The Department started with B.Sc. Geography programme launched in 1976 with six students and a foundation staff of two. The programme was designed to train geographers to a very high level of competence. The training, aimed at producing geographers that are capable of scanning the environment and applying the acquired knowledge in solving various human problems. Since 1979 when the first set of graduates were produced, the Department has continued to produce graduates at an average of 50 per session with occasional output of over 200 candidates. Students of the department have consistently participated in various academic programmes within and outside the University.
In response to the emerging environmental problems and the current trend in making the discipline more responsive to the challenges of the natural and human environment system, the name of the Department was changed to “Geography and Environmental Management” in the 2010/2011 academic session. The old curriculum was reviewed, relevant courses retained and new ones introduced to suit the new nomenclature. The Department now offers Honours’ Degree in Geography and Environmental Management (B.Sc. Geography & Environmental Management). The programme is designed for a period of 4 years (for SSCE and G.C.E. O’ level and equivalent certificate holders), if all the graduation requirements are met by the students. Theoretical as well as practical instructions are given throughout the duration of the course. The practical instructions include field studies, student industrial work experience (SIWES) cumulating in an independent field research project in the final year.