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The Department of Geography and Environment at UNC Chapel Hill is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusiveness for all faculty, staff, and students. We welcome all who join our department, including historically underrepresented groups and people, regardless of their economic status, gender, sexuality, and disability.
The Department of Geography and Environment at Carolina brings a unique perspective to the study of some of our world’s most pressing issues. Geographers integrate physical science, social science, and the humanities to study social and environmental patterns and processes on the earth’s surface. From analyzing regional dynamics of climate change, hydrology, vegetation, and biodiversity to investigating new global structures of work and labor, religion, public health, our faculty and students conduct cutting-edge research at one of the top geography departments in the country.
Explore our programs, see where our alumni are now, and find out how geography can help you get where you’re going. Geography released its 2025 newsletter in May. Please click here to download.
Events
Department of Geography and Environment Statement on the “No Peace Without Justice: A Round-Table Talk on Social Justice in Palestine” public event on November 28, 2023.
This event was co-sponsored by the Department of Geography and Environment and intended to provide a scholarly and civil forum that brings learning and understanding of the historical context for the current violence in the Middle East. The appalling remarks made by one of the speakers at the event do not represent the position of the Department of Geography and Environment. We condemn all forms of speech advocating for violence or prejudice.
No university funds were used for the event and no panelist was compensated. Students were not required to attend.
Please see Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz’s statement and the message from the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences regarding the event.
Colloquium – Dean Stan Ahalt
Friday 3:30 pm
Colloquium – Fausto Machado Silva
Friday 3:30 pm
Colloquium – Undergraduate Thesis celebration
Friday 3:30 pm
News
UNC GIS Day 2025 Map Contest Highlights Innovation and Excellence in Student Mapping
The annual UNC GIS Day Map Contest was held on the second floor of Davis Library on GIS Day 2025, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and campus partners to celebrate creativity and innovation in spatial analysis. Nearly 40 participants attended … Read more
Teaching Assistant Professor Position in HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
The Department of Geography and Environment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks to fill a full-time teaching assistant professor fixed-term position in Human Geography. The position includes an initial appointment for 3 years with the possibility … Read more
The WELL CARE consortium, funded by the European Union and working in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill and Professor Elizabeth Olson, releases second newsletter
The WELL CARE project, funded by the European Union, has released its second newsletter with insights into the progress of the consortium as it works to enhance the mental wellbeing of long-term care workers and informal (family) caregivers. WELL CARE … Read more
E-book of Professor Scott Kirsch’s “American Colonial Spaces in the Philippines” now Open Access
With support from a Luce Foundation award administered by UNC’s Carolina Asia Center, the electronic version of Scott Kirsch’s book, “American Colonial Spaces in the Philippines: Insular Empire” (2023) is now available for free and open access on the publisher’s … Read more
Careers
Cesar Reyes
BA, Class of ’21
Transportation Analyst
“Aside from the very important hard skill of using GIS software. Geography taught me to look beyond the numbers and lines on the map and invest in learning in the story, emotions, and ideas of a place.”
David Hunt
BA, class of ‘87
GIS Analyst/E911 Coordinator
“Many skills I learned at UNC remain relevant today. Courses in cartography, remote sensing, spatial analysis, and urban geography built a strong GIS foundation. Programming and database skills from computer science are still essential, and geology knowledge has supported my work in emergency management and public safety planning.”
Claire Strack
BA, Class of ’21
Public Health Analyst at RTI International
“My training in spatial data science taught me many of the R skills that I now use on a near-daily basis to prepare and analyze spatial data. My exposure to spatial data science began with the course GEOG 215 where I applied the knowledge from the course under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Delamater. The technical background and problem-solving skills I gained from these experiences have played a crucial part in preparing me for my current role.”