Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
South Dakota State University. Department of Geography
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Geography was one of the first courses taught when South Dakota State University was founded in 1881. While geography classes were offered from time to time in various departments, no major development of a program occurred until 1966-67, when a bachelor's degree in geography was approved. In the fall of 1968, the Department of History and Geography was formed. By 1971, the geography program had grown substantially. Enrollment growths necessitated the addition of more faculty members. By 1973, a separate Department of Geography was established and in 1974, the offering of the Master of Science degree in Geography was approved. / The geography curriculum today teaches students to describe, relate and explain natural and cultural phenomena, which distinguish places around the world. Courses are offered in technical geography-science and environmental planning and management.