About the Department

The Department of Geography & Planning provides a stimulating environment for exploring the nature and diversity of the Earth and its peoples. The undergraduate program includes training in water science, natural resources management, health and planning.

The graduate program reflects the strengths and interests of the research faculty and is particularly strong in Hydrology, Environment and Natural Resources, Indigenous Peoples, Health, and Urban and Regional Planning.

Degrees/Programs Offered by The Department

Location of the Geography and Planning Department

The Department of Geography & Planning is located in Kirk Hall on the University of Saskatchewan campus. It is fortunate to have lecture and seminar rooms, laboratories, and faculty and student offices located together in one unit. Graduate students are usually provided with individual study space (carrels or shared offices) within the department. The department has laboratories devoted to hydrometeorology, geomorphology and hydrology, and computer cartography and remote sensing.

The Department of Geography & Planning's research facilities include the Centre for Hydrology. The Centre for Hydrology provides a focus and catalyst for hydrological research at the University of Saskatchewan. It focusses on advancing the theory and practice of hydrology as a physical environmental science, and emphasizes research and training related to improving descriptions and explanations of the natural and human factors which control the quantity and quality of water resources. The Centre has active research in the Canadian Prairies, Rocky Mountains and the North, leads the World Climate Research Programme’s International Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology and is a major contributor to the Global Institute for Water Security and the Global Water Futures programme.

The Department of Geography & Planning is committed to maintaining its strong national and international reputation for teaching and research.

 

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Department of Geography and Planning
Kirk Hall

117 Science Place
Saskatoon SK 

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Centre for Hydrology, Main Office 
at the Canadian Centre for Water Forecasting and Prediction
101-121 Research Drive
Saskatoon SK

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Coldwater Laboratory
116A - 1151 Sidney Street
Canmore, AB

History

The Department of Geography & Planning at the University of Saskatchewan was founded in 1960 and has maintained an active graduate program since 1963. The department currently offers programs leading to M.A., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees. Individual interdisciplinary programs may be coordinated with other departments on campus. In 2008 the name of the department changed to the Department of Geography and Planning.

The Department supports graduate studies in both human and physical geography. Graduate training and research in the Department has usually focused on the areas of regional development and environmental studies, planning, health with thesis topics formulated within a prairie or Canadian or global context. However, a wide range of problems have been examined in graduate theses over the years.

Career Opportunities

Graduates pursue careers in many exciting areas

Human & Regional Studies

Census research and vital statistics; economic analysis, environmental risk assessment, natural hazards research, land use planning and real estate development, population or demography, regional and urban planning, tourism studies and recreational planning, and transportation research.

Physical & Environmental Studies

Natural resource assessment and management, environmental simulation and modeling, erosion protection and flood control, groundwater remediation, hydrology, natural hazards analysis, renewable resource surveys, vegetation surveys and watershed management.

Geographic Technologies

Remote sensing and image interpretation, computer-aided cartography, natural resource data acquisition and mapping, pollution monitoring, topographic site surveys and 3-D terrain modelling, health service provision an urban transit modelling.