Geography

Geography at the Faculty of Science of Charles University has long ranked among the leading departments in both national and international evaluations. According to the QS World University Rankings, it is regularly placed among the top 200 geography departments worldwide, maintaining its position as the highest-ranked institution in the field in the Czech Republic.

The Geography Section is located in the Albertov 6 building. It is headed by the Vice-Dean for the Section, Luděk Šídlo.

Academic and teaching activities are carried out by four specialized departments: 

• Applied Geoinformatics and Cartography (Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Přemysl Štych, Ph.D.);

• Demography and Geodemography (Assoc. Prof. Alice Velková, Ph.D.);

• Social Geography and Regional Development (Prof. RNDr. Martin Ouředníček, Ph.D.);

• Physical Geography and Geoecology (Prof. RNDr. Jakub Langhammer, Ph.D.)

The Section also includes specialized facilities providing information and data support: the Geography Library, the Map Collection, and the Map and Data Centre. 

The Geography Section teaches the following bachelor’s programmes and specializations:

• Geography and Cartography (guarantor: Prof. Martin Ouředníček; Czech only)

• Applied Geography (guarantor: Assoc. Prof. Zbyněk Engel; Czech only)

• Applied Geography – specialisation Physical Geography and Geoinformatics (Assoc. Prof. Zbyněk Engel, Ph.D.; Czech only)

• Applied Geography – specialisation Social Geography and Geoinformatics (specialisation advisor: Assoc. Prof. Martin Ouředníček; Czech only)

• Geography Oriented at Education (guarantor: Assoc. Prof. Miroslav Marada; Czech only)

• Geography Oriented at Education – full curriculum ((formerly a single-subject degree programme) 

• Geography with a Focus on Education – Combined Degree Programme (formerly a Double-Major Programme) 

• Demography (guarantor: Assoc. Prof. Alice Velková; Czech only) 

• Demography – specialisation Demography with Social Geography (specialisation advisor: Dr. Boris Burcin; Czech only);

• Demography – specialisation Demography with Sociology (specialisation advisor: Dr. Olga Kurtinová; Czech only);

• Demography – specialisation Demography with History (specialisation advisor: Assoc. Prof. Alice Velková; Czech only);

• Hydrology and Hydrogeology (guarantor: Prof. Jakub Langhammer; Czech only)

Studying geography is not limited to attending lectures and fulfilling academic requirements. The academic environment offers a wide range of opportunities, from joining student societies and professional associations to participating in faculty-wide events, sports courses, and geographical field trips.

Several geography-related student organizations are active within the Section, bringing together students with shared interests:

• EGEA Prague

• GeoArts

• SOCKY from Albertov

• Young Demographers

• Student Demographic Club

• Hydrant

In addition to discipline-specific societies, students can also get involved in outreach and volunteering projects, such as Geography Is Fun, the Geography Olympiad, and the network of Volunteers of Geography at the Faculty of Science, Charles University.

Sports and leisure activities are represented by organizations such as the HC Přírodověda UK ice hockey team, the Faculty of Science Hiking Club, Football Přírodověda, and the Natural Sciences Mountaineering Club.