Geography bridges the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. Students in Geography approach problems from ecological and spatial perspectives. An ecological perspective is useful for investigating many environmental and resource management questions that focus upon relationships between humans and the natural environment. Alternatively a spatial perspective is concerned with understanding locational choices and locational relationships underlying human (social, cultural, historical, economic or political) behaviour at geographic scales ranging from the local to the global. The Geography and Planning Department offers two ways to boost your resume–a fast-track professional master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a certificate in Geographic Information Science. The fast-track program combines a BAH or BSCH with a Master’s degree by extending your studies by only 15 months instead of 24 months.
Among academic disciplines, Geography is unique in combining the social sciences and humanities with the physical sciences. In physical geography, or earth system science, we study natural processes, their interactions, and natural and human-generated environmental issues, such as climate change, while human geography focuses on the study of people and their interactions with the environment.
Top 5 Reasons to Study Geography:
“Traveling and asking sometimes difficult questions was an integral part of my two geography degrees at Queen’s… the trilogy of land, people, and the struggle over resources, which formed the basis of much of my geography training, shapes not only how we should understand conflicts, but also how we can work to resolve them.”
-Krista House, BAH ‘97
Major in Geography
A major is an intensive course of study in one discipline, with approximately half of your courses within the discipline with room for an optional minor in any other Arts and Science discipline.
Medial in Geography (BAH only)
A dual course of study in Geography and any other Arts discipline.
Minor in Geography
A minor is a less intensive course of study in the discipline that must be combined with a major in another discipline.
Specialization in Earth System Science (BScH only)
An intensive course of study with approximately two-thirds of your courses within the discipline.
Internship option available
For a full list of Degree Plans, see the Academic Calendar
Geography - PhD
Geography - MA
Geography - MSc
For students in Geography Plans, study abroad is normally undertaken during their third year. Students may take one or two terms of study at the Bader International Study Centre in their second or third year. Students participating in any international study program are expected to meet all fourth year prerequisites by the end of third year and need to plan their programs accordingly.
For students in Geography Plans, study abroad is normally undertaken during their third year. Students may take one or two terms of study at the Bader International Study Centre in their second or third year. Students participating in any international study program are expected to meet all fourth year prerequisites by the end of third year and need to plan their programs accordingly.
Alumni Career Statistics
Geography examines relationships involving human beings in their natural and built environments; it is the study of people, places, and environments from a spatial perspective. With long-standing teaching and research traditions in the natural and social sciences as well as the humanities, the discipline is uniquely positioned to contribute to the analysis of a wide variety of con temporary social and environmental problems and public policy issues.
Where could Geography and Planning students go after graduation?
Note: Some of these careers may require additional training.
Courses in Geography typically fall in either the physical or human side of Geography – in first year there is a course for each. Some popular courses include Climate Change; Water Resources; Cities: Geography, Planning and Urban Life; Sustainable Transportation; Place, Space, Culture and Social Life; Human Migration; Aboriginal Geographies of Canada; Watershed Hydrology; Bioenergy; Landscape Ecology; Geography, Environment and Human Health; and Medical Geography. We also offer a suite of courses specializing in geographic information systems and remote sensing.
BAH students apply to Queen’s Arts (QA) through the OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre) website (ouac.on.ca). Secondary School prerequisites include six 4U and 4M courses, including a minimum of three 4U courses, one of which must be ENG4U. Applicants outside of Ontario may have additional requirements.
Geography and Planning (BAH)
OUAC Code:
QA (Kingston Campus)
QB (Concurrent Education, Kingston Campus)
QIA (The Castle)
QIB (Concurrent Education, The Castle)
BScH students apply to Queen’s Science (QS) through the OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Centre) website. Secondary School prerequisites include English 4U, Advanced Functions 4U, Calculus and Vectors 4U, plus 2 of Physics 4U, Chemistry 4U or Biology 4U or recognized equivalents.
Geography and Planning (BScH)
OUAC Code:
QS (Kingston Campus)
QF (Concurrent Education, Kingston Campus)
QIS (The Castle)
Visit queensu.ca/admissions for additional information regarding requirements and admission to Queen's.
After first year, in May, students will declare their area of study (major, minor, specialization, e.g.). The thresholds are competitive year to year and do change. The 2017-18 thresholds for Geography are: 1.9 Cumulative GPA for PENDING LIST or 1.9 Cumulative GPA with minimum C- in GPHY 1## for AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE. There is no AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE for the Environmental Geography Specialization, but for PENDING LIST there is a required 1.9 Cumulative GPA.
Cities have become key sites for understanding contemporary social life, as the majority of the world’s population now lives in cities and the city is one of the most fundamental human institutions. The department of Geography and Planning, along with the School of Urban and Regional Planning developed the Certificate in Urban Planning Studies to allow students to gain recognition for their devoted study of cities. Students will be introduced to planning-related issues grounded in an appreciation of city life and city structures, and will be prepared for advanced studies and careers related to urban planning, such as community development, real estate, municipal governance, international development or education.
Delivery Mode: On-campus
Number of Units: 12 units (4 courses)
Open to:
Simply send an email to the Student Services Team in Arts and Science and they will get it added to your student account.
Simply send an email to the Student Services Team in Arts and Science and they will get it added to your student account.
In addition to completing a degree, students also have the option of simultaneously completing a Certificate in Geographic Information Science. This option is available to all Queen’s University undergraduate students regardless of their degree concentration, and is intended for those who wish to enhance their undergraduate degree with a Geographic Information Science Certificate.
Delivery Mode: On-campus
Number of Units: 30 units (5-10 courses)
Open to:
Students considering adding the Certificate in Geographic Information Science to their degree program should consult as soon as possible with the Department of Geography and Planning.
Simply send an email to the Student Services Team in Arts and Science and they will get it added to your student account.
Simply send an email to the Student Services Team in Arts and Science and they will get it added to your student account.
Background
The combined degree program is intended to help geography students who want a fast-track professional degree in urban and regional planning. The combined degree program makes it possible for geography students to finish their BAH / BSCH and MPL. degrees in less time than it would take to pursue the degrees independently.
Geography and city planning are related fields. Geographers often consider the spatial implications of urban and regional issues and have a special focus on place. It is quite natural, therefore, to consider the integration of the two related fields. Today urban and regional planning is a broad field and people with different backgrounds are needed for the different work that is done by planners. The multi-disciplinary dimensions of urban planning provide students with a breadth of options to pursue in their studies.
Having both the geography and planning degrees offers the practical advantage of increasing professional qualifications that will broaden employment prospects. The skills gained by taking both programs will prepare graduates for work in urban planning, GIS, transportation, environmental studies, social planning and urban development. Many planning graduates who have geography backgrounds have found responsible and rewarding positions in municipal or provincial governments, and consulting practices across Canada.
The combined degree program allows students to finish the M.PL. degree requirements in about 15 months after receiving their Geography degree provided they take two of their Geography electives in planning and an additional two planning courses while they are still in the Geography program.
Academic Requirements
The combined degree program is suited to highly motivated students who have at least a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 in Geography courses in the previous year. The combination of planning and geography skills will be especially useful for those hoping to work in urban planning, GIS, transportation, environmental studies, social planning and urban development. Students are required to maintain at least a GPA of 3.50 in Geography courses and at least a GPA of 3.30 in Planning courses.
Description
Eligible students from Geography can get a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.Pl.) degree by extending their studies 15 months instead of the usual two years. Successful applicants to the fast-track program will be expected to have taken four Planning courses (all 3.0 units) during their third and/or fourth year in Geography:
1. Two SURP courses would be taken as electives towards your Geography degree plan
2. Two other SURP courses would be taken as "courses additional to plan”. This increase in your fourth-year workload can help save almost one academic year in the Master's degree program.
Students who are interested in this program should aim to complete at least 15.0 units of coursework per term throughout the duration of their program to maintain a manageable workload. Students taking GPHY 401, 402, 403, 415 may find it advantageous to develop a topic related to Urban and Regional Planning.
1. Work, Identity, and Place
Labour geographies; labour market restructuring and regulation; international divisions of labour; labour migration; knowledge, creativity and skills; employment equity; entrepreneurship; gender divisions of labour.
Faculty: Donald, Holmes, Kobayashi, Mullings, McDonald.
2. Globalization, Development, Economies and Sustainability
Effects of globalization neoliberalism and the new economy; development economies and restructuring; industrial geographies; commodity chains and cultural economy; economy and governance; innovation; transnational economies; political economies of cities; global change and health; international political economy.
Faculty: Donald, Holmes, Lovell, Mabee, Mullings, Rosenberg, McDonald.
3. Bodies, Health, and Health Care
The human and social body; socio/historical constructions of bodies; bodies and nature; access to health care; gender and health; emotional geographies; aging; demographic change; critical disability studies; food, nutrition, and food security; health and environment; environmental justice.
Faculty: Cameron, Davidson, Donald, Rosenberg.
4. Citizenship, Identity, Justice and Governance
Immigration; race and racism; feminist geographies; citizenship participation and social justice; social movements; identity, multiculturalism, and cosmopolitanism; urban citizenship; indigenous social justice (historical and contemporary); access to services; urban governance; urban land use planning and change; housing.
Faculty: Cameron, Chen, Davidson, Godlewska, Kobayashi, Mullings, Rosenberg, McDonald.
5. Postcolonialism, Indigenous Peoples and Place
Historical and contemporary: practices of representation; indigenous places; literary geographies; colonial and postcolonial discourses; emotional geographies of place; cultural politics of race, class, and gender; geographies of nature and science.
Faculty: Cameron, Godlewska, Kobayashi, Lovell, Mullings, Rosenberg.
6. Earth System Science
The broad emphasis in the field of Earth System Science is on developing an integrative understanding of the Earth as a physical system of interrelated phenomena. The focus is on the interaction and linkages between the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere and on physical, chemical, and biological processes operating at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Measurement, integration, and modelling of earth system elements to understand these linkages are key foci of research and graduate training activities. Field measurements and sample collection are matched with laboratory and data analysis, and modelling.
The overlapping foci of faculty research fall into two broad themes: Forest Ecosystems and Cold Regions. The former emphasises the primary biophysical and physiological processes of forest systems (especially boreal), exchange of energy, water, and trace gases, and local and regional integration with remote sensing and modelling approaches. The latter focus operates across diverse polar and alpine environments, with emphasis on hydrological, marine, geomorphic and biogeochemical processes and sedimentary systems.
Faculty: Chen, Danby, Gilbert, Lafrenière, Lamoureux, Mabee, McCaughey, Scott, Treitz.
7. Geographic Information Science
Faculty examine the theoretical, technical and applied aspects of cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing and image processing, and modeling of human and natural systems.
Specific research interests include: contemporary and historical cartography; land cover/use change detection and analysis; disease modeling; mapping/modeling human impacts on the environment; social, economical, and environmental interaction; biophysical remote sensing; image processing; resource/location optimization; geo-visualization; environmental exposure analysis; accuracy and error modeling.
Faculty: Chen, Danby, Godlewska, Scott, Treitz.
8. School of Urban and Regional Planning and Geography Department Coordinated Degree Program
The coordinated degree program is intended to help geography students who want a fast-track professional degree in urban and regional planning. The coordinated degree program makes it possible for geography students to finish their BA / B.Sc. and MPL. degrees in less time than it would take to pursue the degrees independently.
Geography and city planning are related fields. Geographers often consider the spatial implications of urban and regional issues and have a special focus on place. It is quite natural, therefore, to consider the integration of the two related fields. Today urban and regional planning is a broad field and people with different backgrounds are needed for the different work that is done by planners. The multi-disciplinary dimensions of urban planning provide students with a breadth of options to pursue in their studies.
Faculty: Donald
There are two program options for Master's students:
The program may be completed in one year, but the normal time to completion is two years (or five terms).
Admission is based upon the completion of a Master's degree or its equivalent at a superior level at a recognized university. In exceptional circumstances, resident Master's students may be accelerated into the Ph.D. program. The program involves satisfying the following requirements:
The program may be completed within three years of full-time study. Students are eligible for funding for the first four years of the program.
The Department of Geography offers graduate training leading to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in the following areas:
In 2013-2014, the minimum level of support from all sources for first year full-time graduate students is $14,000.00 for Master's and $18,000 for Ph.D. students. Support typically consists of a teaching/research assistantship and a Queen’s Graduate Award, but any combination of internal/external award may be used to reach this level. Students may be eligible for additional funding. Established in January 2001 by an anonymous donor to the Department of Geography at Queen's University. Awarded to a full-time graduate student in the Department of Geography on the basis of academic excellence, and meaningful research and study. This Fellowship will be awarded annually to a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D., M.Sc. or M.A. Value: $15,000. This award is especially targeted towards graduate students pursuing degrees in physical geography.
Graduate Program enquiries can be directed to:
Dr. Laura Cameron
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Geography
613-533-6030
cameron@queensu.ca
Certainly it is true that “A” students tend to get scholarships. But it is important to remember that many of our scholarships use grades as just one criterion when assessing you for scholarships: research experience, job experience, and evidence of communication, leadership and interpersonal skills are all important components.
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