Geography

What will I learn?

Students will learn the spatial patterns of the physical environment, culture, and the interrelationships between each of these. Geography is an essential intellectual building block for understanding the world around us, and our place in it. Now more than ever, geographic literacy is necessary for us to understand global events.

What can I do with this course of study?

Being a geographer can involve many different types of work. Traditionally, a geographer collects and analyzes data about people and their environment and examines the relationship between the two. Geographers involved in research may study and analyze environmental phenomena such a landforms, climate, natural resources, and soil distribution. They may also analyze political organizations or urban systems, or transportation networks. Many geographers teach in high schools or colleges.  Others may work in governmental agencies such as the National Park Service, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the U.S. Department of State. Geographers work in the private sector as well. Geographers often specialize in one of the main branches of the discipline. These include economic geography, regional geography, urban geography, political geography, physical geography, medical geography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

What's special about the program at SAC?

Geography has been taught at San Antonio College for over 50 years. Currently, we offer three different geography courses: Introduction to Physical Geography (GEOG 1301), Human Geography (1302), and World Regional Geography (GEOG 1303). These courses satisfy hundreds of degree plans at all seven regional universities (UTSA, TAMU-SA, Texas State University, UT-Austin, and Texas A&M University), as well as countless others across the country.

Physical Geography (GEOG 1301) is a physical science that analyzes the geographic patterns and interactions of the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.  It focuses on the specific relationships within each of these Earth systems and provides a valuable linkage between biology, physics, chemistry, geology, and technology. The course satisfies the Life and Physical Sciences requirement for at least 141 degrees at these institutions.  Furthermore, the course satisfies the requirement for 42 degree programs relating to Creative & Communication Arts, plus 17 degree programs relating to Public Service.

Human Geography (GEOG 1302) satisfies the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement for at least 84 degrees at these same regional universities. More specifically, the course satisfies the requirement in 25 degree programs relating to Business, 19 degree programs relating to Public Service, and it is specifically required in 7 programs.

World Regional Geography (GEOG 1303) satisfies the Language, Philosophy and Culture or the Social and Behavioral Sciences (80) requirement for at least 176 degrees at these regional universities. The course satisfies the requirement in 27 degree programs relating to Business, and 37 degree programs relating to Public Service.