Overview
The School of Geography offers several major subject options in Geography and Environmental Management, with opportunities to customise your degree through your choice of papers to suit your goals and interests.
We also teach both Geography and Environmental Management as minor subjects, as well as a minor in Environment and Society.
Geography and Environmental Management can both be studied through two different but inter-related pathways. You can focus on environmental science and earth surface processes, including climatology, through a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or science stream. Alternatively, you can approach your study from a social science perspective, focusing on human interactions with the environments in which we live, including resilience, social and environmental justice, environmental policy, global development, sustainability in all its dimensions, and inequality at all scales. Whether you choose a science or social science study pathway, you'll have opportunities to explore the connections between these perspectives.
Study Geography
Geography is a major subject for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc). The Bachelor of Sustainability (BSust) offers majors in Human Geography and Physical Geography.
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Geography
Bachelor of Science majoring in Geography
Bachelor of Sustainability majoring in Human Geography
Bachelor of Sustainability majoring in Physical Geography
Minor in Geography
Geography can also be a minor subject for many Otago degrees, with a choice of either an Arts-focused or Sciences-focused Geography minor. Programme details for the Geography minor options can be found on the Geography subject page:
Study Geography at Otago – Programme details
Study Environmental Management
Environmental Management is a major subject for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Sustainability (BSust) degrees. The BSust offers a choice of two streams for the Environmental Management major; one science-focused and the other more social science-focused.
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Environmental Management
Bachelor of Science majoring in Environmental Management
Bachelor of Sustainability majoring in Environmental Management
Minor in Environmental Management
Environmental Management can also be a minor subject for many Otago degrees. Programme details for the minor can be found on the Environmental Management subject page:
Study Environmental Management at Otago – Programme details
Minor in Environment and Society
Environment and Society is a minor subject for the BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc and BComSc degrees.
Find out more about the Environment and Society minor
Programme details for the minor are listed on the Environment and Society subject page:
Study Environment and Society at Otago
Choosing which papers to take
Papers offered in the School of Geography span from science to social science across human and physical geography, environmental management and sustainability. We offer undergraduate papers (formal lectures) from 100- to 300-level papers.
Schedule and list of Geography papers we offer
If you have any questions about our courses after viewing the information – you should in the first instance, contact the following course advisers:
- Ben Varkalis
First-year Geography course adviser
Email ben.varkalis@otago.ac.nz - Professor Nicolas Cullen
Senior Science Course Adviser: Undergraduate Courses (100–300 level)
Email nicolas.cullen@otago.ac.nz - Professor Sophie Bond
Senior Arts Course Adviser: Undergraduate Courses (100–300 level)
Email sophie.bond@otago.ac.nz - Associate Professor Mike Hilton
Senior Environmental Management Adviser
Email mike.hilton@otago.ac.nz
The above staff can advise you about course-related matters during the academic year.
If you cannot reach one of these advisers immediately (e.g. staff may be in the field or on leave), then contact:
The School of Geography administrators
Email geography@otago.ac.nz
Application information for prospective students
If you are a New Zealand or Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and want to study at undergraduate level, please read:
Application information at for New Zealand students at undergraduate level
If you are an international student and want to study at undergraduate level, please read:
Application information for International students at undergraduate level