Chris Barth ’08
Geography major
X06-S07 D-plan: R-O (FSP)-R-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I really enjoy the diversity of classes offered by the geography department and think that the faculty are some of the most interesting and inspiring professors on campus. My least favorite aspect of the department is the occasional disconnect between classes in which material or skills gained in other classes are not usable or applicable in other classes within the same department.

Important info for potential majors: I think it is important for students to consider what aspect of geography interests them most in order to best focus on that subject. Because the department offers such a wide variety of courses, it is possible to miss out on an entire type of geography (e.g. physical vs. urban) until later in your academic time at Dartmouth, which is important to avoid.

Internship experience: I interned with the Geography Department and the Alumni Relations Office, working on mapping alumni and alumni clubs within the ArcGIS mapping program. I worked on it part time over the course of 3 terms at Dartmouth.

Most valuable academic information learned: I wish I had known earlier that professors are available outside of class to talk about more than just the subject of the class. Some of my best conversations with professors have been about topics completely unrelated to the course itself, and had I known earlier, I would have been less timid to approach professors.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class and professor was Geography 58 taught by Mark Davidson. The class was great because it was my first introduction to the statistical and mapping side of geography and the use of Geographical Information Systems, a subject which I find very useful and interesting. Professor Davidson was very easy-going, approachable, and understanding. The classroom environment was very relaxed, the labs were very informative, and all in all it was a great class.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 5, 17, 22, 28, 55, 58, 59.

Major journey: I came in thinking of being a Government major, but was dissatisfied with the large classes and broad topics. Geography offered more interesting and clearly applicable topics for courses, had smaller classes, and generally appealed to me more. After my first geography course I was hooked.

Other activities: Casual Thursday Improv Comedy Troupe; Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity- recruitment chair; Dartmouth Quaker Student Fellowship.

Off Campus Program: Spanish FSP in Madrid F06.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you have questions about GIS and mapping within the geography department, or if you are unsure about the role of specialization in a geography major.

Louisa McCarthy ’08
Geography major, Environmental Studies minor, French minor
X06-S07 D-plan: R-R-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I love that Geography is the essence of the liberal arts because it covers the course catalog from “A”, Anthropology to “Z”, Zoology, and almost everything in between. It includes the study of the earth’s features: mountains; rivers; climate; natural resources, etc. and then measures their influence on the sociology of each of the earths regions. The patterns are endlessly fascinating.

Important info for potential majors: Geography has a wide range of professional applications, including teaching, urban planning, international relief agencies, and mineral resource exploration. It is important to choose a concentration in one of the three tracks offered at Dartmouth (Physical and Human Dimensions of Global Change, Critical Urban and Identity Studies, and International Development) because each of these three tracks would involve different post graduate training.

Internship experience: TeleAtlas, Research Analyst, W07, Lebanon, NH. Tele Atlas is one of the leading global providers of digital maps. During my internship, I worked on various projects, concentrating primarily on 3D city models.

Most valuable academic information learned: The most valuable piece of information I have learned is that most of my distributive requirements can be fulfilled within the Geography department.

Favorite class and professor: Geography 28 - Immigration, Race and Ethnicity with Prof. Richard Wright. I learned a lot about a subject I was unfamiliar with, but that is very relevant in today’s society. It was a small class with great discussions and interesting projects. Prof. Wright is very knowledgeable about the topic of immigration, so it was great to get his insight, but also form my own opinions.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 28, 31, 47, 81, 82; MATH 10

Major journey: I came into Dartmouth having no idea what I wanted to major in. I took Geography 1 and was so interested in the topics we discussed I decided to look into more classes in the Geography department and then decided to become a major.

Other activities: SEAD; Intergenerational Internet; North Country Week-end Program; Office of Public Affairs

Off Campus Program: Geography FSP in Prague, Czech Republic S06.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you’re interested in the Geography FSP!

Emily Eros ’09
Geography/undeclared minor/not pre-med
F07-S08 D-plan: R-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I love that the department covers a wide range of topics and issues, is flexible, and discusses things that are happening *now*, but sometimes courses can feel very unstructured - a lot of classes depend mostly on different journal articles rather than a textbook, and sometimes it's difficult to find a theoretical framework to slot everything into.

Important info for potential majors: Don't worry too much about prerequisites until you've tried some upper level courses that interest you. The Geography department is really flexible and you can always go back and take GEO 1 later on.

Internship experience: Professor Xun Shi, WISP Intern (GIS related), 06S, Hanover, NH ; Village of Hope, Preschool Teacher, 06X, Aïn Leuh, Morocco

Most valuable academic information learned: Going to office hours and getting involved with your professor is the best way to enjoy a class, and to excel.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was Economic Geography (GEO 20). Professor Wright was really engaging and I got very interested in my final project.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 5, 20, 46, 58; ECON 10

Major journey: I fell into the geography major by accident. I came to Dartmouth interested in international relations but started taking geography classes my freshman fall and couldn't stop. I spent a long time fumbling between Geography, Economics, and Government, but Geography was the most interesting to me.

Major specific activities: WISP intern with Professor Xun Shi (GIS) ; Presidential Scholar with Professor Richard Wright (**pending approval)

Off Campus Program: Tucker Fellowship in Aïn Leuh, Morocco, 06X, and French LSA+ in Toulouse, 07S

Other activities: UGA (the Choates); Navigators; long-distance running

Talk to me if: you aren't sure whether Geography is a legitimate major.

Thesis Status: Undecided

Minal Caron ’09
Geography and Economics modified with Government
F07-S08 D-plan: R-R-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The only thing I dislike about the Geography department is that with a fairly small department I always have to choose between a Geography class I really want to take and another class I really want to take. The best thing about the Geography department is definitely the professors. Every professor I have taken a class with truly fits the Dartmouth ideals of being incredibly caring and seeming truly interested in how you are doing in the class and what else you are doing at Dartmouth. To me that is just awesome. If you take one geography class and make a slight effort to get to know your professor you will probably consider being a Geography major as well.

Important info for potential majors: The great thing about Geography is that I can't really define what it is. It is the science of how things interact-people to people, people to their landscapes, and much more, so you can really make your major what you want, focusing on landscapes or human interactions or GIS technology and everything in between. You can work with the department to make your major fit whatever interest you may have.

Internship experience: Senator Susan Collins, United States Senator. State Office Intern, Caribou, Maine. Summer 2006

Most valuable academic information learned: I hate to beat a broken record, but that the professors are the most valuable academic resource on campus. Learned this freshman fall when I felt slightly overwhelmed by the prospect of writing complicated papers with no college writing experience in a class with seniors and juniors.

Favorite class and professor: Geography 28 with Professor Wright was a great course. I learned just how complicated the immigration issue is in the United States, an issue that has always fascinated me since I live on the Canadian border. Plus Professor Wright is an Englishman with a great sense of humor. But I have enjoyed all the Geography courses I have taken, which I cannot say for courses in other departments at Dartmouth.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOG 28, GEOG 48 ; ECON 10

Major journey: I learned how cool geography is in Geography 1 with Professor Colleen Fox. I really enjoyed talking with her about anything really, even though I only went to see her a few times for office hours. This summer I read a book called Why Geography Matters by Harm de Blij. You should too. The title is evident, and after that I knew I would be Geography major.

Off Campus Program: French LSA in Lyon, 07S

Other activities: Dartmouth Ski Team, Dartmouth Wind Symphony, DOC First-Year Trips Leader, Individual Music Lessons, Tour Guide, Academic Skills Center Peer Tutor.

Talk to me if: I am a human geography specialist. I am interested in human interaction with foreign cultures (like the Middle East and China) and what the implications are. I also like GIS.

Thesis Status: undecided

Caroline Burns ’08
Geography/French
F07-S08 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing about the geography department is the professors. They are interesting and animated and super-knowledgeable about their various interests. They also love students and are always willing to sit down and talk about just about anything. My least favorite thing would probably be that as more and more people discover the major, the department keeps getting bigger, so it’s no longer as small and tight-knit as it used to be.

Important info for potential majors: You don’t have to start by taking geography 1! Just jump in and take a class that interests you, then take geography 1 later.

Internship experience:
Dartmouth Sustainability Initiative – Green Greeks Intern – W07, S07 – Dartmouth College. I was working to make the Greek system more sustainable by increasing recycling, reducing energy consumption and waste, raising awareness, and much more!

International Institute for Justice and Development – Executive Assistant – X07 – Boston, MA. The IIJD is a small NGO that does international development in Africa. I helped the president with administrative tasks and did research on new and current projects.

Most valuable academic information learned: Librarians are really helpful. I always thought I could just find everything online, but librarians know about a host of other, really great resources.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class so far was Geography 28, Immigration, Race and Ethnicity, with Richard Wright. We learned all about the history and current state of immigration in the United States and it was really eye-opening. Professor Wright is one of my favorite professors because he is so engaging and clearly loves what he studies.

Major classes taken: Geog 1, 5, 13, 17, 28, 52, 58, 59

Major journey: I started out as a pre-med Romance Language major, but I quickly realized that science wasn’t for me. Then I randomly took geography 1 and just fell in love with the department. Since then I’ve switched to a French minor and Geography major, and I haven’t looked back.

Off Campus Program: French FSP in Paris, 06S

Other activities: Alpha Xi Delta - eco-rep, philanthropy chair; EDPA; Cabin and Trail – leader; Sustainable Dartmouth;

Talk to me if: you're a little confused about your major/what you want to do with your life. Geography just might be for you!

Thesis Status: I may write a thesis about some facet of NGO's and international development with Professor Sneddon. The details are still being worked out.