Geography and Cartography

The Geography and Cartography study program provides a comprehensive university education in the geographical sciences, cartography and geoinformatics. The graduate will gain basic knowledge in the field of physical and social geography, methods and techniques of geographical data processing, methods of cartographic presentation of data and geographic information systems. These will allow him to go directly into practice without the need for additional targeted education or retraining (professionally focused applied geography), as well as prepare the graduate program for further study and allow him to profile through follow-up master's degree programs. The graduate prepares for the choice of profiling already during the bachelor's study by choosing one of the five specializations: a) Physical Geography (FG); b) Social Geography (SG); c) Geographical Cartography and Geoinformatics (GKaG); d) Geoinformatics and Sustainability (hereinafter GITU); e) Geoinformatics and Regional Development (hereinafter GIRR).

The program is designed for a wide range of students who have a deep interest in the issue of spatial and temporal variability of natural and social phenomena and processes at various levels from local to regional and global and who seek answers to questions related to current issues of current changing natural and social environment. The program offers such students theoretical knowledge about the causes of these changes in the present and in the past, as well as methodological tools for projections of possible future developments.

The study program is designed to provide students with a foundation for understanding the interactions between natural and social components, the functioning of which should be based on the principles of precaution, generational responsibility and sustainability.

The aim of the study is to educate graduates able to solve typical geographical problems and process partial case studies focused on the evaluation of basic contexts and relationships in the landscape and society using current geoinformatics to collect geographical data and modern methods of their cartographic presentation. A comprehensive geographical understanding of reality together with knowledge of regional geography will enable him/her to solve competently selected practical problems associated with spatial activities and to adapt to new conditions and requirements of practice. The graduate of the bachelor's study has the necessary prerequisites for the follow-up master's study.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• explain basic theoretical and methodological knowledge from individual geographical fields of physical geography, social geography, cartography and geoinformatics;
• understand the content of spatial data in terms of their accuracy, usability, available metadata, be familiar with basic map works;
• master traditional and contemporary modern methods of geographical data collection, including their storage and cartographic visualization;
• apply basic methods of geographical research, including statistical methods to solve practical geographical problems and partial case studies;
• analyze the spatial and functional dependencies of individual landscape components and the role of the main actors in the regions;
• demonstrate knowledge of ecological laws and environmental processes involving cultural, social, economic and political components and apply knowledge of the structure and processes that form natural landscapes;
• solve qualified practical problems connected with the issue of sustainability resp. regional development;

Graduates of the bachelor program Geography and cartography at the Faculty of Science MU can work as experts in state institutions but also in private organizations focused on environmental protection, regional development and spatial planning, in companies engaged in mapping and creation of geographic information systems, in institutes such as is, for example, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute,

In addition to the mandatory knowledge and skills, they can offer future employers a multidisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems and a comprehensive geographical understanding of reality.

Most of the graduates are expected to continue their master's studies, in which they will deepen their knowledge in synthesizing subjects and expand their practical skills with other special methods.

The two-week blocks "Operational Practice" are a compulsory part of the study for GITU and GIRR specializations and optional for the remaining specializations. Its aim is to acquaint students with the operation and daily operation of professional workplaces focused on solving issues of nature protection, regional development, sustainability and geoinformatics. The scope of the work stay at the professional workplace is the fulfillment of the assigned tasks according to the instructions of the head of operational practice, elaboration and submission of a report on the course of operational practice.

Detailed instructions for the uniform arrangement of bachelor's theses, including the recommended scope, required formalities and recommended composition of the thesis, are available to students on the website of the Department of Geography:

https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/1431/jaro2017/Z6004/Pokyny_BPDP_v2017.pdf

The bachelor thesis can have the character of independent empirical research but also the character of research. By elaborating the bachelor's thesis the student has to demonstrate the ability to scientifically research the chosen topic, design and use the appropriate methodological apparatus, correctly use the literature, including citation apparatus, independently process the assigned issues, appropriate means, including cartographic to present the main results.

A graduate of the bachelor's study program Geography and Cartography may (after fulfilling the conditions for admission) continue in any subsequent master's study at the given faculty. It is assumed that the student chooses a master's degree program corresponding to the specialization of the bachelor's degree.