Geography Environmental Pre-Law Major B.S.
- Preparation for environmental law and related fields
- Preparation for law school
- Careers in environmental and sustainability planning, resource management, natural areas preservation, outdoor and environmental education, and environmental assessment, monitoring, and restoration
Major code BS4240
Faculty Contact: Dr. Harold Perkins
Program Overview
The Geography – Environmental Pre-Law major is designed to prepare students for a career in environmental law and related fields. This interdisciplinary program is unique because in addition to requiring social science courses that prepare students for law school, it also requires a foundation in the physical sciences and courses that link humans and their environment.
Geographers are interested in the spatial patterns observed on earth. Bridging the natural and social sciences, Geography is the interdisciplinary study of environments and how people interact with the environment. It is important to study geography because many of the world's problems require understanding the interdependence between human activities and the environment. Geography is therefore a beneficial major for students because its theories and methods provide them with analytical skills relevant to occupations focused on solving social and environmental problems. The Geography Department offers eight majors that help students tailor their focus of study.
The department is committed to excellence in both teaching and advising. Several faculty members have received teaching awards, and faculty are known across campus for the quality of their advising. As a geography major, students meet one-on-one with their faculty adviser every semester during advising week, and they are always welcome to talk with their adviser at any time throughout the semester whenever questions may arise. In addition to advising students about their academic programs, the department provides timely information about internships, nationally competitive awards, and other opportunities as they arise. Many students complete internships, and several over the last few years have received nationally competitive awards.
Careers and Graduate School
Students who earn a degree in Geography – Environmental Pre-Law are well-prepared to pursue law school, both in-state and around the nation. For those who choose to pursue a career upon graduation, students are prepared for positions in a wide variety of settings. These include, but are not limited to, environmental and sustainability planning, resource management, natural areas preservation, and outdoor and environmental education, as well as in environmental assessment, monitoring, and restoration. In addition, graduates can seek careers in private and public firms and agencies that employ geographic information systems; education (public and private K-12 schools and higher education); local, state, or federal governments; city and regional planning agencies; and non-profit organizations.
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Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change to Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Degree Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences
View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Geography – Environmental Pre-law Major (B.S.)
The major requirements for the B.S. degree in Geography - Environmental Prelaw is a minimum of 44 hours of geography. Take some of the supporting courses to satisfy the University General Education requirement and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
Geography Foundations
Complete the following geography foundation courses with at least the minimum grade indicated for each course:
- GEOG 1100 - Physical Geography Credit Hours: 4.0 (C or better grade required)
- GEOG 1200 - Human Geography Credit Hours: 3.0 (C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4.0 (C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2710 - Introduction to Statistics in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0 (C- or better grade required)
- GEOG 4800 - Senior Seminar in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
Technique/Method Course
Complete one of the following courses:
- GEOG 3650 - Air Photo Interpretation Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4710 - Quantitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4711 - Qualitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4730 - Principles of GIS Credit Hours: 4.0
Program Requirements
Core Courses
Complete the following four required courses:
- GEOG 2400 - Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3430 - Global Issues in Environment Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3460 - Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4470 - Natural Resource Conservation Credit Hours: 3.0
Core Electives
Complete four of the following courses:
- GEOG 3010 - Meteorology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3210 - Population Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3250 - Political Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3290 - World Economic Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3410 - Geography of Hunger and Food Security Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3440 - Agricultural Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3500 - Land Use Planning Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3580 - Environmental Hazards Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4110 - Advanced Physical Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4170 - Landscape Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4480 - Migration and Development Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4520 - Environmental and Sustainability Planning Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4560 - The City and the Environment Credit Hours: 3.0
Supporting Courses
Chemistry
Complete one of the chemistry options.
Chemistry Option 1
- CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4.0
- CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4.0
Chemistry Option 2
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4.0
- CHEM 1520 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4.0
Reasoning
Complete the following course:
- PHIL 1200 - Principles of Reasoning Credit Hours: 3.0
Reasoning Elective
Complete one of the following courses:
- COMS 2150 - Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy Credit Hours: 3.0
- PHIL 1300 - Introduction to Ethics Credit Hours: 3.0
- PHIL 3350 - Environmental Ethics Credit Hours: 3.0
Social Sciences
Complete two of the following courses:
- HIST 3090 - American Constitutional History, Part 1: Origins to Reconstruction Credit Hours: 3.0
- HIST 3095 - American Constitutional History, 1880s-Present Credit Hours: 3.0
- HIST 3330 - Oil, the Persian Gulf, and World Power Credit Hours: 3.0
- POLS 2200 - The Politics of Law Credit Hours: 3.0
- POLS 4010 - American Constitutional Law Credit Hours: 3.0
- POLS 4015 - Constitutional Politics Credit Hours: 3.0
- POLS 4040 - Civil Liberties Credit Hours: 3.0
- POLS 4067 - Women and Politics Credit Hours: 3.0