Geographers study the world around us: landforms such as mountain ranges, rivers, valleys, forests, deserts, and grasslands; as well as the built environment including cities, transportation, and economic networks. Geography is truly an integrated discipline. Geographers interact with both the physical and social sciences in their quest to better understand the world around us.

Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, is the tool that geographers use to analyze their world. What, you have never heard of GIS? You have probably used one, such as Google Maps and Google Earth. GIS are also used in the social and physical sciences as well as in business, law enforcement, disaster management and urban planning to name a few. For more information about GIS at Foothill, please see the Foothill College GIS page or contact the department chair and program advisor, Allison Lenkeit Meezan

The Foothill College Geography & GIS department is currently working on an NSF funded project Using a Web-based GIS to Teach Problem-based Science in High School and College. This project collaborates with the San Jose State University GIS program and allows Foothill Students to learn the in-demand job skill of web-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

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