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Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

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The Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

Our mission is to conduct innovative and socially relevant research; to expand students’ intellectual vistas via critical perspectives and valuable tools and skills; and to catalyze sustainable human-natural systems.

We seek to shape a sustainable future for Oklahoma and beyond by creating a community of interdisciplinary scholars and leaders who aim to comprehend the Earth’s human-natural systems.

 

Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability logo.
 

#1

Regionally in
Sustainability
Education

 

3

Specialized
research
clusters

 

9:1

Focused
Student-to-faculty
ratio

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Degree Options

Environmental sustainability with a landscape with windmills in a field.

Environmental Sustainability addresses how societies can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The degree offers three different areas of concentration: culture and society, planning and management, and science and natural resources.

Geography with a landscape of a rocky coastline along the ocean.

Geography is an integrative field that studies people and the world in which they live and the discipline consists of two primary fields: human geography and physical geography. Both of these disciplines use GIS technologies and other analytical tools such as statistics, modeling and qualitative approaches.

Geographic Information Sciences with a map of Oklahoma in the backround.

Geographic Information Science is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of study and employment in the U.S. addresses how geographic information systems and remote sensing (aerial photography and satellite imagery) are used for gathering, analyzing and visualizing all forms of geographically referenced information.

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Launch your career by studying Geography at The University of Oklahoma!

Find your Future

Find the Bachelor's degree that's meant for you

Take your education to the next level

Find out why our research enterprise is like no other

See all the opportunities a path at DGES can offer

DGES Upcoming Events

Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability Uncomfortable Conversations in Comfortable Chairs ?? What's the deal with the Executive Order? 23, A speakeasy series led by DGES students Sarkeys Room 543 | Thursday February 22nd 3-5pm Contact Jay Wimhurst and Gloria Nakvagaba for more details
Uncomfortable Conversations in Comfortable Chairs

This Thursday at 3pm, join us in Sarkeys Room 543 for another round of Uncomfortable Conversations in Comfortable Chairs, a monthly speakeasy series organized by DGES devoted to discussing difficult topics in a safe space without judgment from others. We'll be talking this month about Oklahoma's recent Executive Order that limits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in higher education, and how DGES can pivot to sustain its DEI values moving forward. Your insight makes a real impact on how DGES fosters a community and culture that is welcome to everyone regardless of background, expertise, or aspirations, so we hope that you will join us. See the attached flyer for details, and please contact Jay Wimhurst and Gloria Nakyagaba if you have any questions.

View the flyer (pdf)

Coffee espresso, free coffee, tea, snacks, image of a hot coffee and plants
First Monday Coffee Hour

Join DGES for our new First Monday Coffee Hour Event on Monday, April 1st at 9:30 AM in SEC 410 Student Lounge! Every first Monday of the Month come and enjoy free coffee, tea, snacks, and good conversation.

DGES Calendar Events


DGES News

ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ MeeT Me At The Creek BEST MINI-DOC COMPETITION BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2024 World Premiere Zootown Arts Community Center February 22nd - 11:30am February 24th - 2:45pm.
ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ (Meet Me at the Creek) Film Named Top 10 Finalist at Big Sky Documentary Festival

ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ, directed by Loren Waters and executively produced by DGES' Laurel Smith,  is a top 10 finalist for the best mini-doc competition at the academy award-qualifying Big Sky Documentary Festival! The film tells a story of interconnectedness and Cherokee values and an effort to restore Oklahoma's Tar Creek.

Click here to learn more

ᏗᏂᏠᎯ ᎤᏪᏯ MeeT Me At The Creek BEST MINI-DOC COMPETITION BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2024 World Premiere Zootown Arts Community Center February 22nd - 11:30am February 24th - 2:45pm.
Ph.D. Student Afshin Shayeghi Moghalou Wins Best Graduate Poster on 2023 GIS Day

Afshin Shayeghi Moghalou's poster titled "Assessing Drought Impacts on Groundwater and Agriculture in Iran Using High-Resolution Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Products" won first place in the Graduate Poster Competition at OU's 2023 GIS Day!

2023 GIS Day Storymap

Bitácora de Viaje: Study abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico BITÁCORA DE VIAJE: STUDy ABROAD IN OAXACA, MEXICO November 12, 2023 storymap title.
Oaxaca Study Abroad StoryMap

Check out this StoryMap featuring the study abroad program in Oaxaca, Mexico! The StoryMap, by Geography M.A. student Abby Cervenka, highlights the one-month journey of experiential learning. 

View the storymap

Darren Purcell and Becca Palzynski at a conference booth.
Dr. Darren Purcell Wins OCSS 2024 University Professor of the Year

Dr. Darren Purcell won the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies 2024 College/University Professor of the Year!

Learn More About OCSS


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