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Kaprielian Hall 416
(213) 740-0050
FAX: (213) 740-0056
Email: uscgeog@usc.edu
Chair: Michael J. Dear, Ph.D.*
Faculty
Professors: Michael J. Dear, Ph.D.*; Genevieve Giuliano, Ph.D. (Policy, Planning, and Development); Dowell Myers, Ph.D. (Policy, Planning, and Development); John P. Wilson, Ph.D.*; Jennifer R. Wolch, Ph.D.*Associate Professors: Carolyn Cartier, Ph.D.; Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Ph.D.; Greg Hise, Ph.D. (Policy, Planning, and Development); Laura Pulido, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: Michael L.B. Jerrett, Ph.D.; Roderick C. McKenzie, Ph.D.*
Research Assistant Professors: Travis Longcore, Ph.D.; Robert Vos, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor: Curtis C. Roseman, Ph.D.
The Department of Geography offers courses concerned with broad-ranging understandings of humans as inhabitants, observers and transformers of their environments. Central themes include: the interrelations between human systems and their natural environments; diversity within cultural, social, economic and political systems; processes that affect the location and spatial organization of population groups and their activities in distinct geographical units (e.g., cities, regions, nations, states, landscapes); the study of place through perspectives on difference, including race, gender, class, sexuality, and the postmodern condition; the sustainability of urban places; globalization and transnationalism; and the mapping and representation of earth surface features and of resource management policies through the lens of geographic information science. Many courses meet general education requirements. Programs are offered for majors, non-majors and graduate students. The department fosters close working relationships among students and faculty.
The undergraduate major leads to the bachelor of arts degree. Students are introduced to basic geographical concepts and methods in a series of required core courses; additional courses emphasizing urban environments, natural environments or geographic information science complement the core. Majors should expect to participate in several field trips as part of their course of study. Practical experience gained while working as interns or research assistants is strongly encouraged. Four interdisciplinary minors also administered by the Geography Department are described in this section. Geography courses feature prominently in three other majors: the B.A. in Social Sciences administered by the Department of History; the B.S. in General Studies administered by the Rossier School of Education; and the B.S. in Environmental Science.
The graduate program is organized around one central theme -- urban environments -- and it focuses on key processes that explain the geography of economic, sociocultural and political life in cities within the context of natural resource opportunities and constraints. Research and teaching in the department focus on contemporary urban opportunities and problems, with special emphasis on Los Angeles, Southern California and other large urban centers around the Pacific Rim. Geographic information science plays an important role in solving problems affecting natural and built environments, and special attention is directed at combining the three core geographic information technologies (geographic information systems, global positioning systems and remote sensing). M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered by the department although college-based sources of financial support are available only for doctoral students. Graduate certificates in geographic information science and in sustainable cities are also offered.