Is Geography for you?
First Year Orientation
Department of Geography, Environmental Studies & Tourism
University of the Western Cape
Why Geography?
Why? Because geography is…
…EVERYWHERE!
Geography &
Environmental Studies
YOU are a geographer if you:
• Are curious about places, both here and overseas:
Geographers are interested in the makeup of places and
what makes them tick;
• Are a problem solver: As scientists, geographers are
naturally curious about how the world is arranged. They ask
lots of questions about why things are located the way they
are and then they try to answer those questions;
• Enjoy studying maps: The geographer's first inclination is
to put information on a map in order to visualise it;
YOU are a geographer if you:
• Make connections among seemingly unrelated processes:
One of geography's strengths is its ability to integrate ideas
about human behavior, social institutions, and the natural
environment;
• Are interested in connections between people and the
environment: Geographers see the world as the human
habitat, one that we have transformed and that has
transformed us.
• Are interested in technological change: Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) have revolutionized the way
geographers collect, store, analyze, and present spatial
information.
At UWC, ‘Geography’ includes:
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Human geography
Physical geography
Environmental studies
Tourism studies
Geography helps you to understand what accounts
for differences in fertility around the world
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015)
Geography answers questions about a variety of
settlement patterns
Dharavi (Mumbai)
Geography is important because:
33%
of city dwellers live in informal settlements
Image © Swiss Dot
Geography helps us to understand the process and
impacts of urbanisation
Image © Swiss Dot
Geography is important because:
53%
of the world’s population
lives in cities (estimated to by 75% by 2050)
Image © Swiss Dot
Geography enables us to understand the lives of a
range of urban dwellers, their livelihoods and struggles
Geography allows us to understand the migration of
people (both voluntary and involuntary) and the factors
that affect their livelihoods
Cities by numbers
Geography
is important because:
75%
of the world’s
CO2 emissions is produced
by cities
Image Creative Commons License
Geography helps you to understand the cause
and impacts of natural hazards
Geography helps you to understand the role of water in
shaping society
Geography gave rise
to Geographical
Information Systems
(GIS) that have
revolutionized the way
geographers collect,
store, analyze, and
present spatial
information.
Tourism
Tourism studies allow you to explore how destinations
are created, marketed and used for economic and
social development
photo: (Bradley Rink) Berlin Wall Memorial, Germany August 2013
Tourism studies help you to understand the
economic, social and environmental impacts
of the tourism industry
photo: (author) Cape of Good Hope, July 2010
Tourism studies help you to understand the
role of heritage in attracting visitors to Cape
Town from around the world
photo: (Bradley Rink)
Robben Island Museum
October 2010
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
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Urban Planner
Regional Planner
Tourism Planner
Economic Development Specialist
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional
Cartographer
Medical Geographer
Historic Preservation Consultant
Environmental Specialist/Manager
University Professor/Lecturer/Researcher
Natural Resources Evaluation Specialist/EIA
Public School Teacher
Transportation Analyst
…and many more!
Modules: Geography & Environmental
Studies
• 1st Year
– GES111 Introduction to Human Geography
– GES121 Introduction to Physical Geography
• 2nd Year
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GES211 Catchment Studies
GES222 Population Geographies
GES221 Critical Issues in Urban Studies
GES212 Human Mobilities in the Contemporary World
GES213 Maps & Satellite Imagery
GES223 Climatology
• 3rd Year
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GES311 Contemporary Environmental Issues
GES328 Political Geography of Land
GES313 Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
GES321 Problematizing the City in Africa
GES322 Coastal Environments
GES323 Geographical Information Systems
Modules: Tourism
• 2nd Year
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TOU211 Introduction to Tourism
TOU212 Tourism and Economic Development
TOU221 Environmental Impacts of Tourism
TOU222 Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism
• 3rd Year
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TOU311 Tourism Planning
TOU341 Contemporary Debates in Niche Tourism
TOU321 Tourism Marketing and Development
TOU322 Analytical Techniques for Tourism
We hope to see you in our modules in 2016!
Please visit us in Room 140 Old Arts with any questions.
Department of Geography, Environmental Studies & Tourism
University of the Western Cape