The Environmental Systems concentration in Geography focuses on the processes that shape the physical features of the landscape. Climate, geology, and biology interact in complicated ways to result in the weather, landforms, and life that characterize any place. The surface of the Earth as we see it today is the result of millions of years of gradual change and of past catastrophes. The long-term dynamics of natural systems provide the context for evaluating changes wrought by people over recent times, while also acknowledging and evaluating potentially long history of people shaping and interacting with environments through time.<br>As a geography major, youll come to understand how national and physical boundaries affect power and inequality, the significance of resource abundance and resource shortage for different people in different places, why particular regions contribute more to environmental issues than others, how climate change affects plants, animals, and water resources, how place defines who we are, how we act, and the choices we make, and much more. Youll learn how to use cutting edge spatial technologies that are in high demand in business, governments, and nonprofits around the world. Asking these questions and using these methods, youll learn where positive change is taking place and how to be a part of it.