Geography

Geography matters because it is about basic human relationships: between people and the environment, and between people and other people.

A clearer grasp of Geography can provide insight into environmental issues and help us manage resources more effectively. It also helps make us more human, in understanding the similarities between ourselves and others, and respecting the differences.

We live in a complex world that is rapidly changing through development, tourism, globalisation, environmental degradation, population growth and consumption. Geographers understand these changes and work to develop sustainable solutions for the future.

Geography at Waikato is distinctive in its focus on human geography. We offer papers in environmental planning,  and geographic information systems as well as in social and cultural geography. A number of the papers have particular emphasis on Māori and feminist perspectives, and the social, economic and political processes that produce them.

There are five recommended streams for papers at advanced undergraduate level:

• Environmental Planning
• Māori Geographies
• Society, Culture and Place
• Technology in Geography
• Tourism Studies

Degrees

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Tourism (Tourism in Society)

Geography can also be taken as a second major or supporting subject within most degrees.

School subjects required

There are no specific subjects you need to study at secondary school to study Geography at Waikato.

Other subjects that may interest you

Anthropology, History, Earth Sciences, Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Political Science, Tourism Development, Tourism Studies.

Career Opportunities

• Cartographer
• Consultant  
• Environmental Manager  
• Immigration Policy Analyst  
• Researcher
• Urban or Regional Planner  

Potential Employers

• District and Regional Councils
• Energy and Water Management Firms
• Environmental Consultancies
• Mining and Resource Companies
• Ministry for the Environment
• New Zealand Planning Institute

Papers

ENVP106 Introduction to Environmental Planning
This introductory paper focuses on the philosophy, history and theories of planning to provide students with an overview of the nature and purpose of environmental planning.

GEOG101 People and Place: Introduction to Social and Cultural Geography
An introduction to the new geographies of globalisation and cultural change. A foundation for second-year papers on contemporary cultural geographies, regional geography, tourism, and Māori lands and communities.

GEOG103 Resources and Environmental Sustainability
An introduction to human geography and the environment. This paper deals with environmental perceptions and values, environmental and socio-economic impacts, resource use conflicts, Māori perspectives, resource evaluation, environment and tourism, global environmental change and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

200 Level and Beyond
200 and 300 level papers include principles of environmental planning, contemporary cultural geography, regional geography, tourism environments, information technology and cartography, research in  geography, tourism and environmental planning, disasters and development, and geographical information systems.