Although the Department of Geography was founded in 1950 as one of the six teaching-scientific departments of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, a new qualitative step forward in the institutional organization of geographers in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the formation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics of the University of Sarajevo in 1960. of the Department of Geography within this faculty. The organization of the teaching process is realized through different teaching-scientific subjects which are united in the departments for: geology, physical, social and regional geography and the cabinet for geography teaching methodology.

Since that period, in parallel with the basic educational mission, the teachers and associates of the Department of Physical Geography have continued and intensified their scientific-research work on the component and complex geographical study of space.

Physical geography studies are based on the study of natural laws and regularity, their structure, process and development stage. These studies are based on studies, first of all about geocomponents and geospheres, then geosystems and geocomplexes. With regard to the subject and object of physical geography studies, within the Department, scientific – research work is realized through teaching subjects: Mathematical Geography, Geomorphology, Hydrography, Climatology with meteorology, Biogeography, Pedogeography.

From the academic year 2005/2006. year, with the introduction of the Bologna principle of study and new study directions at the Department of Geography, the number of teaching subjects, and in connection with that scientific research, within this Department, primarily in applied physical geography, is increasing. At the same time, the scientific and professional involvement of teachers and associates is intensive in getting acquainted with all modern theoretical methods of physical geography studies and knowledge, and their practical application.

The special contribution of the involvement of scientific and professional staff within the Department is visible through the implementation of a large number of scientific research projects that had both a theoretical and applied character. Specialized component scientific physical-geographical studies have the possibility of their application in various areas of the economy and general development of the society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the aspect of identification, valorization and revitalization of the natural resources of our country, as well as their protection.