Ranked among the top departments in the discipline by the National Research Council,
the Department of Geography has faculty members whose expertise spans the discipline
of geography.
We are the only university in South Carolina to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in geography. The Department of Geography offers two undergraduate degrees , a B.S. and a B.A, as well as a minor for students from other programs who wish to
enhance their degrees. Graduate students in our department can pursue one of three graduate degrees , M.A., M.S., or Ph.D.
Our faculty is active in research, which means our students, both graduate and undergraduate,
have ample opportunity to participate and to present research during their time here.
USC is ranked a top tier research university, which opens doors for our students to
pursue a wide range of research interests .
Since classical times, geography has been a discipline of explorers and travelers.
Geography takes you outside the classroom, offering opportunities to apply and to
enhance what you've learned in the field. Our students can be found measuring trees
at Congaree National Park, mapping historic buildings in downtown Columbia, and launching
weather balloons from campus. Both graduate and undergraduate students have been recipients
of prestigious awards to study and conduct research abroad, including Fulbright and
Rhodes Scholarships. We encourage our students to study abroad, either through semester-
and year-long study abroad programs, or through shorter courses, like our department's
annual Maymester in Chile.
Student Spotlight
Combining his interest in marine science with geography, Sean McGill found a double
major ended up being a great decision for him.
Meet Sean
