About Us

Welcome to Northern Michigan University’s geography department. We encourage you to browse our Web pages to learn about our programs, faculty and career possibilities.

Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers use high-tech tools to discover and explain spatial patterns in the natural and human worlds. They are actively involved in researching a host of contemporary issues, including global warming, globalization, sustainable development and natural hazards.  Geographers still make maps, but pen and ink has been replaced by computer software.

There are two main branches of geography: human and physical. Physical geography is concerned with the earth’s natural systems and how they both impact and are impacted by humans. Human geography is concerned with spatial expressions of people. A third, and increasingly important, component of geographical study is geographic information science; this includes techniques, such as geographical information systems, remote sensing, cartography and global positioning. These techniques are used by human and physical geographers to study and explain spatial patterns.