Geography Major B.S.
- Requires concentration in Physical/Geospatial courses
- Flexible curriculum combining physical and human geography with analytical skills
- Career preparation for environmental planning, international and community development, foreign service, cultural and historic preservation, and management of geographic information systems
Major code BS4231
Faculty Contact: Dr. Harold Perkins
Program Overview
The Geography Bachelor of Science major affords students flexibility in designing a curriculum that combines the traditions of physical and human geography with analytical and technical skills. Unlike the Bachelor of Arts program in Geography, the B.S. degree requires a concentration in Physical/Geospatial courses.
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 Geography Bachelor of Science major affords students flexibility in designing a curriculum that combines the traditions of physical and human geography with analytical and technical skills.
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
A degree in geography prepares students for a variety of career paths, including environmental planning, international and community development, foreign service, cultural and historic preservation, and management of geographic information systems. Examples of potential employers include, but are not limited to, the following: 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; architecture firms; non-profit organizations; museum and historical sites; etc.
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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 Major (B.S.)
The major requirement for the B.S. degree in Geography is a minimum of 41 hours of geography.
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
Geography Regional Course
Complete one regional course from the following:
- GEOG 3300 - Geography of Europe Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3310 - Geography of Africa Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3330 - Appalachia: Land and People Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3340 - Historical Geography of the United States Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3350 - Geography of Latin America Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3380 - Geography of Asia Credit Hours: 3.0
Geography Technique/Method Courses
Complete two courses from the following:
- GEOG 3600 - Cartography I Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3610 - Cartography II Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3650 - Air Photo Interpretation Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4670 - Advanced Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4710 - Quantitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4712 - Field Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4730 - Principles of GIS Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4740 - GIS Design and Application Development Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4750 - GIS and Landscape Analysis Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4760 - Geographic Information Analysis Credit Hours: 4.0
Geography Electives
Complete a minimum of 15 hours of Geography, including at least 9 hours from the following list of physical/geospatial courses:
In addition to the Geography Technique/Method Courses, complete a minimum of 9 hours from the following:
- GEOG 3010 - Meteorology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3050 - Physical Meteorology Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3150 - Landforms and Landscapes Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3580 - Environmental Hazards Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 3600 - Cartography I Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3610 - Cartography II Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 3650 - Air Photo Interpretation Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4060 - Synoptic Meteorology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4070 - Mesoscale Meteorology Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4080 - Dynamic Meteorology I Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4090 - Dynamic Meteorology II Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4110 - Advanced Physical Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4170 - Landscape Ecology Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4520 - Environmental and Sustainability Planning Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4670 - Advanced Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4710 - Quantitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4712 - Field Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
- GEOG 4730 - Principles of GIS Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4740 - GIS Design and Application Development Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4750 - GIS and Landscape Analysis Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4760 - Geographic Information Analysis Credit Hours: 4.0
- GEOG 4770 - Advanced Topics in GeoInformatics Credit Hours: 3.0