Geography and Sustainability Degree (BA, BS)

Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Sustainability at Indiana State?

The Geography and Sustainability (BA, BS) program at Indiana State helps you build a comprehensive understanding of environmental challenges, develop spatial analysis skills, and design innovative, sustainable solutions. Graduates pursue impactful careers addressing global issues and promoting environmental stewardship.

Study the Globe and Sustainability Practices

As a geography and sustainability major, you will study sustainable practices, including how to protect ecosystems, preserve natural resources, and improve the quality of life for future generations. Through coursework, labs, internships, alumni networking, and field trips, you will prepare for a career in environmental consulting, economic development, global studies, data management, land use planning, or environmental protection.

Our geography and sustainability program emphasizes human and physical geography. You can personalize your elective courses to cover a broad range of topics or be more specific to your chosen discipline.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Our professors bring industry and scholarly experience in environmental research and sustainability topics to every class and lab they teach. Faculty educate students in traditional geography disciplines and other research areas, including climatology, dendrochronology (trees), environmental modeling, oceanography, physical geography, and remote sensing.

Students in the geography and sustainability program may have a chance to participate in faculty-led research projects, field work, and field trips, including study-abroad trips. And our small class sizes mean that professors can provide personalized feedback and one-on-one mentorship.

Receive Expert Assistance in Our Labs

Learn more about geography, sustainability, and related topics while conducting research in seven laboratories inside the Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, including:

Atmosphere and Ocean Systems Laboratory
Biogeochemistry Laboratory
Geospatial and Virtual Archaeology Laboratory and Studio
Dendrochronology Laboratory
Paleoecology and Micro-Archaeobotany Laboratory
Paleolimnology Laboratory
Visualization Classroom

What You'll Learn in the Geography and Sustainability Program

The BA and BS in geography and sustainability provide a solid foundation in geography practices, environmental issues, data management, and Geographic Information Systems [GIS].

The program is enhanced with class projects, hands-on learning, community service activities, and field trips. You can complete our geography and sustainability bachelor’s degree programs in four years of full-time study.

Internship opportunities are available, including work as an environmental scientist, GIS specialist, or environmental manager in public and private organizations or agencies. The internship requires a written report and an evaluation by the employer.

Your program will conclude with a project-based course on conservation and sustainability. You will conduct research on human-related environmental issues and present your project at campus levels or at local, regional, and national conferences.

Transfer Credit

Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.

Transfer Guidelines

Career Possibilities for Geography and Sustainability Majors

Employers hire geography and sustainability specialists to study the earth and its lands, features, and people. Our graduates are employed by federal agencies, departments of natural resources, environmental management firms, consulting firms, industrial and commercial companies, research labs, waste management firms, museums, public administration firms, and private environmental engineering firms. Many of our students also pursue graduate study following graduation.

Portrait of a white male professor with mustache and beard wearing a hat and light jacket with green foliage in the background.

Student Research, Professional Practice

“Probably 80 percent of our undergrads in EES are doing original research in our labs. We do a great job of providing experiential learning opportunities. In the sciences, that means they’re doing research like they would as professionals in the field.”

Jim Speer, PhD, professor in the Department of Earth and Environment Systems, leads and mentors students in environmental research.

Read more about Speer’s teaching and research.