Major in Geography Requirements Fall 2017 - Summer 2020

 

Students who declared their major in Geography prior to May 2013 can opt for the new major or stay with the requirements for the old major.

The new major in Geography is designed to prepare students to understand and respond to our world’s changing social and natural environments. The major consists of 45 credits — a 15 credit Geography Core that includes a capstone project, and 30 credits in one of four tracks: Urban and Social Geography, Physical and Environmental Geography, Geographic Information Science, and Sustainability Studies. Students interested in initial certification as a Childhood Education teacher should complete Track A: Urban and Social Geography and must apply for the QUEST Program through the School of Education before completing a total of 45 undergraduate credits.

Students complete the Geography Core (15 credits), and select one of the four tracks (minimum of 30 credits).

Geography Core 15 credits (Effective Fall 2017)

  1. GEOG 10100 (3 credits) or GEOG 15000 (3 credits) or GEOL 10500 (3 credits)
  2. One lecture and one lab course from the following four courses: (for a total of 6 credits)
    • PGEOG 14000 Introduction to Weather, Climate and Climate Change (3 credits)*
    • PGEOG 14100 Introduction to Weather, Climate and Climatic Change Laboratory (3 credits)*
    • GEOL 10000 Introduction to Geology (3 credits)
    • GEOL 10100 Introduction to Geology Lab (3 credits)
  3. GTECH 10100 (3 credits)
  4. One approved Capstone course from the following list (3 credits):

* NOTE: PGEOG 14000 and PGEOG 14100 are not currently offered, but PGEOG 13000 should be substituted for these two courses

 

Old Geography Core – 13-15 credits (Valid May 2013 - Summer 2017)

  1. GEOG 10100 or GEOG 15000 or GEOL 10500
  2. PGEOG 13000 or both GEOL 10000 and GEOL 10100
  3. GTECH 10100
  4. One approved Capstone course from the following list (3 credits):

NOTE: To graduate with departmental honors, students must hold senior status, have a minimum GPA in the major of 3.5, and complete GEOG 49000 or PGEOG 49000 or GTECH 49000 as their capstone course.

 


 

Track A: Urban and Social Geography (minimum 30 credits)
Urban and Social Geography gives students a greater understanding of the complexities of our increasingly globalized world, and prepares them for careers and graduate programs that focus on cities and regions in the United States and abroad. Students interested in initial certification as Childhood Education teachers with a focus on geography and social studies should complete Track A and apply for the QUEST Program through the School of Education before completing a total of 45 undergraduate credits.

Track A Requirements:
Five courses from the list below (minimum 15 credits):

GEOG 22100 Economic Geography and Globalization
GEOG 24100 Population Geography
GEOG 24300 Urban Geography
GEOG 24400 Political Geography
GEOG 24700 Cultural Geography
GEOG 25000 Geographic Research Methods
GTECH 20100 Introduction to GIS (4 credit)

And

Two (2) courses with a GEOG 306XX course number (6 credits),
GEOG 30600 Special Topics in Contemporary Regional Geographies

Three (3) courses with a GEOG 305XX, GEOG 383XX, or GTECH 385XX course number (9 credits) with advice and approval of the undergraduate advisor as appropriate to student interests and professional goals

NOTE: Most 300-level courses have 200-level prerequsites. Students are encouraged to see the undergraduate advisor to select 200-level courses appropriate to their interests and professional goals in preparation for 300-level courses.

 


 

Track B: Physical and Environmental Geography (minimum 30 credits)
Physical and Environmental Geography focuses on geography as a natural science, and prepares students for careers and graduate programs that demand an integrated understanding of the earth systems sciences and geographic information science.

Track B Requirements:
The following 16.5 credits or five (5) courses:

PGEOG 21200 Geography of Soils and Vegetation
PGEOG 25000 Earth Systems Science I (3.5 credits)
GEOL 23100 Principles of Geomorphology
GTECH 20100 Introduction to GIS (4 credits)
GTECH 20300 Introduction to Remote Sensing

And

Five (5) 300-level courses with a PGEOG, GEOL, and/or GTECH prefix with advice and approval of the undergraduate advisor as appropriate to student interests and professional goals (15 credits)

 


 

Track C: Geographic Information Science (minimum 30 credits) Geographic Information Science prepares students for careers and graduate programs in geographic information science, using and/or developing geographic information systems and remote sensing.

Track C Requirements:
The following 13 credits of four (4) courses:

GTECH 20100 Introduction to GIS
GTECH 20300 Introduction to Remote Sensing
GEOG 25000 Geographic Research Methods

STAT 11300 Elementary Probability and Statistics or
STAT 21300 Introduction to Applied Statistics

And

The following five (5) courses:

GTECH 30100 Quantitative Methods in Geography
GTECH 32100 Remote Sensing of the Environment
GTECH 32200 Digital Image Processing
GTECH 36100 GIS Analysis
GTECH 38000 Introduction to Cartographic Design and Geovisualization

And

Two (2) additional 300-level GTECH courses with advice and approval of the undergraduate advisor as appropriate to student interests and professional goals

NOTE: Selected GTECH 385XX courses have GEOG or PGEOG pre-requisites in addition to GTECH 20100. Students are encouraged to see the undergraduate advisor for assistance in courses selection and planning.


 

Track D: Sustainability Studies (minimum 30 credits)
Sustainability Studies prepares students for careers and graduate programs focused on sustainable development in the United States and abroad.

Track D Requirements:
Five courses from the list below (minimum 15 credits):

GEOG 22100 Economic Geography and Globalization
GEOG 24500 Geography of Development
GEOG 22600 Environmental Conservation: Resource Management
GEOG 24300 Urban Geography
GEOG 24100 Population Geography
GTECH 20100 Introduction to GIS
WGSL 20017 Globalization and Gender

And

The following nine (9) credits:
GEOG 38328* Environmental Ethics
GEOG 37000 Geography of Sustainable Development in Developing Countries
GEOG 37100 Rural Water Supply

And

Two (2) courses (6 credits) with a GEOG 305XX, GEOG 306XX, GEOG 383XX or GTECH 385XX course number with advice and approval of the undergraduate advisor as appropriate to student interests and professional goals

NOTES:
(1) Most 300-level courses have 200-level requirements. Students are encouraged to see the undergraduate advisor to select 200-level courses appropriate to their interests and professional go als in preparation for 300-level courses.
(2) * PHILO 25500, Environmental Ethics, is an approved substitute for GEOG 38328.