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Geography and Environment

Understanding, protecting and managing our precious natural environment and wilderness areas, while also planning for societies and adapting to environmental change, is one of the world’s great challenges.

Why study Geography and Environment with us?

Studying at the University of Tasmania means unparalleled access to a diverse range of environments. The multidisciplinary nature of our study options means that you can gain knowledge and skills to apply to a myriad of challenges, communities, and industries around the world.

Studying geography in Tasmania has the landscape and nature advantage. We offer our students a wide range of experiences on campus, as well as only being 5, 10, 30 minutes from campus, that are simply not available at other universities in Australia. Field experiences begin in week 3 of first year and continue through your studies. Geography students do lots of interesting fieldwork and by studying in Tasmania, you get unparalleled access to diverse landscapes to study.

You can study our major through the Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Social Science. Your choice will depend on what topics and perspectives interest you.

Our Geography program can also be partnered with spatial science - a key skill that is in growing demand in the environment sector.

A great environment for learning

Christoph Speer accidentally fell in love with Geography and Environment Studies.

Our study areas

Physical geography

  • climate science
  • geomorphology
  • ecology
  • science policy

Environmental management

  • waste management
  • cultural heritage
  • environmental impact assessment
  • coastal management
  • parks and reserves

Human geography

  • social equity
  • urban development
  • political justice
  • liveable places
  • social policy
  • international aid
  • sustainable tourism

What Careers relate to Geography and Environment?

As a University of Tasmania geographer, you will become skilled in solving problems that have both physical and human dimensions. These skills are highly sought after in high level strategic, managerial, commercial and government positions as policy officers, technical advisors, decision-makers and consultants.

Environmental scientists and managers provide environmental impact consultancy, help companies with air and water pollution mitigation and management, or inform policy at a governmental level.

The job marketing is growing for geographers with the spatial science skills our program offers.

There are great careers for graduates with a geography education. You might not get a job as a geographer, perhaps apart from geography teacher, but there are HEAPS of interesting careers in geography.

Sam Cuff, Graduate

Sam started as a Discovery Ranger, which is a common path in for our students. After gaining his degree, he is now Manager of Community Engagement at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.

Our Geography and Environment Research

Improve the knowledge base for nature conservation.

Our research seeks to understand the dynamics of people and place to contribute to the resolution of environmental and social problems at landscape, regional and global scales.

Our work encompasses and integrates human geography, physical geography, and environmental studies. We have a common focus on environmental values, place, governance, social and institutional change, policy, management, planning and decision-making.

Our chief concern is with the interaction of nature and culture – how these interactions are constituted and how they can be better managed to move towards more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable futures.

This work is motivated by a joint concern for the well-being of people and nature. We seek to enhance personal, social and institutional capacity to secure healthy communities, both natural and cultural. We are committed to social-change approaches based on engagement with, and respect for, human and non-human communities and individuals.