WHAT IS GEOGRAPHY?

Grand Canyon (AZ)

The word "geography" is derived from the Greek words for earth (geo) and description (graphy). It is defined as the study of the spatial and hierarchical distribution of all of the phenomena on the surface of the earth. The discipline Geography is generally divided into physical geography, which includes climate, landforms, rocks, soil, water, minerals, flora and fauna, and human or cultural geography, which includes population, settlements, economic activities, transportation, recreation activities, languages, religion, political systems, traditions, and many other elements of human life. So what makes geography different from other areas of study such as biology, anthropology, sociology, geology, or political science, for instance? Geography focuses on the spatial or distributional characteristics as well as interrelationships.

See the Geography courses offered in Fall 2008.

Photo: B. Anderson