, exceeding the median wages for all income earners. It is a bright outlook for the future!
AAG helps to bring members of the global geographic community together, whether you are just entering the field, are in the process of further developing your career, or looking to form professional friendships!
Faculty
Full-time Faculty
| Name | Contact Information |
|---|---|
|
Claudia Hasenhüttl |
Adjunct Faculty
| Name | Contact Information |
|---|---|
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Don Gauthier Jack Kranz George Leddy Alejandro Munoz |
Faculty Profiles
Click below to learn about the Geography faculty.
- MA in Geography, CSU Northridge
- Certificates in GIS, CSU Northridge
- Courses taught: Physical Geography, Cultural Elements of Geography, Physical Geography Lab, Introduction to Weather & Climate, and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Lab
- Areas of Interest: All things 'geography,' with emphasis on conservation and human-environment interaction, especially the 'wildland-urban' interface and our co-existence with large predators
- MA in Geography, UCLA
- Courses taught: Physical Geography, Cultural Elements of Geography, Physical Geography Lab, Introduction to Weather & Climate, Geography of California, Food and Culture, People and the Earth’s Ecosystem, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Lab, Managing Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies
- Areas of Interest: Environment, economic / cultural geography
- Professor Emeritus
- Masters degree in Geography, CSU Northridge & Masters in Information Science, UCLA
- Courses Taught: Physical Geography, Cultural Elements of Geography, Introduction to Weather & Climate, World Regional Geography, and Physical Geography Lab
- Areas of interest: Global climate change and the infusion of this significant topic into the content of the textbook chapters in all of the courses that I teach
- Ph.D. in Ecology and Development Policy with a focus on Marine Fisheries, UC Berkeley
- Courses taught: Physical Geography and Cultural/Human Geography , Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, and Environmental Science Lab
- Areas of Interest: Environment, climate crisis, human and physical geography
- Faculty advisor for EcoAdvocates & Co-coordinator of the Sustainable Environment Institute of the LACCD
- MS in Geographic Information Science, CSU Northridge
- Courses taught: Physical Geography, Earth Science, and Environmental Science
- Areas of Interest: Spatial statistics, remote sensing, economic geography, GIS, and the physical environment
Geography covers both the physical and the human aspects of our planet, so when you start exploring the Career and Academic Pathways (CAPs), you will find us in both the STEM CAP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), as well as the Social and Behavioral Sciences Career and Academic Pathway.