B.A. in geography is a graduation course that comes under the field of arts. It is a 3 years course divided into 6 semesters. The course deals with not only the geographical features of India but also the earth’s features and its population. Various fields like study of the features of soil, climate, plantations etc will be covered in this course. This course will enrich the students about the geography of the world as a whole.

Advantages or Benefits of Doing Bachelor of Arts Honors in Geography

After completion of the course students can look for job both in private and public sector. Those interested to do higher studies have option for that too. There are a lot of job openings in colleges or universities, NGO’s, Government departments etc. But it is always preferred to do a masters degree as it will be difficult to get a job with a mere degree certificate.

Eligibility Criteria for B.A. (Hons) (Geography) program

All those students who have completed their 10+2 can apply for BA Geography. The minimum pass percentage mark is 45%. This can vary according to the colleges.

Admission Procedure for B.A. (Hons) (Geography)

Colleges select candidates on the basis of the marks secured by them for their 10+2. Students should apply to colleges which they wish to join. According to the marks secured or on the basis of the merit list students will be enrolled for the course.

Bachelor of Arts Honors in Geography Colleges in India

• A.A. Government Arts College for Men, Namakkal (Tamil Nadu)
• Bharathis Womens College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Deen Dayal Upadhaya (D.D.U.) Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh)
• Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (I.I.G.), Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
• Osmania University : College of Science, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh)
• Presidency College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Punjab University : Department of Geography, Chandigarh (Chandigarh)
• Queen Mary’s College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded (Maharashtra)
• Vaugh School of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, SHIATS, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
• St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
• Presidency College, Kolkata
• Maharani Laxmi Bai Government College of Excellence, Gwalior (M.P.) India
• Rajendra College, Chapra
• Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi
• Maulana Azad College, Kolkata
• Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata

B.A. (Hons) (Geography) course curriculum

It is a 3 year course divided into 6 semesters and the subjects included are:

Semester I

• Geomorphology
• Climatology
• Cartographic techniques (practical)
• Geography of population

Semester II

• Analytical physical geography
• Oceanography
• Thematic cartography (practical)
• Geography of settlements

Semester III

• Economic geography
• Environmental geography
• Remote sensing (practical)
• Urban geography

Semester IV

• Geography of natural resources
• Spatial dimensions of development
• Statistical methods in geography (practical)
• Geography of India

Semester V

• Evolution of geographical thought
• Social geography
• Field techniques (practical)
• Agricultural geography
• Biogeography
• Political geography

Semester VI

• Disaster management
• Regional planning: case studies
• Geographical information system (practical)
• Geography of tourism
• Contemporary environmental issues
• Rural development

Specializations

• Behavioral Geography
• Biogeography
• Climatology
• Coastal Geography
• Cultural Geography
• Demography Geography
• Development Geography
• Economic Geography
• Environmental Geography
• Geodesy
• Geomorphology
• Glaciology
• Health Geography
• Historical Geography
• Hydrology
• Landscape ecology
• Limnology
• Oceanography
• Palaeogeography
• Pedology
• Political Geography
• Quaternary science
• Regional Geography
• Urban Geography
• Feminist Geography

B.A. (Hons) (Geography) Course Evaluation

The students are evaluated on the basis of their performance in the examination conducted at the end of each semester. Internal marks are given on the basis of the practical exams, case study, record submission, class tests, attendance etc.

B.A. (Hons) (Geography) Text Books

• Geomorphology: A Systematic Analysis of Late Cenozoic Landforms
• World Geomorphology
• Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography
• Introduction to Geomorphology
• Fluvial Forms and Processes
• Rivers: Form and Processes in Alluvial Channels,
• Earth’s Changing Surface
• The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to physical Geology, 4th Edition
• Principles of Geomorphology
• An Outline of Geomorphology: The Physical Basis of Geography
• Synoptic and Dynamic Climatology
• Atmosphere, Weather and Climate,
• Fundamentals of Meteorology
• Global Climates,
• General Climatology
• The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology
• Climatology: An Atmospheric Science
• Applied Climatology: Principles and Practice
• International Cartographic Association: Basic Cartographic
• Working with Map, Survey of India
• Fundamentals of Cartography
• An Introduction to the Study of Map Projections
• Population Geography
• Principles of Population Studies
• An Introduction to Population Geography
• The End of the World Population
• Growth in the 21st Century
• Population Geography: Tools and Issues,
• Population Geography: Progress and Prospects
• Population Geography – Problems, Concepts and Prospects
• Spatial Analysis in Geomorphology
• Rocks and Landforms
• Introduction to Quantitative Geomorphology
• Principles of Physical Geography
• Geomorphological Laboratory Manual
• Elements of Geographical Hydrology\
• Statistics for Geoscientists: Techniques and Application,
• Modern Physical Geography
• Landforms and Topographic Maps
• Morphometry of Drainage Basins
• Fundamentals of Cartography
• Elements of Practical Geography
• Rural Settlement and Land Use
• Geography of Settlement
• A Geography of Settlements
• Urban Geography: A Global Perspective,
• Urbanisation and Urban Systems of India,
• The Study of Urbanisation
• The Geography of Settlement
• Environmental Geography
• The Urban Geography Reader
• Urban Social Geography: An Introduction
• Conservation of Natural Resources
• Resource and Environmental Management
• Statistical Analysis in Geography
• Statistical Concepts in Geography
• An Introduction to Quantitative Analysis in Human Geography
• Geographical Dictionary of India
• Patterns of Regional Geography – An International Perspective
• Economic and Commercial Geography
• India: A Regional Geography
• India - A Comprehensive & Systematic Geography
• India and Pakistan: A General and Regional Geography
• Population in India’s Development, 1947-2000,
• Geographical Thought: A Contextual History of Ideas,
• Geography: History and Its Concepts: A Students Guide,
• Indian Geography Voice of Concern
• Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches
• The Art and Science of Geography: Integrated Readings
• Field Techniques and Research Methods in Geography

What to do after B.A. (Hons) (Geography)?

After completing graduation in geography, students can either go for job in various fields according to the specialization they have taken or else they have the option to do higher studies in various areas like:-

• MA Geography
• M.Sc. Applied Geography
• M.Sc. Geography
• M.Phil. Geography
• M.Sc. Geo Informatics
• Master in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science
• Master in Geographic Information Science and Systems
• Postgraduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Geographical Cartography

After post graduation they can do PhD which will increase their job opportunities.

Job and Career options for B.A. (Hons) (Geography)

• Forest Managers
• Agricultural Specialists
• Cartographers
• Regional and Urban Planners
• GIS and Remote Sensing Specialists
• Demographers
• Urban Planner
• Climatologist
• Environment Manager
• Transportation Manager
• Teacher
• Tourist Guide Translator
• Regional and Urban Planner
• Companies Manager
• Cartographer
• Mining Supervisor
• Geographer
• IAS, IPS & PCS officer

Some of the employment areas are:

• Colleges/Universities
• Travel Journalism
• Travel and Tourism
• Solid Waste Disposal
• Rural Development Departments
• Oil Drilling
• Mining Industry
• Government Research Institutes
• Gas Exploration Companies
• Environment Protection Agencies
• Agricultural Research
• Indian Civil Services

Remuneration after B.A. (Hons) (Geography)

After doing BA geography there are lots of career opportunities in teaching, government jobs, agricultural institutes etc. The remuneration expected for geography degree holder is between Rs.9000 and Rs.10000.