Overview
Overview
Established in 1981, the Department of Geography Education in the College of Education began offering a master’s program and Ph.D. program in 1988 and 1992, respectively, to nurture geography educators with strong research skills.
Today, the department consists of five faculty members and more than 150 undergraduate students.
The faculty specializes in various areas such as geomorphology, climatology, urban geography, economic geography, social geography, historical geography, cultural geography and geography education.
The Department of Geography Education seeks to cultivate qualified geography educators with diverse areas of expertise and effective teaching methodologies.
With the growing interest in geography in the age of globalization and information technology, the department is playing a key role in developing world-class educators in relevant fields.
In order to nurture experts in the various fields of geography and to meet the demands of globalization, the department curriculum focuses on instilling expert knowledge and teaching practical skills that facilitate the application of knowledge needed in secondary schools.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of basic courses aimed at certifying students to become level 2 educators upon graduation.
The 21 courses include physical geography, human geography, urban geography, rural geography, economic geography, cultural geography, historical geography, geomorphology, climatology, environmental geography, Korean geography, world geography, regional geography, cartography, geographic information systems, remote sensing, quantitative geography, population geography and political geography.
In addition, the department offers supplementary courses in four categories: regional research, systematic geography, geography education and methodology.
1. Regional research enhances understanding of the region by teaching concepts and theories concerning region, space and place. It raises understanding of natural and human phenomena in Korea and around the world and instills a spirit of cooperation for co-existence.
2. Systematic geography solidifies the foundation for approaching the study of the natural environment including topography, climate, soil and forests. Students are taught to analyze human phenomena related to urban geography, rural geography, economic geography, cultural geography and historical geography. By integrating natural and human phenomena, they gain insights into the ecological relationship between humankind and nature
3.Geography education provides a theoretical basis for understanding the goals and subjects of geography education and enables students to effectively apply theory to their teaching practice in secondary schools.
4. Methodology teaches students skills for map reading and geographic survey. In addition to understanding spatial order, they acquire knowledge of geographic statistics and learn how to apply the essential techniques of GIS and ICT education.
The above curriculum emphasizes both theoretical exploration and the acquisition of practical knowledge for teaching. Academic field trips, organized twice a year in the spring and fall semesters, offer valuable educational opportunities.