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- 2023 Archives
- Scientists dig deep and find a way to accurately predict snowmelt after droughts
- Cracking the Case of Missing Snowmelt After Drought
- 2023 Esri Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Daniel Murphy
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Kyle Kusack
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Matthew Taylor
- Anke Baker Wins Staff Achievement Award
- Spring 2023 Virtual Geospeaker Event with Ginger Gosnell-Myers
- CAG Paper Presentation Award - Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven!
- Informing & Engaging Urban Youth on Public Hearings: GEOG 363 Final Showcase
- Research Talk: Modeling Urban Wetland Complexities
- Highlight Paper: Quantifying land carbon cycle feedbacks under negative CO2 emissions
- Bright Addae winner of the 2023 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jonny Cripps
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Diandra Oliver
- 2023 Geospeaker Presentation with Dr. Pauline McGuirk
- Congratulations to Our Graduates - October 2023
- Evaluating the impact of educational goals at SFU
- The Belongings of Precariously Housed People - A Report
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Takuma Mihara
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Adrienne Arbor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Claire Shapton
- 2023 Distinguished Speaker Presentation with Dr. Deb Cowen
- Cheers to Paul Degrace and his well-earned retirement!
- 2024 Archives
- Professor Nicholas Blomley Honored with the Community-Engaged Research Achievement Award
- Graduate Students Claire Shapton and Marina Chavez Honored with the Community-Engaged Graduate Scholar Award
- Applications now open: 2024 ESRI Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Associate Professor Rosemary Collard achieves 13th place on SFU Altmetric List
- The PEAK feature: GSU hosts inaugural RANGE conference
- Gabrielle Wong wins First Prize in 2023 Student Learning Commons Writing Contest
- Gabrielle Wong receives Warren Gill Memorial Award
- Professor Nick Blomley receives Warren Gill Memorial Award for Community Impact
- Geography Student Union recipient of the FENV 2024 Changemaker Awards
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland reveals the secret sauce of great teaching
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland Receives SFU 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Bright Addae
- GIS undergraduate students participate in the Canada-wide 2024 AppChallenge competition
- Senior Lecturer Andrew Perkins Receives SFU 2024 Dean's Award of Excellence in Teaching
- Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven, Canada's 2024 ESRI Young Scholar
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Robert Ehlert
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Stephan Nieweler
- Eugene McCann writes on "livable cities" in The Tyee
- Tiana Andjelic wins the 2024 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Marina Chavez
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Mia Fitzpatrick
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Lan Qing Zhao
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Tyler Cole
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Benjamin Lartey
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Olivia Nieves
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Max Hurson
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to John Sykes
- Farewell to Robert "Bob" Horsfall, Associate Professor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to André Araújo
- SFU Geography welcomes ethnobotanist, Leigh Joseph, as professor of Indigenous geographies
- Physical Geography September: What is Physical Geography?
- Alysha Van Duynhoven communicates award-winning research at international GIS conference
- How Dr. Tracy Brennand’s visionary leadership shaped the Department of Geography - a heartfelt thank-you
- Dr. Tracy Brennand honoured with the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jay Matsushiba
- Human Geography October: What is Human Geography?
- MA Student Joy Russell featured on CBC Vancouver
- Hallway Screens Slides
- 2023 Archives
- Alumni
Physical Geography September: What is Physical Geography?
Physical Geography is an area of geography that explores with the natural environment and the natural processes that shape the Earth's surface. Landforms, climate, vegetation, soil and hydrology are some main physical aspects of physical geography. Physical Geographers study how all of these elements interact with each other and how they influence human life and activities.
What are the key areas of Physical Geography?
- Biogeography – What is the connection between living organisms and the physical world? Biogeographers focus on ecosystem function and understanding the inter-connectedness of systems that influence that function.
- Climatology – How does the climate change over time and why? Climatology is the study of the climate, atmospheric conditions, weather patterns and climate change.
- Environmental Geography – How can we balance human needs and protect the planet at the same time? Environmental geography studies how humans and nature interact, focusing on the impact of human activities on the environment.
- Geomorphology – Ever wondered about how the earth’s surface was formed? Geomorphology is the study of landforms and processes that shape the earth’s surface.
- Fluvial geomorphology – Rivers are present in nearly every landscape around the world. Fluvial geomorphology studies how river systems shape and are shaped by the landscapes through which they flow.
- Glacial geomorphology – How do the dynamics of glacier systems work to form glacial landscapes? Glacial geomorphology studies glaciers and ice sheets; their formation and decay, movement over time and their impact on the earth’s surface and climate.
- Hydrology – How does water shape our world? Hydrology explores the movement and properties of water on earth; from rivers to lakes.
- Soil Science – How do soils support life? Soil Science explores the importance of soils; their formation, distribution, movement and their interaction with other physical elements.
What is the difference between Physical Geography and Human Geography?
Physical Geography studies the natural environment, where you learn about the earth’s physical surface. Human Geography explores the relationships between people and their environments, where you focus on cultural, economic, political and social issues.
Climate change is a key focus of our department, with Physical Geography courses exploring environmental changes and Human Geography courses addressing climate change impacts on communities. This video highlights how SFU Geography's Physical Geography program integrates both sides of Geography to tackle climate change effectively.
Explore the world through Science
A Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography will have you exploring earth systems science by studying the interactions between air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), land (lithosphere) and the spaces where organisms live (biosphere). You will investigate the events that influence our lives and how we are altering the Earth’s environmental systems.
What Streams can I study?
- Biogeophysical Science - Offering a range of earth system science courses with a focus on earth system dynamics, this stream targets the courses needed for registration as a Professional Agrologist
- Geoscience - This stream investigates earth surface processes and targets the academic requirements for registration as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) (Environmental Geoscience) within Canada.
- Geosystems & GIScience - This stream focuses on the linkages between earth systems science and spatial information science. It also covers the requirements for the Certificate in Geographic Information Science.
Careers in Physical Geography
Career Pathways for Physical Geography graduates are diverse. Career and Volunteer Services can help guide you in choosing a career with your Physical Geography major. You can work as:
- Agrologist
- Climatologist
- Conservation Officer
- Educator
- Emergency Planning Coordinator
- Environmental Consulting
- Environmental Planner
- Geographic Information Systems Specialist
- Geologist
- Hydrologist
- Land Use Planner
- Meteorologist
- Park Ranger
- Regional Planner
- Resource Manager
- Risk Analyst
- Site Researcher
- Soil Scientist
- Sustainability Planner
- Sustainable Programs Manager
Professional Accreditation
You can also choose to pursue professional accreditation as a Professional Geoscientist or Professional Agrologist as part of completing this major.
Co-op Opportunities in Physical Geography
As part of your degree, you have the opportunity to join the Co-op program where you get the chance to apply your knowledge to real-world projects. You gain experience towards professional accreditations and develop professional skills, while building a network of contacts over the course of 3 terms.
Student Stories in Physical Geography
"If you love working outdoors and have a passion for the environment, a Geography degree and some field experience will get you into a junior position or technician position in most organizations. Organizations are always looking for field technicians so try it out! Once you are in, other opportunities often open up."
SHEENA SPENCER
Join our community at SFU Geography
Whether your goal is to become a geoscientist, conservation officer, or environmental planner, SFU Geography's Physical Geography program offers real world exploration and hands on experience. There are many career pathways to explore with this degree!
Interested in becoming a part of the SFU Geography community? Check out our programs to see what major is the right fit for you.