Accessibility Skip to Global Navigation Skip to Local Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Search Skip to Site Map Menu

Study Geography at Otago

People, places and the environment.

Geographers study the environment – both physical and human, including the physical processes that shape the natural environment, the social and cultural processes that explain patterns of human activity, and the interactions between human activity and the natural world.

Geography also explores key environmental and development challenges, such as climate change and inequality, and the potential solutions to these problems. Geography helps us manage human activity and secure the future of our planet.

A Geography degree at Otago will equip you with valuable research and communication skills using interdisciplinary approaches to explore environmental and societal challenges. This combination of practical skills and theoretical learning will serve you well no matter the career you choose.

Apply for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) (2023 applications) through the Dunedin campus in 2023

Apply Now

Apply for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) (2024 applications) through the Dunedin campus in 2024

Apply Now

Why study Geography?

Geography provides a bridge between the arts and the sciences, addressing issues at the local, regional, national and global scales. A Geography degree at Otago provides training through lectures and fieldwork in the environments in which we work.

Geography papers fit well into almost any degree and the School of Geography has strong links with many other disciplines including Geology, Surveying, Agricultural Innovation and sustainability research (Centre for Sustainability).

The mix of analytical and communication skills provided, combined with practical experience make Otago Geography graduates highly sought after in a wide range of industries.

Background required

There are no subjects you have to have done in order to study Geography – you don’t even need to have studied it at school.

Career opportunities

Geography graduates work in the public and private sectors. Their skills and interdisciplinary outlook prepare them for a diverse range of careers.

Central government departments, state-owned enterprises, local government,  private corporations and consultancies employ Geography graduates in areas such as regional and resource planning, environmental management, natural resources (especially water) analysis, social and economic research, social services and regional development.

Geography at Otago

Geography may be taken as the major subject for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or for the Bachelor of Science (BSc). In addition, many students enrol for undergraduate papers in Geography while pursing other studies, including Law, Commerce, Humanities, Ecology, Geology, Surveying, Physical Education, Tourism, and Education.

The undergraduate programme provides a firm grounding in the social, economic and physical aspects of the environment. The study of Geography falls into three main areas:

Human Geography in which students focus on issues of urban and economic change, uneven development, social themes like ethnicity, childhood and gender, geopolitical conflict and the human use of natural resources.

Physical Geography in which students focus on physical geography, including earth surface processes and their expression in the landscape, the Earth’s weather systems and climates, factors which lead to geographic variations in the distribution and growth of living things, and environmental controls on the availability and quality of water.

Environmental Management in which students gain a theoretical and practical understanding of environmental processes such as climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, hydrology and soil science. This area incorporates sustainable development, integrated resource management and environmental planning and policy.

Both BA and BSc Geography students can mix papers from across the discipline to build an applied environmental management programme within the Geography degree. It is also possible to take Environmental Management as a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) degree.

Teaching style

Geography papers are taught in a range of ways. Students attend lectures, tutorials and labs, and gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and practical courses in research methods.

Further study

The School of Geography offers an honours programme. Postgraduate studies include the Master of Planning, Master of International Development and Planning, Master of Arts, Master of Science, postgraduate diplomas, and a strong PhD programme.

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

Programme requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Geography

Level Papers Points
100-level

GEOG 101  Physical Geography

GEOG 102  Geographies of Sustainable Futures

18

18

200-level

GEOG 280  Engaging with People and Place: Doing Geographical Research

Two further 200-level GEOG papers (excluding GEOG 201)

18

36

300-level

GEOG 380  Field Research Studies

Three further 300-level GEOG papers

18

54

Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

198
Total   360

Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Geography

Papers

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Geography

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Geography is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Geography

Papers

Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Geography

Papers and Thesis
  • GEOG 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

  • Four 400-level GEOG papers

  • Thesis: GEOG 5

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

 

Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Geography

Level Papers Points
100-level

GEOG 101  Physical Geography

GEOG 102  Geographies of Sustainable Futures

STAT 110  Statistical Methods

18

18

18

200-level

GEOG 201  Field Research Methods (Science)

At least one of GEOG 281, GEOG 282, GEOG 283, GEOG 284GEOG 286, GEOG 287, GEOG 288, GEOG 289, GEOG 298, GEOG 299

One further 200-level GEOG paper (excluding GEOG 280)

18

18

 
18

300-level

GEOG 301  Field Research Studies

Two of GEOG 387, GEOG 388, GEOG 389, GEOG 390, GEOG 392, GEOG 393, GEOG 394, GEOG 395, GEOG 398, GEOG 399

One further 300-level GEOG paper

18

36

 
18

Plus

180 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

180
Total   360

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Geography

Papers

Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Geography

Papers

Master of Science (MSc) in Geography

Papers and Thesis
  • GEOG 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

  • Four 400-level GEOG papers

  • Thesis: GEOG 5

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

 

Minor subject requirements

Geography (Arts option) as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level

GEOG 101  Physical Geography

GEOG 102  Geographies of Sustainable Futures

18

18

200-level Two 200-level GEOG papers (excluding GEOG 201) 36
300-level One 300-level GEOG paper (excluding GEOG 301, GEOG 380) 18
Total   90

Geography (Science option) as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level

GEOG 101  Physical Geography

GEOG 102  Geographies of Sustainable Futures

18

18

200-level

Two of GEOG 201, GEOG 216, GEOG 281, GEOG 282, GEOG 283, GEOG 284, GEOG 285, GEOG 286, GEOG 287, GEOG 288, GEOG 289, GEOG 298, GEOG 299

36

300-level One of GEOG 387, GEOG 388, GEOG 389, GEOG 390, GEOG 392, GEOG 393, GEOG 394, GEOG 395, GEOG 397, GEOG 398, GEOG 399 18
Total   90

Papers

Paper code Year Title Points Teaching period
GEOG101 2023 Physical Geography 18 points Semester 1
GEOG102 2023 Geographies of Sustainable Futures 18 points Semester 2
GEOG201 2023 Field Research Methods 18 points Full Year
GEOG210 2023 Social Geography 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG212 2023 Transformations in Developing Countries 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG214 2023 Geographies of Global Economic Change 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG215 2023 Envisioning Sustainable Cities 18 points Semester 2
GEOG216 2023 Environmental Management: Principles and Values 18 points Semester 1
GEOG219 2023 Special Topic in Human Geography 18 points Semester 1
GEOG228 2023 Geographies of Global Development and Sustainability 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG276 2023 Geographies of Contestation, Action and Change 18 points Semester 2
GEOG278 2023 Geographies of the South Pacific 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG280 2023 Engaging with People and Place: Doing Geographical Research 18 points Semester 1
GEOG281 2023 Topics in Physical Geography 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG282 2023 Climate Change: Present and Future 18 points Semester 1
GEOG283 2023 Climate Change: The Past 18 points Semester 2
GEOG284 2023 Soils and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG285 2023 Southern Landscapes 12 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG286 2023 Climatology 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG287 2023 Plants, People and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG288 2023 Rivers and Runoff 18 points Semester 1
GEOG289 2023 Geomorphology 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG298 2023 Coastal Geomorphology 18 points Semester 2
GEOG299 2023 Freshwater Resources: Monitoring and Management 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG301 2023 Field Research Studies 18 points Full Year
GEOG328 2023 Geographies of Global Development and Sustainability 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG374 2023 Geographies of Global Economic Change 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG376 2023 Geographies of Contestation, Action and Change 18 points Semester 2
GEOG378 2023 Geographies of the South Pacific 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG379 2023 Special Topic in Human Geography 18 points Semester 1
GEOG380 2023 Field Research Studies 18 points Full Year
GEOG381 2023 Social Geography 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG382 2023 Transformations in Developing Countries 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG384 2023 Envisioning Sustainable Cities 18 points Semester 2
GEOG387 2023 Topics in Physical Geography 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG388 2023 Climate Change: Present and Future 18 points Semester 1
GEOG389 2023 Climate Change: The Past 18 points Semester 2
GEOG390 2023 Soils and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG392 2023 Climatology 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG393 2023 Plants, People and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG394 2023 Rivers and Runoff 18 points Semester 1
GEOG395 2023 Geomorphology 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG397 2023 Environmental Management: Policy and Practice 18 points Semester 2
GEOG398 2023 Coastal Geomorphology 18 points Semester 2
GEOG399 2023 Freshwater Resources: Monitoring and Management 18 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG401 2023 Theories of Development 20 points Semester 1
GEOG402 2023 Development Planning and Practice 20 points Semester 2
GEOG454 2023 Alpine Geomorphology 20 points Semester 2
GEOG457 2023 Advanced Urban Geography 20 points Semester 2
GEOG459 2023 Biogeography 20 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG460 2023 Climatology 20 points Semester 1
GEOG461 2023 Mountain Hydrology 20 points Semester 2
GEOG463 2023 Geographies of Justice 20 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG464 2023 An Approved Course in Geography 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
GEOG465 2023 Special Topic in Geography 20 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG470 2023 A Research Topic in Geography 40 points Full Year
GEOG471 2023 Impact Assessment and Sustainability 20 points Not offered in 2023
GEOG472 2023 Developments in Environmental Management 20 points Semester 1
GEOG474 2023 Coastal Management 20 points Semester 1
GEOG490 2023 Dissertation 60 points Full Year
GEOG495 2023 Master's Thesis Preparation 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period
GEOG590 2023 Research Dissertation 60 points 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period

Key information for future students

Contact us

School of Geography
Email geography@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/geography