Geographic Analysis
| Degree Awarded: | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) |
| Administered by: | Department of Geography and Environmental Studies |
| Program Format: | Full-time, four-year program. Full-time, five-year co-op program. |
O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U English.
Notes:
- ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
- A grade of 70 percent or higher will be required in Grade 12 U English.
- Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.
- Beginning with students entering in fall 2025 Geographic Analysis will be a five year co-op program.
Program courses offer students flexibility and depth by familiarizing them with both physical and human aspects of geography and their inter-relationships, and with various spatial methodologies and research designs. In particular, students are encouraged to become competent in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which employ computer-based software to collect, manage, analyze, and map spatial data, and thus provide a conceptual and technical foundation for geographic analysis.
There are three broad areas of study:
- Location analysis which focuses on determining the networks and sites of retail, industrial, and other socio-economic activities at local, regional, national and international levels, where identifying and evaluating alternative sites is an important strategic task in private sector operations;
- Urban analysis, which examines the factors that combine to create the structure of an urban environment (including residential patterns, business and industrial developments, transportation systems, and social services), and the dynamics of these factors in the growth and intensification of cities and regions; and
- Environmental analysis, which emphasizes the study of the management and planning policies for natural resources and addresses issues involving conflicts between society's economic and environmental goals.
To these broad areas of study, students can add specialties in public health and demography, recreation and tourism, resource management, spatial analytical techniques and geotechnologies. Two fully equipped state-of-the-art computer laboratories ensure that students are able to receive practical training on major statistical, database, GIS and remote sensing software using real world data.
Semesters 1 and 2: The overall structure of the first year of the program is common to the other programs in the Faculty of Arts (i.e., Criminology, English, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Politics and Governance, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology). Students in Geographic Analysis take three Geography courses, which show how geographers approach current issues in the physical and human environments and how geographers use GIS in their analysis. Like other students in the Faculty of Arts, students also take Social Science and Humanities courses to broaden their understanding and approaches, courses in critical thinking and writing, and a non-Arts elective which may be the basis of a Minor if so desired.
Semesters 3 to 8: In second year, students are able to select courses which focus on their areas of interest in retail location, urban and/or environmental analysis. They develop their knowledge and skills about the tools and methods of professional geographers through required courses on statistics, cartography and Geographic Information Science.
In third and fourth years, students select advanced professional courses to build on their expertise in one or more of the three broad areas, to add to their understanding with courses in areas such as physical, economic, health, rural or recreation geography, and to enhance their competencies in analytical and spatial methods. They are able to apply their knowledge in the workplace through an internship between third and fourth years (see Required Practicum section below). In their final year, students take capstone courses to solidify their expertise before going out into the workplace or on to graduate study. In their course of study, students also select electives and liberal studies courses.
Possibilities for a Minor exist with the careful planning of electives. In particular, Geographic Analysis students participate in Minors in Law, Marketing, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Politics, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Economics, Sociology, Human Resources, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Psychology.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Geographic Analysis program pursue widely varied careers throughout the public and private sectors. Courses emphasizing concepts, issues, techniques and decision processes combined with practical work experience in the context of a co-operative education environment lead to employment opportunities in banking, real estate, property development, retailing, police departments, health departments, environmental consulting, GIS firms, universities, municipalities, marketing firms, environmental NGOs, social NGOs, and conservation authorities, with job titles such as analyst, location analyst, business development officer, market research analyst, GIS specialist, conservation analyst, crime analyst, resource planner, and consultant.
Co-operative Education or Required Practicum Opportunities
Integral to the degree is an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in the workplace. Students entering Geographic Analysis in 2024-2025 are required to participate in either a co-operative education program or a practicum that is normally completed as a paid internship between the third and fourth years of the program. Effective for students admitted in Fall 2025 or later, the practicum option will be eliminated, and all students must complete the co-operative education program. See further Co-operative Education details below.
Through either practicum or co-op, students have opportunities to gain employment experience and to establish professional contacts for their future careers, benefiting them in the following ways:
- enhancement of their practical perspective;
- addition of valuable work experience to their resume;
- acquisition of specific knowledge of workplace operations;
- appreciation of the value of their capabilities; and
- introduction to prospective employers.
Transferability Guidelines
Students admitted to the Bachelor of Arts programs in Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Geographic Analysis, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology or Sociology may transfer to any one of the other nine programs or to any one of the approved double major programs for the Fall term of their second year of studies. Applications are provided via Google Form and must be submitted by February 2nd. Transfer applications are considered on a competitive basis subject to program capacity, and therefore, program choice cannot be guaranteed.
In order to transfer to Geographic Analysis from any of Criminology, English, Environment and Urban Sustainability, History, Language and Intercultural Relations, Philosophy, Politics and Governance, Psychology, or Sociology, students must:
Co-operative Program Overview
A co-operative education program is available, providing students with 12 months of work experience to complement their classroom studies and support the development of essential employability skills, including communication, collaboration and problem-solving.
Although the Career & Co-op Centre cannot guarantee placements, they provide assistance in locating suitable positions and counselling students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-op program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.
Students admitted in the 2024–2025 academic year who have completed the first semester of the regular program must apply through the department for admission to the co-operative program before the end of the first year.
The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:
Students must successfully complete a minimum of three work terms in order to graduate from the co-op program.
In most cases the co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Geographic Analysis. Students will have the option to fast track if they choose to take electives during the Spring/Summer. The regular program can be completed in four years.
All co-op placements must be approved by the Career & Co-op Centre and the Faculty Advisor for the Geographic Analysis co-op program.
Liberal Studies
Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and four upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.
Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .
Table A - Lower Level Restrictions
Geography courses and PHL 214 are not available for credit.
Table B - Upper Level Restrictions
Geography courses are not available for credit.
Minors
Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates
Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window) for complete details.
1st & 2nd Semester
Revised curriculum begins 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
REQUIRED GROUP 1: Four courses from Table I.
3rd & 4th Semester
Last offered 2024-2025 to students admitted Fall 2023 and before. Students admitted Fall 2024 and after see revised curriculum below.
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE (Field Foundation): Three courses from the following:
CORE ELECTIVE/OPEN ELECTIVE: One course from Table I or one Open Elective.
3rd & 4th Semester
Revised curriculum begins 2025-2026 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE (Field Foundation): Three courses from the following:
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.
5th & 6th Semester
REQUIRED GROUP 1 (Methods and Techniques): Two courses from the following:
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE: Four courses from Table II.
OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives.
7th & 8th Semester
Last offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2023 and before. Students admitted Fall 2024 and after see revised curriculum below.
REQUIRED:
- GEO 771 Practicum
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE: Four courses from Table II.
OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives.
7th & 8th Semester
Revised curriculum begins 2027-2028 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
REQUIRED:
- GEO 771 Practicum
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE: Four courses from Table II.
OPEN ELECTIVE: Three Open Electives.
1st & 2nd Semester
First offered 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
REQUIRED GROUP 1: Four courses from Table I.
3rd & 4th Semester
First offered 2025-2026 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
3rd Semester
First offered Fall 2025.
4th Semester
First offered Winter 2027.
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.
OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.
5th & 6th Semester
First offered 2027-2028 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
REQUIRED GROUP 1 (Methods and Techniques): Two courses from the following:
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE: Four courses from Table II.
OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives.
7th & 8th Semester
First offered 2028-2029 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.
LIBERAL STUDIES: Two courses from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.
CORE ELECTIVE: Four courses from Table II.
OPEN ELECTIVE: Three Open Electives.
A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).
Arthur Berrill
Head of Location Intelligence
Royal Bank of Canada
Bill Bilkas
Vice President of Development
Plaza Retail REIT
Wendy Correoso
Director of Sales
Pitney Bowes Software
Ricardo Gomez-Insausti, PhD
Vice-President, Research & Respondent Contact Centres
Numeris
Jan Kestle
President
Environics Analytics
Nargis Ladha
Former Program Manager - ADS & Geospatial Systems
Information Solutions Division
Hydro One
Ewan Geddes
Geography and Spatial Technologies Instructional Leader
Toronto District School Board
Andrew Lyszkiewicz
Former Program Manager, Information and Technology Division
City of Toronto
Alex Miller
President
Esri Canada
Peter Moore
Project Manager, City Planning Division
City of Toronto
Max Sherman
President
Macroplan Limited
Mario J. Silva MCIP RRP
Comptroller, Planning & Development Services
Toronto Catholic District School Board