”Human” in “Human Geography” refers to civilization and society, while “geography” refers to relations of proximity and distance and spatial patterns. Human geography is thus about societies and their spatial patterns and relations. The geographical dimensions may involve local as well as global relations and patterns. The societal issues in human geography concern social, political and economical issues; currently and in an historical perspective. This means that Human Geography is a broad subject with a number of different areas of specialization.
As a student in Human Geography at Stockholm University, you meet leading researchers and teachers in historical geography and landscape studies, migration and population geography, economic geography, gender and planning, GIS and development geography. Within these areas of specialization you will study different ways of living, thinking, planning, travelling and working. You will gain knowledge about global living conditions and work with concepts and methods required to understand relations and patterns. An education in Human Geography includes study tours and excursions, field studies and field work. They may be organized in different ways but share the important core of studying structures and processes in the field.
Our courses provide you with the knowledge and skills to work with a range of different tasks such as housing, economic growth, heritage management, land use, environmental problems, urban and regional planning, social and ethnic segregation, urban and regional development, transport and tourism. Human Geography provides you with an education in the social sciences for work on investigations, analysis, planning and communication. Such jobs may deal with local, national or international questions and relations.
First Cycle – bachelor level
For a bachelor's degree in human geography students are recommend to follow the Bachelor's Programme in Human Geography – Society, Environment and Global Processes. Within the Bachelor's Programme in Urban and Regional Planning students can, depending on the choice of optional courses, meet the degree requirements for a bachelor in urban and regional planning as well as a bachelor in human geography (or in economics or statistics). It is also possible to do a bachelor's degree by studying separate courses.
Second Cycle – master level
For a master's degree in geography students follow the Master’s Programme in Human Geography. In addition it is possible to do a master in human geography within the Master's Programme in Medieval Studies (in Swedish; coordinated by the Dept. of History) and within the International Master's Programme in Environmental Social Science (coordinated by the Dept. of Political Science).