AA, AAT, AS, CERTIFICATE
Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers study the relationships among geographic places, natural systems, society, cultural activities, and the interdependence of all these over space.
There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence, such as how people and their activities are distributed over space, how people use and perceive space, and how people interact with the physical environment. Physical geographers study the physical elements and spatial processes that make up and shape the environment, including energy, air, water, weather, climate, landforms, soils, animals, plants, etc. Many aspects of geography are studied and analyzed using a variety of spatial technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and remotely-sensed imagery. These tools are becoming more and more commonplace throughout society.
Geographers also study the linkages between human activity and natural systems. Geographers were among the first scientists to sound the alarm that human-induced changes to the environment were beginning to threaten the balance of life itself. Geographers today are active in the study of diverse topics, such as global warming, desertification, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, flooding, origin and diffusion of disease, urban and regional planning, global trade, social problems (for example, poverty, ethnic conflict), and many more.
