Geographical Sciences
About Geographical Sciences
UBC's geographical sciences program focuses on the fundamental interactions between life and Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. It asks the big questions about the future of Earth’s life, climate and landscapes. You'll build on a broad base in the basic sciences by completing course in areas such as biogeography, climatology, geographic information science, geomorphology or hydrology. The first two years of the program allow you to develop a broad scientific base and explore your interests before specializing in at least two of five areas: biogeography and ecology, climate and weather, remote sensing, hydrology and geomorphology.
Program Details
UBC Geography has cartographic, computing, technical services and computer labs specifically for the use of undergraduate students. Field-based research is an integral component of the program--you'll take field trips in nearly all upper-level courses and complete technical training.
Skills
- Application of knowledge about physical environments and spatial relations
- Geo-spatial data analysis
- Designing and creating maps/graphs
- Designing, planning and managing projects
- Surveying and field sampling
- Evidence-based approach to researching, consulting and advising
- Technical report writing and accurate maintenance of field notebooks
- Technical knowledge in using geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, statistics, remote sensing, MATLAB, Python, R, Jupyter Notebooks, and computer coding
Programs offered
- Major, Geographical Sciences
Resources
Career Options
With an undergraduate degree
- Aerial photo technician
- Aerial survey technician
- Field technician
- Forestry technician
- Geographer
- GIS technician
- Environmental health officer
- Land surveyor
- Museum curator
- Remote sensing technician
- Water inspector
With additional study
- Agronomist
- Agricultural advisor
- Biogeographer
- Cartographer
- Climatologist
- Ecologist
- Environmental planner
- Geomorphologist
- Hydrologist
- GIS specialist
- Park planner
- Photogrammetrist
- Real estate appraiser
- Researcher
- Teacher/Professor
- Transportation planner
- Urban planner
UBC Science Geographical Sciences Graduates Work As
- Master of Urban Planning Student, McGill University
- Senior Technical Systems Analyst, Provincial Health Services Authority
- Geospatial Analyst and Cartographer, Roy Northern
- Land and Environmental GIS and Air Photograph Specialist, UBC Geographic Information Center
- Geography Laboratory Technician, Douglas College
- Air Quality Specialist, WSP in Canada