The Geography major at Portland State University (PSU) links environmental studies and cultural studies in programs centered on environmental issues, social and cultural landscapes, sustainability in urban and natural areas, and geographic information science.

Coursework emphasizes systematic and regional approaches to understanding the physical environment and human-environment interactions. Techniques classes in GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and cartography) provide the tools to analyze complex local, regional, and global phenomena.

The geography program gives students an appreciation and understanding of the human environment on global, regional, and local scales. It provides background and requisite training for careers in resource, planning, environmental, or education fields. Geography majors find work in urban and natural resource management, spatial and GIS analysis, urban planning, map design and production and statistical analysis. Geography is the lead department on campus for training in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and spatial analysis.

The Geography minor complements most majors and offers a broad foundational background of knowledge about the world and spatial sciences. Students can either specialize in a particular area of geography such as environmental issues and sustainability or urban and cultural studies, or can further broaden their interests and perspectives by taking upper division geography courses in different areas of geography.