The Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina is the only program in the state to offer Bachelors, Masters' and Ph.D. degrees in Geography. The 17 full-time faculty members represent three broad areas of expertise within the discipline (human/regional; physical/environmental; and geographic techniques). We also participate in interdisciplinary programs — International Studies, Southern Studies, Women's Studies, and the School of the Environment — in the College and University.

Susan Cutter Receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award Susan Cutter received the prestigious Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award, one of 14 selected from SEC member schools. The annual awards recognize professors who have meritorious records in teaching and scholarship and who serve as role models for colleagues and students. Read more on Carolina's news feed.

Diansheng Guo selected as a 2013 University Rising Star by the Vice President for Research Fifteen junior faculty were selected as 2013 rising scholars from the campus. Read more about his accomplishments and interests on the University's Office of Research website.

John Kupfer has been named the 2012-2013 Ada B. Thomas Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, recognizing quality advising. John also won the Cowles Award from the AAG Biogeography specialty group for best biogeography article published in 2012. His piece was published in Progress in Physical Geography

Amy Mills won a 2012-2013 Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award for excellence in undergraduate instruction.

Kirstin Dow is featured as a USC Scholar of the Month for her climate impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation research. More information at:http://www.sc.edu/research/featuredscholars.shtml

PhD student Manali Baruah has received a College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Dissertation Fellowship for the 2013-2014 academic year. Manali's dissertation will examine critical issues of social impact and governance related to forest carbon initiatives such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).

Grad Students Participate in CityServe River Cleanup & Relay for Life Events

Graduate students Caitlin Strachan, Chris Kasse, Benjamin Haywood and Bonnie Epstein (photo left), led by Congaree Riverkeeper and former geography grad student Bill Stangler, participated in a river cleanup as part of a CityServe effort. The WLTX news coverage of the event can be found at: http://www.wltx.com/video/2317104531001/1/CityServe-Project-Cleans-Congaree.

Geography students sponsored a Relay for Life team in the recent fundraising event, receiving over $1,000. Robert Gottlieb initiated, organized, and managed the team. The University collectively raised over $160,000 for Relay this year, easily breaking the $100,000 goal. (photo above, right)

Two of the 54 University's newly created SPARC ( Support to Promote Research and Creativity) Graduate Research Fellowship'shave been awarded to geographers. The SPARC Graduate Research Fellowship program benefits USC’s graduate students not only by providing financial support for research and creative projects, but also by providing an opportunity to train students in the art of grant writing. Kudos to students Benjamin Haywood and Bob Greeley. Read more about the award or see the complete list of recipients here.

Benjamin Haywood and Bob Greeley

Department of Geography • Callcott Building, Room 127 • 709 Bull Street • Columbia, SC 29208

Phone: 803-777-5234 • Fax: 803-777-4972