Welcome from the Chair
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Geography & Environmental Studies, I'd like to welcome you to our department. I know you will find a fulfilling learning experience in classes that will provide you with highly marketable cutting-edge skills. In our tight-knit department, you will find many ways to engage directly with faculty both inside and outside the classroom, and I encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities. We are here to help you on your journey. Your success is our success.
What can you study in our programs?
Climate Change & Atmospheric Science
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Natural Resources & Conservation
Hydrology & Water Systems
Spatial Data Science
Forensics & Crime Mapping
Geomorphology & Land System Science
GIS & Remote Sensing
Cartography & Geo-visualization
Environmental Justice
Drones & UAVs
Culture & Community
Cities & Urban Environments
Health Equity & Neighborhood Wellbeing
Spatial Decision-Making & Governance
Natural Hazards & Sustainability
Spatial Demography & Migration
Economy & Development
Undergraduate Programs
B.S. in Geography and Environmental Studies (GES)
The BS in Geography & Environmental Studies prepares students for careers that are vital for a world with a rapidly changing climate. The BS in GES provides students with a fundamental knowledge of the Earth's surface, its myriad environments, and the many ways in which humans interact with and are affected by these environments. Comprised of 48 units, the major allows flexibility in course selection depending on your areas of interest and your career pathway, while providing a solid background in human, physical, and regional aspects of the discipline.
B.S. in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
The BS in Geographic Information Science will prepare students for cutting-edge careers in a variety of industries. The BS in GIS, compromising 57 units, features a strong technical component based on in-depth training in geographic information systems and remote sensing technologies, along with applied practice in geospatial analysis and spatial data science techniques. Students in the program will explore the application of these techniques in various industries including health and human services, public safety, natural/environmental sciences, retail/marketing, urban planning, government, and transportation.
Graduate Programs
M.A. in Geography
The Master of Arts in Geography provides students with a high degree of flexibility in the selection of courses used to meet the program requirements. Courses may be selected from any of the graduate offerings in geomorphology, climatology, biogeography, economic geography, cultural geography, urban geography, regional geography, cartography and geographic information science. This degree prepares students higher level industry positions in both the public and private sectors, including the GIS, marketing, regional government, emergency management, and sustainability industries.
M.S. in Geographic Information Science
The Master of Science in Geographic Information Science (MSGISci) is a highly structured specialization program in which most of the requirements are met through graduate coursework dealing with various aspects of GIS and Spatial Data Science. This program is designed for students who want to pursue advanced careers in this highly technical subfield of geography, including positions such as GIS Manager/Director, Geographic Information Officer, GIS Analyst, and GIS Developer.
Minor Programs
Minor in Geographic Information Science
A minor in GIS is comprised of 21 units focused on courses involving geographic information science and related technologies.
Minor in Geography
A minor in Geography is comprised of 20 units, with no more than 6 units in the lower division. The student must consult with a Geography advisor to develop an approved program best suited to the student’s individual needs.
Job Announcement
Part-Time Faculty Announcement
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is hiring part-time faculty for the Academic Year 2025 to 2026. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for this position, please submit your information to geography@csun.edu. Applications are due April 1st, 2025. Please refer to the position announcement above for more information on the items you will need to submit. If you have questions about the position, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Regan Maas, at regan.maas@csun.edu.
Department Chair
Dr. Regan Maas
Sierra Hall 150
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8263
- Phone: (818) 677-3532