Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the competency levels of geography students in their fields of study and reveal the relationship between their levels and some variables. Totally, 650 senior geography students studying in the faculties of arts and science in 10 different universities in 2013-2014 school term participated in the research. The results of the study suggested that sufficient level of knowledge in this field constituted statistically significant difference according to variables such as academic achievement, participation in social activities and field study, following scientific publications and activity in conferences, living with family in the same city and field of study in secondary school, while no significant differences were seen according to gender, choice of program, thought of teaching, anxiety, the school graduated from and the program followed in high schools. While increasing level of participation in field study influences positively level of competency, those not following any scientific publication in their field of study were reported to have lower levels of competency as compared to those who followed relevant publications.

Key words: Geography, education, candidate teacher competencies.