About the Department

 

About the Department

One of the nation's oldest departments, the University of Madras' Department of Geography celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1982. Over the nine decades since the Department's founding in 1932, it has established strong traditions of both teaching and research.When the faculty was reinforced and new courses for the M.Sc. Applied Geography were offered in 1976, the academic endeavours received a significant boost.The department has regularly updated the curriculum. The department was in the forefront of implementing both the Credit Based Semester System (CBSS) initially followed by the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).

 

Academic Programmes

The Department currently has academic programmes for M.Sc., MTech. and Ph.D. Degrees. Geospatial technology and its applications in sustainable resource planning and management are the focus of the Ph.D., MTech, and M.Sc. programmes offered by the geography department at the University of Madras at the moment.

 

MSc. APPLIED Geography

The M.Sc. Applied Geography Programme is a specialised one with heavy inputs on applied aspects of the discipline especially GIS, EIA and Remote Sensing. The intake of students is limited to 20. The success of the training imparted to the students is reflected in their ready absorption in jobs and in specialised research programmes.

 

MTech Geoinformatics

The MTech in Geoinformatics Programme at the University of Madras is an outstanding academic programme that provides high quality trainingin the fundamentals of spatial data modelling, analysis, and application.

The curriculum covers geospatial principles, techniques, and technologies, computational tools and techniques, digital map creation, 3D modelling, remote sensing image processing, data management and analysis, and 3D spatial modelling alongside coding and programming aspects.

- The programme is structured into four semesters and offers students a balance of classroom instruction and hands-on project-based learning opportunities.

 Under the supervision of experienced faculty members, students develop an in-depth knowledge of the subject areas of their specialization through lecture-based instruction and laboratory-based projects. They learn how to apply their knowledge to solve real-world issues.

 

PhD. Programme

The Ph.D. programme is a specialised one with emphasis on socially relevant research such as agricultural and rural geography, watershed management, ground water resources,natural hazards and climate change, integrated area of planning, urban and metropolitan problems, quantitative and spatial analysis in geography,disparities in availability and access to resources, urbanisation and mental health,health care delivery systems and other environmental problems along various other relevant themes from physical, economic and social geography.

 

Academic Collaboration

• The Department has been assisting the State Planning Department, the Ground Water Department of Tamil Nadu, the Water Institute of the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Institute of Remote Sensing (Anna University) in research programmes.

The Department has also established good academic relationships with ISRO, Bangalore; NRSC, NATMO, Survey of India, Hyderabad; Land and Survey Records of Tamil Nadu; Town and Country Planning department of The Government of Tamil Nadu; and CMDA, Chennai, to name a few.

The Department has also been actively working to improve the delivery of geography instruction in the affiliated colleges, and to that purpose has beenkeenly hosting Curriculum Development Programs, Workshops, and Refresher Courses.

In recent years, academic staff members have taken on advisory roles and projects with a social impact and a business focus. Some high-profile consulting projects were successfully finished. 

 

International Collaborations

Collaborations with foreign academics, institutions of higher learning, and research organisations were gradually expanded.

·      1991 saw the signing of an MoU for a linkage initiative financed by CIDA Canada between the Universities of Madras and Waterloo. This collaboration enabled a shift in focus to the integration and application of GIS and Remote Sensing into mainstream Geography teaching and learning. The GIS Lab was set up and made functional under the leadership of Prof. Rameshowing to this shift in focus.

·      In 1996RMIT, Australia-sponsored an Indo-Australian Symposium on Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality.

·      The development of an MA Sustainable Development Programme for Indian Ocean Students, in cooperation with Staffordshire University, UK, financed by the Commonwealth, was the result of yet another collaboration in 2005.

·      In 2009, the department signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Award Online Programs with Staffordshire University and University of Northampton.

Objective

• To provide both a theoretical and practical education of the highest calibre in the fields of geography and geoinformatics.

• To provide geoinformatics training to faculty members and students at the constituent colleges.

• To take on local, national, and worldwide projects that are socially significant.

• Choosing underserved locations for extension efforts.

Mission

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Vision

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RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL OUTREACH PROJECTS

In collaboration with significant government agencies, the department has been actively pursuing and working on initiatives that are contemporary and pertinent to the welfare of the public.

Occupying anactiverole in the University Industry Community Interaction Centre’s activities the department has been a leader in offering our services to members of the community.

The Department of Science and Technology (NRDMS), the Indian Council of Medical Research, the University Grants Commission, and the Central Waqf Board are some of the many organisations with whom the department has worked.

 

MILESTONE EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT
1932	Inception of the Department with Diploma Course
1940	Beginning of Enrolment for M.Litt. in the Department
1948	B.A./B.Sc. Honours Courses started under Inter Collegiate Co-Operative Scheme (QMC, Vivekananda College and University Department)
1964	Beginning of Enrolment for Ph.D.
1973	Orientation Courses for college Teachers
1976	Award of 1st Ph.D. Degree in the Department
1976	Introduction of M.Sc. Applied Geography in the Department under Semester System
1976	Introduction of the M.Phil. Degree
1976	All India Symposium on Resource Development and Planning
1977	Award of 1st M.Phil. Degree
1979	All India Advanced Summer Institute in Geography
1979	Indo British Seminar on Regional Development Policies in Developing Countries
1980	Inter Institutional Workshop on optional of Services:
1981	IGU working Group on Geography and Health Symposium on "Incidence of Infectious and Chronic Diseases: Geographical perspectives"
1982	The fourth National Cartographic Conference
1985	Instituting Pro. V. L. S. Prakasa Rao Geography Award
1987	Introduction of M.Sc. Cartography course
1987	Indian Geographical Society Diamond Jubilee Celebration National seminar on urban Growth. Water Supply and sanitation
1987	Instituting Indian Geographical Society Awards (1) Prof. B. M. Thirunaranan Award and (2) Dr. A.R. Irawathy Award
1989	Indian Geographical society seminar at Coimbatore centre on "Women and Job Resources"
1990	Indian Geographical society seminar at Thuvakudi centre on "Land and Water Resources"
1991	Seminar on Environment impact assessment sponsored by UGC and the Department of Geography.
1991	Indian Geographical society seminar at Kumbakonam Centre, on Environment and Rural Development
1991	MOU signed between the University of Madras and University of Waterloo, Canada for linkage programme, sponsored by CIDA, Canada
1992	Workshop on Introductory Remote Sensing and Geographic Information system conducted by Madras- Waterloo linkage programme
1993	National Workshop on Digital image processing
1993	Workshop on GIS for college Teaching
1994	Introduction of UGC SAP(DRS)
1994	Workshop on Application of GIS for Aquaculture Development, Bay of Bengal project
1995	Workshop on Slum Ecology