The Department of Geography was established within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1992, but was unable to begin operations for a long time due to a lack of staff. It commenced its educational activities in the fall semester of 2014 with a student quota of 40. Subsequently, the quota increased to 60 students and decreased to 50 students in 2025. Currently, the Department of Geography has 7 academic staff members: 1 Professor, 3 Associate Professors, 2 Assistant Professors, and 1 Research Assistant with a PhD.
The main goals of the Department of Geography include training graduates who can understand and explain space, adopt a technology-based way of thinking, and possess the skills to utilize current management and information technologies. They aim to train graduates who have received fundamental education in their field and enroll them in postgraduate programs; to bring the geography education system in Turkey to a level where it can be useful and researched; and to develop personnel with the infrastructure and knowledge to conduct research in areas needed by the public and private sectors.
In the Geography Department, common theoretical courses are generally given in the first years, establishing the basic management foundation for students. In the third year, students specialize in Physical Geography or Human Geography through elective courses. Fieldwork is concretized through on-site learning using theoretical knowledge. In addition to the basic courses and practical work provided by other Geography departments in Türkiye, the program is designed to draw upon geography programs in Europe and the USA, supporting courses within an ecosystem framework where natural and social environments cannot be considered separately. This integration places emphasis on the planning and management of natural and human environments, environmental protection, sustainable social development, and project development supported by information systems.
The Geography Department is also granted the right to pursue minor studies in English Language and Literature, History, and Turkish Language and Literature by Senate Decision No. 27/8 dated 25.12.2024.