School of Social Sciences & EducationSustainability, Geography, and Environmental Planning

Students and workers standing in front of White Harvest Farms, smiling

About Our Program

The SGEP major is offered as either a B.S. or a B.A. Led by innovative faculty, this interdisciplinary major provides a direct path to a rewarding career in the public or private sector.

Students tailor the degree to their interest by concentrating in one of three tracks:

  • Sustainability and Resiliency
  • Geography and GIS
  • Environmental Planning

Students may concentrate in one, two, or all three areas. Graduates are awarded a certificate(s) of recognition for each concentration completed. 

Available Minors

SGEP offers three 15-credit minors that pair well with any major.

  • Geography and the Environment
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Sustainability

ABOUT OUR MINORS

Get your hands dirty.

The SGEP offers numerous internship, research project, and service-learning opportunities, as well as strong connections to professionals. Explore your options and message the department for more information on how to get started!

  • Hands on research, data, and mapping experiences with expert faculty
  • Cutting edge technologies such as a DJI drone, an HP Laser Plotter, softwares such as ArcGIS, Python, IBM SPSS, Qualtrics Survey Data collection, and more
  • Strong partnerships with  the JU Marine Science Research Institute, , JU Public Policy Institute
  • An expansive network of invaluable internships
  • International education and study abroad opportunities to Cuba, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the Philippines, and more

Internship Sites

You could intern at:

  • CSX
  • Jacksonville Electric Authority
  • City of Jacksonville GIS Division
  • Jacksonville Transportation Authority
  • JaxPort
  • St. Johns County Public Works
  • National Geographic Society
  • National Parks Service
  • Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Science meets Art Beautiful Maps Gallery

Maps communicate policy issues and histories of cultures around the globe, they express warming and cooling temperatures, population densities, zip codes where resources are allocated, food deserts, stray animals, and so much more. For this reason, it is critical that maps are legible, expressive, and clear. 

Made possible through an EPIC grant from the Florida Department of Education and in collaboration between the Sustainability, Geography, and Environmental Planning, and Visual Arts departments, the Beautiful Maps student art gallery showcases the work of GIS and Art students who explored the artistic principles of line, shape, color, and contrast to create maps that are both accurate and beautiful. The gallery opened in early April 2023. 

Read about the gallery.

three students standing side by side smiling against a backdrop of colorful and dynamic maps
Dr. Ashley Johnson and male student looking at a map together in front of a colorful green and blue wall.

"According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of geoscientists is projected to grow five percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations."

Dr. Ashley JohnsonAssociate Professor of Geography and Sustainability

Sustainability, Geography, and Environmental Planning

The Department of Sustainability, Geography, and Environmental Planning is part of the School of Social Sciences & Education within the College of Arts & Sciences.

Contact Information

Gooding Building
СÀ¶ÊÓƵ
2800 University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211

Phone: (904) 256-7669
Email: geography@ju.edu