Head of Department: Prof Vibha Kumar

The Department of Geography was established in 1966, with the aim of consolidating the geographical and environmental understanding of the youth. Among all the Colleges of the University of Mumbai, CHM is the only one which offers a full fledged undergraduate programme in geography with 06 papers at the TYBA level. It has runs the MA degree (by papers) since 2008.

The Department of Geography has been nurtured by one of the founder teachers of the College, Prof F Singh Tharwani, who was also the Vice Principal and for a brief period the In Charge Principal, before his retirement in 2002. Dr Savismita Chawan, who took over from him in 2002, was awarded the Teacher Fellowship by the UGC under its FIP programme for her PhD. She has since joined the University of Mumbai as a Reader. During her tenure at CHM she was a Programme Officer of the NSS and the Coordinator of the Travel and Tourism Add On Course.

Currently, Prof Vibha Kumar heads the department and Ms Samruddhi Chawan is employed on a part time basis. The department seeks the expertise of Guest faculty in running its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The Department offers the following Courses at the undergraduate level:

FYBA         -        Global Processes and Patterns
(Paper I)
SYBA         -         Processes and Patterns of Geography of World Economy
(Paper II)
                             Geography of Economic Activities of India with Special reference to Maharashtra (Paper III)
SYBA       -          Travel and Toursim (Applied Component)
TYBA       -          Fundamentals of Physical Geography (Paper IV)
                             Fundamentals of Human Geography (Paper V)
                            Typographic and Thematic Maps (Paper VI)
                            Geography of the Third World (Paper VII)
                            Environmental Issues (Paper VIII)
                            Geographical Skills and Aptitudes (Paper IX)
FYBCom   -        Environmental Issues

The experienced faculty of the department is devoted to teaching. Extra care is taken to pay individual attention to the students in their laboratory work and lecture sessions. Field trips and study tours are undertaken to help students understand the spatial dynamics. Project work and problem solving sessions are encouraged to develop innovative and analytic approach in learning. We encourage students to participate in Seminars and workshops and arrange for Guest lectures by University faculty to enhance the learning experience. The teachers of the Department attend Seminars, Workshops and Refresher Courses to augment their knowledge.

Geography is an interdisciplinary subject and it enables the students to have a wide perspective especially on human rights, ecological and environmental issues. The laboratory, catering to undergraduate and postgraduate levels is located in a spacious room on the second floor and houses sophisticated maps, models, temperature devices and other equipment which is required for the theoretical as well as practical work.