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The department supports teaching,
research, and service in a variety
of capacities.
"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited." – Plutarch.
The mission is to inspire the highest levels of geographic teaching, learning, and mentoring while engaging in the scholarly pursuit of geographic knowledge, and to apply this knowledge toward understanding the ever-changing interplay of human societies and physical environments.
We focus on understanding changing human societies and physical environments and their interactions on Earth as:
The Pennsylvania State University offers B.S., B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Geography. The faculty encourage students to arrange courses of study appropriate to their individual needs and aspirations. Programs in geography may be directed toward a career in public service, teaching and research, private industry, or one of the many other vocational opportunities open to geographers.
The University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University is located in the borough of State College, where the social and cultural life of a small-scale urban setting is enhanced by access to a scenic rural landscape and many recreational opportunities. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh are only three to five hours away by road. Regular commuter flights from University Park Airport (SCE) connect to major airline hubs in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. For more information about State College, access the State College Web site or the Penn State Web site. For reference maps and campus maps, access the Campus Maps Web site.
Year founded: 1945
College: College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Areas of study: Physical geography, Human Geography, Nature/Society, and GISciences
Four undergraduate options: General, Geographic Information Science (GIS), Physical/Environment, and Human Geography
Undergraduate Students: Geography majors, 160; Geography-related minors, 90
For more information, access the Undergraduate Students Web site.
Graduate Students: Master's candidates, 27; Doctoral candidates, 50
For more information, access the Graduate Students Web site.
World Campus GIS/MGIS Program:
Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems - The Certificate Program in GIS is designed to help novice and intermediate-level practitioners become more knowledgeable and skillful users of geographic information technologies. This program was established in 1999 and approximately 300 students are currently enrolled in this program.
Master of Geographic Information Systems - The Master of GIS degree program is designed for experienced practitioners who aspire to leadership in the geographic information systems profession. This program was established in 2004, and 85 students have since been accepted.
Faculty and Staff: Adjunct, 1; Assistant Professors, 4; Associate Professors, 3; Courtesy Title, 2; Department head, 1; Director, 01 Dual Title, 4; Emeritus Professor, 5; Instructor, 5; Professor, 16; Non-Tenure Track Faculty, 2; Research Assistant, 12; Staff; 13; Visiting Faculty, 1; Visiting Scholars, 2; Post Docs, 2.
Alumni: More than 1,800 living alumni
Research Units:
The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Development in Africa (AESEDA)
The Center for Integrated Regional Assessment (CIRA)
Cooperative Wetlands Center
GeoVISTA Center
The Human-Environment Regional Observatory project (HERO)
John A. Dutton e-Education Institute
Penn State Institutes of the Environment
Vegetation Dynamics Lab
Peter R. Gould Center for Geography and Outreach: The Gould Center, which is part of the department, is responsible for maintaining the campus maps for the University Park campus.
Departmental organizations: UnderDOGS, GTU, S.W.I.G., Coffee Hour
Semi-annual Publication: Department of Geography Newsletter
The National Research Council ranked the Penn State Department of Geography No. 1 in their last ranking of graduate programs in geography, conducted in 1995.
US News & World Report ranks Penn State as tied for 16th for Best National Doctoral Universities among public universities in America's Best Colleges 2005. A full list of Penn State rankings is available at, "Where We Stand, Current Rankings & Ratings.
Undergraduate Application deadline: Rolling
Application fee: $50
Resident Graduate Study Application deadline: January 1, 2007
Application fee: $45
Department of Geography
The Pennsylvania State University
302 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-3433
Fax: (814) 863-7943
E-mail: editor@geog.psu.edu
Web site: www.geog.psu.edu
Department Head:
Karl Zimmerer
E-mail: ksz2@psu.edu
Graduate Program Officer/Associate Head
Cindy Brewer
Phonne: (814)865-5072
E-mail: cbrewer@psu.edu
Undergraduate Program Officer
Brent Yarnal
Phone: (814)863-4894
E-mail: alibar@essc.psu.edu
Graduate Admissions Officer
Deryck Holdsworth
Phone: (814)865-1044
E-mail: dwh6@ems.psu.edu
Undergraduate Advisor:
Jodi Vender
Phone: (814)863-5730
E-mail: jvender@psu.edu