Navigate the world. Plan the future.
Investigate complex challenges and plan for better futures by studying geography, geographic information science or urban planning.
Whether you are interested in spatial data science, city planning and housing or the intersections of people and planet, here you can gain the tools you need to succeed.
The mission of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning is to advance geospatial knowledge for a complex world, emphasizing education, research, and applied solutions to urban and environmental problems.
Solving societal and environmental challenges.
Students and faculty at our school pursue hands-on learning and research to solve societal and environmental challenges. They are actively engaged in developing solutions at a local, national and global scale.
Flexible degrees
including fully online options.
#1
in the world for research impact in urban heat studies.
$37M
in funded research over the past five years.
Leading climate research
including the SW-IFL and Urban Climate Research Center.
$25M
in Department of Energy funding for research on extreme heat in Arizona.
Transdisciplinary applications
for GIS and earth mapping through SPARC.
Technical skills with real-world applications.
Urban planners and geographers have diverse and lucrative career paths in environment, health care, housing, climate and more. See some of the many job opportunities that await you.
Cartographer
City planner
Meteorologist
Community developer
Conservation scientist
Emergency resource manager
Environmental analyst
Field researcher
Forest ranger
Geospatial data analyst
GIS software developer
Intelligence analyst
Land surveyor
Natural resources specialist
Public health manager
Remote sensing analyst
Transportation planner
Parks and recreation administrator
I knew GIS was the right path for me when I realized how powerful maps are in telling stories and solving complex problems. Whether it’s tracking environmental changes, understanding urban growth or helping communities prepare for natural disasters, GIS has endless possibilities, and I felt driven to be part of that.”
Mariah Gonzales
2025 Dean’s Medalist
BS in GIS, 2025