The subject of geography straddles the natural and human realms, acting as a bridge between the natural and social sciences. A student of geography is exposed to a fascinating world - one that stretches far beyond what is easily visible on the surface of the Earth. It extends into the uppermost limits of the atmosphere, and then further into space that lies thereafter, into the deepest oceans and then deeper still into the interior of the Earth. It encompasses the atmosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, and the biosphere. Geographers study the processes that operate within each of these spheres and those that link them together to create the intricate balance to make life possible on planet Earth. They also study how this delicate balance is disturbed, creating problems at the local, regional, and global levels. Upon completion of the undergraduate programme, a student of geography would possess an understanding of how our environment is shaped by the interaction of natural and human processes, and how problems like ozone depletion, climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and disasters result when this interaction is adversely affected by human activity.
Shivaji College is one of the few colleges in the University of Delhi that offers undergraduate honours and programme courses in geography. The Department of Geography in Shivaji College is more than 38 years old, although the honours course started only in 1988. The Department has a well-equipped cartography laboratory and other infrastructure necessary for conducting theory and practical classes. Apart from the rich store of books on geography in the main library, the Department also maintains its own library to provide reading material to its students. Classroom teaching is reinforced by project work, field trips. and seminars.
The faculty of the Department is actively engaged in teaching and research activities. Department has received one major research project funded by ICSSR for the year 2017-18.The Department has successfully completed one innovation project. One scholar is pursuing her research under the supervision of Dr. Lalita Rana.
The Department organised a long excursion for B A (Hons) 5th semester students to Diu and Gujarat in the month of March 2018. On January 18, 2018, the Department organised a one-day local excursion for 3rd year students to Khurampur village of Sonepat Haryana. Under the local excursion, the Department visited Teliyar Lake, Rohtak, Haryana, on January 20, 2018. The Department also organized a workshop entitled "Indian Cultural Values and Sustainable Environment: Emerging Grassroot Activism in Environmental Management and Rural Development" on August 25, 2017.
