Program overview
Does geography sound like high school geography? Actually, it's completely different at the university level. This major is an interdisciplinary field that studies both natural and human phenomena on the Earth's surface. You'll learn about natural laws (like climate, soil, hydrology) as well as human activities (such as cities, economy, population). Core courses include Physical Geography, Human Geography, Cartography and Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Environmental Science. You'll learn how to analyze forest changes using satellite imagery, plan urban traffic with GIS software, and even conduct field trips to study geological landforms. Chinese universities have unique advantages in geography: for example, Peking University, Nanjing University, and Beijing Normal University are global leaders in remote sensing and GIS; Lanzhou University has deep expertise in arid zone research; and East China Normal University is renowned for its work on estuaries and coasts. This major suits students who are curious about nature, enjoy using technology to solve real-world problems, and don't mind getting a bit sunburned during fieldwork. A solid foundation in math and computer science is helpful but not required—many schools teach from scratch.