Penn State students may be able to find the Willard Building and the HUB without consulting a map, but a recent study suggests they might not be as knowledgeable about national or world geography.

According to the study, 13 percent of college-aged Americans could correctly locate Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

The study also found that, on a map of Asia, 70 percent of college-aged Americans couldn't find Iran. About 17 percent could find Afghanistan.

The study also found that 48 percent couldn't find Mississippi and 33 percent couldn't find Louisiana on a U.S. map, despite the fact that both states have had constant news coverage since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.

Fifty percent couldn't find the state of New York on a map, even though it's the third most populous state in the country behind Texas and California, the study said.

The study, officially called the National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs 2006 Geographic Literacy Study, polled Americans aged 18 to 24 on national and world geography.

One reason young Americans are geographically illiterate is that geography hasn't been emphasized in the kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum for a very long time, said Jodi Vender, coordinator of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education and a coordinator in Penn State's geography department.

"Basically, right now, there is an emphasis on reading, writing and math," Vender said.

"There is no funding for geography in the No Child Left Behind Act, as there is for other school subjects... Geography helps us all understand what is where, why and 'so what?' on all scales -- local to global," Vender said.

Sitting in the HUB-Robeson Center, Irfan Quraishi (senior-civil engineering) correctly identified New York, Louisiana and Mississippi on a map of the U.S. and correctly identified Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq on a map of Asia.

"Young people aren't as aware of what goes on around us," Quraishi said.

"Everytime you watch the news, they show a picture of Iraq."

Kate Blanas (sophomore-elementary education) and Dezmen Troutt (senior-sociology) could also correctly identify the three states and three countries.

"I do think [geography] is important because it's just being a good citizen and having a good knowledge," Blanas said.

"Basic geography knowledge should be required."

Troutt said he doesn't believe geography should be required in school.

"A lot of people are on the 'knowledge is power' bandwagon, but I think [geography] is important, not essential," Troutt said.

"You can get by not knowing where the state of New York is."

Troutt said he learned his geography in social science classes earlier in his education.

"I don't blame people for not knowing where Tajikistan is, but in terms of countries, you should know where the big countries are, like China, Russia and Spain," Troutt said.

"By the time you get to college, you should be able to name and locate most states, if not all."

Jon Kauffman (senior-wildlife fishery science) and Becky Ferguson (senior-nutrition) could locate all three states correctly as well as Iran and Afghanistan.

"Iraq is smaller than Iran, I'm just not sure which is which," Kauffman said as he looked over a map of Asia.

After answering five out of the six questions correctly, Kauffman said basic geography skills are a must today.

"Geography is important to understand what's going on around us and how the world is shaped and culture," Kauffman said. "Some people might think Afghanistan is three hours away."