March 2011
The faculty and staff of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Planning
welcome you to this new website designed to provide you with basic information about our Department.
This website is currently under construction but will soon be up and running with all the latest
information about what is happening in the Department.
The mission of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Planning at the University of South Florida is
threefold:
- to conduct basic and applied research;
- to provide exceptional quality education and professional development opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and
- to serve the region, community, and the University.
The Department maintains a strong international focus and undertakes research in many settings in North America
and throughout the world, particularly Africa, Asia (particularly China, India, and the Middle East), Europe,
and Latin America. The Department encourages engaged teaching and scholarship within communities and has strong
connections with community partners in the Tampa Bay region and many other locations around the world.
The department offers six degree programs and four certificate programs. They are the B.A. in Geography,
B.S. in Environmental Science & Policy, M.A. in Geography, Master's in Urban and Regional Planning (MURP),
M.S. in Environmental Science & Policy, an integrated Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Science & Policy,
three graduate certificates, and one undergraduate certificate. The Department is also home to the USF Botanical
Gardens, the College’s Community Initiative Program, and the Weather Station. The undergraduate programs
offer a broad education in geography and environmental science and policy, which, combined with undergraduate
research and practical knowledge, provides the necessary experience for a range of employment opportunities.
The undergraduate certificate in Urban Studies provides opportunities for in-depth examination of urban topics.
The masters’ degrees develop hands-on research undertaken with faculty mentors. The graduate certificate in GIS
is designed for advanced learners interested in spatial information systems. The graduate certificate in
Environmental Management and Policy focuses on training individuals in managing complex issues related to the
environment, and the Community Development certificate promotes engaged scholarship. The doctoral degree is
designed for advanced students specializing in research at the cutting edge of the discipline.
The internal administrative and curricular structure of the Department includes two main areas of teaching
and research: 1) Geography; and 2) Environmental Science & Policy / Urban and
Regional Planning.
For more information about these two areas contact:
Geography
Geography Director, Dr. Jayajit Chakraborty, jchakrab@usf.edu
Graduate Coordinator, Dr. M. Martin Bosman, bosman@usf.edu
Environmental Science & Policy / Urban and Regional Planning
ESP Director, Dr. Philip Reeder, preeder@usf.edu
URP Director, Dr. Ambe Njoh, njoh@usf.edu
Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Jennifer Collins, collinsjm@usf.edu