.
Background
The teaching of geography at the tertiary level started in 1950 at the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA). Initially, geography was offered as an important field of study to Arts students. Since 1958, the Department of Geography, now renamed Department of Geography and Environmental Studies as of 2002, has been offering undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in geography. The first batch of geography majors who numbered three graduated in 1963. Geography graduates work in the teaching and non-teaching professions and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the country.
Since its beginning, the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies continued to develop at a relatively rapid rate. The broad sub-fields in the curriculum were Human Geography, Physical Geography and Cartography. Cartography was offered as a tool course to strengthen the training of students at the undergraduate level. As was geography teaching in many parts of the world then, the program was biased towards regional studies. In the second half of the 1960s, the emphasis shifted to the study of geographic principles and quantitative methods.
The expansion of the program made necessary and possible a further evaluation of its curriculum in the light of the fast emerging trend of the “New School of Thoughts” in Geography – the Quantitative Revolution. In consequence, the Department began to introduce a series of changes. The level and relevance of teaching and research both in Geography and cartography are considerably affected by the quantitative revolution.
Now we live at a time when computers are widely used to acquire and process geo-data, store, retrieve and manage spatial information. Geographic Information System (GIS) including Remote Sensing (RS) technologies emerged as one of the main tools of spatial analysis and graphical presentation in geographical studies. This is a new development to the field of geography. Environmental issues such as climate change: desertification & global warming, and environmental degradation are important issues of these days. Globlization in its environmental, cultural and economic perspectives is a recent and important development.
Now a days, Geography and Environmental Studies has been given in all higher institutions of Ethiopia. Since 2004 E.C, a modular curriculum at national level was developed with the participation of respective university professionals under the guidance of Ministry of Education and started to practice in a modularization system in 2005 E.C.
Rationale
Having considered the policy guidelines, the program under Geography and Environmental Studies has its general objectives in the training of competent and responsible professionals who can participate in various endeavors in the society. Therefore, in designing the new curriculum, special emphasis was given to improve the program’s facilities, the methodologies to be used, integration and continuity of the modules under the programe and adding practical and research related courses.
Geography is concerned with the spatial dimension of Geographic Phenomena and interconnection of humans and environment. Studying geography is nurturing sensitivity for our neighbours, society and the world. It also enables us to understand the spatial pattern, to adopt and manipulate physical environment with wise decisions and to solve geographical problems in daily lives.
Geographic knowledge and skills help in developing our economy, to use resources more efficiently and keep the environment in good shape. Geography not only mediated between natural or physical sciences and biosciences on one hand and the social sciences on the other but also bridged and synthesized their mutual common broad spectrum underpinning through its core thrust on man - environment relationships, which naturally integrate them all.
Vision
The vision of MOE is to achieve an education and training system which assures quality and equity education by the year 2030 that aims at producing competent citizens. In line with this, the programme of Geography and Environmental studies is to be a center of academic excellence in various fields of geography and Environmental studies which incorporate physical, human and Environmental issues in addition to the application of GIS & Remote Sensing in building basis for socio-economic development of the country by producing qualified and competent citizens.
Mission
- Implementation of the New Education and training Policy of the Country which demands academically qualified professional for the undergraduate educational program.
- Producing academically qualified experts who can work research and community based activity on geographically diverse areas of the country.
- Implementation of Ethiopia’s short and long socio-economic development plans by producing the necessary skilled manpower in both quality and quantity for the country’s development.
Goals
- Devoted to promote their capacities and desires to solve problems in the areas related with their field of study.
- Trains highly qualified Geography and environmental studies professionals and teacher educators
- Conducts high quality research on relevant issues.
- Provide optimum community service
- Conducts high quality professional training