The subject of the world! Geographers are involved in community planning in aspects concerned with climatic change, flood risk and storm damage, as well as with developmental issues such as innovations in farming, city expansion, health matters and refugees. Work areas are to be found both in Sweden and abroad (SIDA, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Red Cross, Swedish Rescue Services Agency, etc.). As the impact of human induced changes to our environment becomes more and more intrusive, the geographer’s role takes on a new and important dimension. Geographers contribute to planning future communities and are key participants in the creation of a sustainable future for people on the regional, national and global planes. The discipline Geography encompasses environmental and social questions that are linked to world’s diversity of municipal and rural environments, populations, and living conditions. Geography is a science that since the time of the ancient Greeks has aimed to describe, analyse and explain the earth as the human habitat. Man’s living conditions and environment are largely dependent on whereabouts on the surface of the earth he lives, and there are clear connections between the differing development patterns of different societies and the surrounding natural environment and its exploitation. Knowledge of the connections and interplay between humankind, socio-cultural development and the natural environment constitutes the core of the discipline Geography. As a result of increasing globalisation in interdisciplinary research, business, international trade and economics, tourism, land management and environmental work, education and the mass media, geographical skills are in high demand. There is furthermore a substantial increase in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and methods of investigation that require the use of satellite imagery and aerial photography (remote sensing).

”Human” in “Human Geography” refers to civilization and society, while “geography” refers to relations of proximity and distance and spatial patterns. Human geography is thus about societies and their spatial patterns and relations. The geographical dimensions may involve local as well as global relations and patterns. The societal issues in human geography concern social, political and economical issues; currently and in an historical perspective. This means that Human Geography is a broad subject with a number of different areas of specialization.

As a student in Human Geography at Stockholm University, you meet leading researchers and teachers in historical geography and landscape studies, migration and population geography, economic geography, gender and planning, GIS and development geography. Within these areas of specialization you will study different ways of living, thinking, planning, travelling and working. You will gain knowledge about global living conditions and work with concepts and methods required to understand relations and patterns. An education in Human Geography includes study tours and excursions, field studies and field work. They may be organized in different ways but share the important core of studying structures and processes in the field. Our courses provide you with the knowledge and skills to work with a range of different tasks such as housing, economic growth, heritage management, land use, environmental problems, urban and regional planning, social and ethnic segregation, urban and regional development, transport and tourism. Human Geography provides you with an education in the social sciences for work on investigations, analysis, planning and communication. Such jobs may deal with local, national or international questions and relations.