Event Title
What's going on? A study and critique of geography's history in Canadian universities
Description
Although geography was first taught in Canadian universities in 1800, it has only been regularly taught since the 1880s. The first geography department was not founded until 1935, with the first geography degree granted in 1943. Currently, however, there are some 50 geography departments in the country, with over half of those offering graduate studies. There have also been major changes in recent years to cirricula, enrollment types, and the composition of the professorate. The Canadian geographic academe has also created particular niches for itself in the worldwide geographic community. We will examine the history of geographic instruction in Canadian universities to the present, and in particular examine recent trends in that historical process with a view to its current and future implications.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
8-3-2008 8:00 AM
Subject - LCSH
Geography--Study and teaching (Higher)--History--Canada
End Date
8-3-2008 5:00 PM
Session
Social and Cultural Geographies
Genre/Form
abstracts (summaries)
Type
event
Geographic Coverage
Canada
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
education, history, enrollment, professorate, cirriculum
What's going on? A study and critique of geography's history in Canadian universities
Although geography was first taught in Canadian universities in 1800, it has only been regularly taught since the 1880s. The first geography department was not founded until 1935, with the first geography degree granted in 1943. Currently, however, there are some 50 geography departments in the country, with over half of those offering graduate studies. There have also been major changes in recent years to cirricula, enrollment types, and the composition of the professorate. The Canadian geographic academe has also created particular niches for itself in the worldwide geographic community. We will examine the history of geographic instruction in Canadian universities to the present, and in particular examine recent trends in that historical process with a view to its current and future implications.