People have always sought to understand the world they inhabit. Geography begins with this curiosity about both the familiar and the remote, but it does not stop with a simple list of what is where. It seeks to know why things are where they are. Geography is an integrative discipline concerned with the nature and significance of the patterns, places, and landscapes that make up the earth's surface. It embraces both the natural and human and is particularly concerned with how humans interact with the earth's natural systems. The last fifteen years have seen a resurgence of geographical study at all levels. Economic globalization has made geographical knowledge increasingly crucial. In addition, the digital revolution has transformed geography's traditional mapping tools into geographic information systems (GIS) that can combine and analyze satellite and other kinds of data. Today there is a large and expanding job market for graduates with GIS skills. Geographers' multidimensional training allows them to work in the environmental field, as well as in business, planning, and education. There is also a demand for students in geography graduate programs where most students are fully supported.
As part of the AGES Department, the geography program at Clarion is diverse and cross-disciplinary. The faculty is engaged in local and international research. Students often work as interns and collaborate on faculty projects. The department maintains a state-of-the-art GIS laboratory as well as a map library.
