Vancouver Island University offers a:
- Bachelor of Arts - Honours, Major and Minor in Geography
- Bachelor of Science - Minor in Geography
- Bachelor of Science - Major in Geoscience
- Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications
- Master in GIS Applications
- Master of Community Planning
- Forestry Transfer Option
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Geography, features three streams:
Sustainable Resource Management
Urban and Social Sustainability
Geography instructors are committed to providing student-centered education. Small classes enable a high degree of student-faculty interaction. There are currently 6.5 full-time faculty members and one technician in the Department.
VIU’s Geography program provides a balance of theoretical and applied coursework designed to strengthen student communication skills (oral, written, visual), deliver a range of employable skills (e.g., geographic communication, spatial analysis, statistics, remote sensing [RS], and geographic information systems (GIS), and challenge students to think critically, analyze problems, and seek resolutions to conflicts in any number of areas of geographic interest. Geography students enjoy the privilege of learning GIS and RS applications in a dedicated, state-of-the-art lab. Interpreting aerial photographs, satellite images, and topographic maps are an integral part of the geography curricula.
Students who complete a BSc Major in Geoscience are eligible to become a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC). Additional coursework may be required.
Those who choose to transfer to another post-secondary institution in British Columbia, after one or two years of study at VIU, are encouraged to consult the BC Transfer Guide for additional information.
For further information about Geography programs at VIU, contact the Chair of the Department, at 250.753.3245 Ext. 6296 or GeoChair@viu.ca.