Majors, Minors, GIS Certificates

The Department of Geography has a very strong undergraduate program currently serving about 160 majors and 35 minors. We offer six different major tracks, including geography, environmental, urban, geographic information science, environmental prelaw, and  meteorology. The track system provides our students the opportunity to focus on the aspect of geography that interests them the most, while also obtaining a solid foundation in the fundamentals of the discipline as a whole. We also offer a geography minor, meteorology minor, and geographic information science (GIS) certificate. 

Our department is committed to excellence in both teaching and advising. Several of our faculty members have received teaching awards, and we are known across campus for the quality of our advising. As a geography major, you will meet one-on-one with your faculty advisor every semester during advising week, and you are always welcome to talk with your advisor at any time throughout the semester whenever questions may arise. In addition to advising our students about their academic programs, we provide timely information about internships, nationally competitive awards, and other opportunities as they arise. Many of our students complete internships and several of our students over the last few years have received nationally competitive awards.

We are happy to answer any questions you might have about our programs of study, the department, or the field of geography. Contact information for the Undergraduate Chair is provided to the right; please don't hesitate to contact the Undergraduate Chair if you don't find the information that you are looking for on our website. If you declare a Geography major, the Undergraduate Chair will assign you an advisor, who will work with you to develop a plan to complete both the University General Education requirements and courses within your major.

Geography Major (B.S. or B.A.)

Major code BS4231, BA4231
This program affords students flexibility in designing a curriculum that combines the traditions of physical and human geography with analytical and technical skills. In addition to differences in the College language requirement, the B.S. degree requires a concentration in Physical/Geospatial courses. 

Download the Geography BS Major checklist 

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Download the Geography BA Major checklist    

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Environmental Geography Major (B.S.)

Major code BS4232
This program provides concentrated study of the Earth's physical systems and human interactions with the environment. Environmental geography prepares students for careers in environmental planning, design, and restoration, as well as in environmental assessment and monitoring, resource management, natural areas preservation, and outdoor and environmental education. Students completing the program will develop competencies in a broad array of subjects spanning the natural and social sciences, as well as complementary analytical techniques.

Download the Environmental Geography Major checklist

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Urban Planning Major (B.S)

Major code BS4234
This special curriculum is designed to provide some of the basic academic requirements for a career in urban planning in the United States. While working toward a conventional B.S. in geography, you will take certain required courses and select from an approved list of electives (both inside and outside the Department of Geography) that emphasize legal, social, political, and historical aspects of the planning profession.

Download the Urban Planning Major checklist

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Geographic Information Science Major (B.S.)

Major code BS4235
The goal of the Geography—Geographic Information Science major program is to provide a technical background for geographers interested in working with business, government, or planning agencies. The emphasis of the program is to develop a strong background in the field of geographic information science, as practiced in the fields of cartography, remote sensing, and quantitative methods.

Download the Geographic Information Science Major checklist

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Download the GISc brochure

Environmental Prelaw Major (B.S.)

Major code BS4240
The Geography—Environmental Prelaw program is designed to prepare you for advanced study of environmental law. The goal of the program is to provide both a sound science background in environmental studies and a broad base of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences.

Download the Environmental Prelaw Geography Major checklist

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Meteorology Major (B.S.)

Major code BS4238
Upon completion of the rigorous Meteorology curriculum, students will meet certification requirements of the National Weather Service and the American Meteorological Society; students will also be well prepared for graduate training in meteorology, climatology, or atmospheric physics. Our Scalia Laboratory for Atmospheric Analysis maintains two weather stations, and through practicum courses students learn to make weather observations and issue public-oriented forecasts. 

Download the Meteorology Major checklist

Download the Sample 4-Year Schedule

Download the Meteorology brochure

Geography Minor

Minor code OR4231

The Geography minor program affords students flexibility in designing a curriculum that combines the traditions of physical and human geography with analytical and technical skills. Students may also use the minor to strengthen cognate skills for their major.

Download the Geography Minor checklist

Meteorology Minor

Major code OR4233

The Meteorology minor offers coursework in basic meteorology, meteorological observations, and forecasting, including a series of synoptic and mesoscale meteorology courses. The minor provides students with meteorological knowledge for related fields such as aviation, atmospheric chemistry, oceanography, or geology that will ultimately benefit them in their future careers. Students who wish to be employed full-time as a meteorologist should major in meteorology rather than seek a minor.

Download the Meteorology Minor checklist

Geographic Information Science (GISc) Certificate

Major code CTGISU
Maps remain a fundamental means of geographic communication. The expanding role of the map and related digital information places a premium on the ability to interpret and analyze mapped information. To meet this expanded role, the advancement of Geographic Information Science (GIS) is seen as the important synthesis of traditional mapping with the more advanced tools of data modeling and analysis, to provide new and enhanced information on geographic topics. The power in GIS is the use of spatial analysis techniques to analyze geographic information.

Download the Geographic Information Science Certificate checklist