Undergraduate Degrees: B.A. and B.S. in Geography
There are two options in the geography program for an undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. The B.A. includes 12 credits in Geography core courses, 21 credits of upper level electives in the 300 level or above, 3 credits of elective coursework, and university requirements of foreign language (12 credits) and the junior year writing requirement (3 credits). A minor in Geography is also available.
Click here for a checklist of B.A. requirements.
Click here for a checklist of B.S. requirements.
Credits for the undergraduate degrees are earned in the following distributions:Introductory Courses (6 cr)
Geo100 Global Environmental Change
plus one of the following:
Geo 102 The Human Landscape
Geo 150 The Earth Transformed: World Environmental Issues
*****
Skills and Techniques (9 cr)
Geo314 Junior Year Writing (required)
Geo340 Quantitative Methods (required)
plus one of the following:
Geo352 Computer Mapping
Geo591Q Introduction to Remote Sensing
Geo594A Introduction to GIS
*****
Elective courses in Geography include:
Geo250: Natural Disasters
Geo330: East Asia
Geo354: Climatology
Geo360: Economic Geography
Geo362: Land use and Society
Geo370: Urban Geography
Geo410: Seminar on Arctic regions
Geo420: Political Ecology
Geo458: Climatic Change
Geo494w: Practicum in Field Methods
Geo497v: Political Geography
Geo510: Natural Hazards
Geo530: Population and Environment
Geo560: Geomorphology
Requirements for B.S. Degree in Physical Geography
In addition to the courses required for the B.A. degree listed above:
Three advanced physical geography courses
(9 credits), including:
354 Climatology
560 Geomorphology
and an advanced physical geography course, such as:
591C Introduction to Climate Modeling
595D Oceans and Climate
(These courses may count for three of the required upper-division courses in Geography.)
General Science Courses (18-24 credits)
Calculus (6-8 cr)
General college physics (6-8 cr)
General college chemistry (6-8 cr)
General Geoscience Courses (7 credits)
101 The Earth
CMPSCI 121 Introduction to Problem Solving with Computers
The Minor
There are several options in the Geography minor. Each is consistent with the general structure of the discipline and its specific sub-fields and: a) provides students with exposure to fundamental concepts in the field; b) enables them to become familiar with the application of these concepts; and c) complements concepts and perspectives emphasized in the student’s declared major field of study. In practical terms the minor in geography enables students to acquire specific skills and competencies (e.g., cartography) which qualify them for employment with various federal, state, and local agencies.
For those students interested in careers in teaching, the geography minor broadens their perspectives in the area of social studies education. In many cases the elected minor in a sub-field of geography complements perspectives provided by the student’s academic major, and in doing so potentially enhances the scope of employment prospects.
The department expects students majoring in the following disciplines to be most interested in a minor in geography: Anthropology, Earth Systems, Economics, Education, Environmental Design, General Business and Finance, Geology, History, and Sociology.
Advising
Both majors and minors may consult with the Chief Undergraduate Adviser in Geography to determine possible options and relevant faculty advisers. Students are encouraged to choose an adviser with interests similar to their own, in addition to the Chief Undergraduate Adviser.