Department of Geography & Geospatial Sciences

View of students looking at computer screens.

Bob Watrel, Department Head
George White, Professor/Graduate Coordinator (M.S. Program)
Xiaoyang Zhang, Professor/Graduate Coordinator (Ph.D. Program)
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences
Wecota Hall 109, Box 506
605-688-4511

Geography is an exciting field that recognizes the complex relationships and linkages of human and natural systems; geography is the science of place. As such, geographers study and analyze many of today’s pressing issues, which range from climate change, human modification of the Earth’s systems, environmental hazards, resource assessment, and land use to population distributions, urbanization, cultural adaption, political organization of space, and globalization. Geographers’ tools, skill sets, and techniques, which include computer cartography, remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), are recognized increasingly as essential for solving many contemporary questions and are not only being adopted by businesses and governmental agencies but also by wider society. More people are recognizing that geography is fundamental to understanding our world and solving many of the problems that confront us.

The Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences at South Dakota State University offers Bachelor’s of Science programs in Geography and Geographic Information Sciences (GISc), Master’s of Science degrees in Geography and Geography with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems, and a Ph.D. in Geospatial Sciences and Engineering. A diverse faculty focuses on topical specialties that include environment, geomorphology, soils, land use, hazards, energy use, cultural issues, historical, and political geography. Regional specialties are North America and Europe.

Graduate Faculty

Chris Crawford, Adjunct Associate Professor
Maitiniyazi Maimaitijiang, Assistant Professor
Bruce Millett, Assistant Professor
Birgit Peterson, Adjunct Associate Professor
David Roy, Adjunct Professor
Saraswati (Saru), Assistant Professor
Bob Watrel, Department Head and Associate Professor
George W. White, Professor
George Xian, Adjunct Professor
Hankui Zhang, Assistant Professor
Xiaoyang Zhang, Professor

Programs

Master’s Degrees

Geography (M.S.)
Geography (M.S.) - Geographic Information Sciences Specialization
Professional Science (M.S.) - Geographic Information Sciences Emphasis

Doctoral Degrees

Certificates

Facilities and Services

The Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences houses the Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence and produces its own annual Geography Convention, the longest running such event in the United States.

The Geospatial Science and Engineering (Ph.D.) facilities are housed in various locations on campus at SDSU, including the Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence in Wecota Hall and the Image Processing Laboratory in Daktronics Engineering Hall, as well at the United States Geological Survey’s Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science near Baltic, South Dakota.

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities

The department provides numerous opportunities for student engagement. For example, the Geography Club is a student organization centered on both academic and social functions. Membership is open to anyone interested. Additionally, the South Dakota State Geography Convention.

Students and faculty regularly travel including attendance at regional and national geography meetings, as well as travel to other parts of the world in pursuit of their individual scholarly interests.