Geography is the study of place and location, why things are where they are, and how a location's characteristics affect natural processes, the environment, and human activities. It explores how we interact with, alter, and manage the physical environment. Geography is a practical science that not only helps us understand our world, but adapt to and thrive in it. The major in geography offers the opportunity to develop greater understanding of a specific aspect of geography by choosing electives from one of three areas of study: human geography, geographic information science (GIS), or natural environmental systems. With the proper selection set of electives, the student can meet federal civil service qualification standards as a soil scientist or hydrologist.