Attendance at regional and national professional meetings is encouraged, and participation is supported when possible. Graduate students have been highly successful in regional Geography Bowl competitions. The Northern Rocky Mountain region provides a considerable variety of opportunity for research in both human and physical geography. Several of geography's graduate-level courses emphasize field study and research. Opportunity for research overseas is similarly available.
Office space is provided for teaching assistants.
There is also a designated space for other graduate students. Geography possesses a well-furnished conference room for colloquia, thesis defenses, meetings and seminars. In courses and research projects, students use Trimble differential GPS units and software, digital theodolite, automatic level and Brunton compasses. The SSRL has a Sony digital camera and Snappy video-capture system for students to add photo layers to digital thematic maps and presentations. Physical geographers have access to equipment for collection, analysis, and microscopy of soil samples and sediment cores.