KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 24, 2021

The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has named Kennesaw State University’s Department of Geography and Anthropology as one of two recipients of the 2021 Award for Bachelor's Program Excellence in Geography.

The annual award is one of three subcategories in AAG’s Program Excellence Awards, honoring geography departments and programs that have significantly enhanced the prominence and reputation of geography as a discipline and demonstrated the characteristics of a strong and engaged academic unit.

“It is a tremendous honor for our program to be recognized by the AAG,” said Teresa Raczek, chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at KSU. “The skills and enthusiasm of our program faculty, staff and students have grown this academic program from its modest roots, and we look forward to advancing the program in new directions in the coming years.”

Founded in 1997 and housed in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, KSU’s Department of Geography and Anthropology offers a Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Sciences, a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, a Geography minor, an Environmental Studies minor, a certificate in Geographic Information Sciences, and a certificate in Land Surveying. The department also offers a major and minor in Anthropology.

Serving approximately 7,000 students each year, including 150 geography and geospatial science majors, the department offers diverse degree offerings, tailoring coursework for students based on their educational interests and career goals. The program emphasizes experiential learning, community engagement, internships and co-ops, and study abroad opportunities.

According to AAG, geography programs play an important role in educating future geographers and promoting the discipline to a wider world, and these academic degrees are often overlooked in national rankings of institutional programs.

“Undergraduate programs in geography are the lifeblood of the discipline,” said Gary Langham, Executive Director of AAG. “These programs open so many doors to students, preparing them for careers in every sector and virtually every imaginable field, from environmental science to public health to business logistics, and so much more. We commend the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Kennesaw State University for its innovation in attracting and engaging students and its community.”

About The American Association of Geographers

For more than 100 years, The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has contributed to the advancement of geography. Members from nearly 100 countries share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG's Annual Meeting, scholarly journals (Annals of the American Association of Geographers, The Professional Geographer, the AAG Review of Books and GeoHumanities), and the online AAG Newsletter. The AAG is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1904.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.