Geography Major

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – Department of Geography

The General Education Requirement

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain III-C (Global Competency, Ethical Reasoning, and/or Human Diversity) requirement is satisfied through the completion of the Geography major.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

Requirements for Major in Geography:

Core Courses (4 Courses):

• GEOG 101 Introduction to Human Geography
• GEOG 110 World Regional Geography
• GEOG 203 Introduction to Physical Geography
• GEOG 216 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems

Geography Concentrations

Geography majors must concentrate in a specialization within the major. The concentrations shown below are designed to prepare a student for a career or further study in geography. Selections of a concentration should be made as early as possible with an advisor. Students are also strongly encouraged to develop foreign language and computer skills. Geography majors may complete an approved minor through a combination of five (5) related elective courses and/or free electives. This is to be done in consultation with the student’s advisor. Note: Regional geography courses, other than GEOG 110 World Regional Geography, are strongly recommended as related courses or free electives.

Concentration in GIS and Spatial Analysis (UGYA)

Required Concentration Core (4 courses):

• GEOG 214 Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
• GEOG 316 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
• GEOG 328 Introduction to Remote Sensing
• GEOG 486 Senior Geographic Information System Project

Two (2) of the following regional geography courses:

• GEOG 250 Geography of the United States and Canada
• GEOG 251 Geography of New England  
• GEOG 252 Geography of Europe
• GEOG 253 Geography of Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
• GEOG 254 Geography of Monsoon Asia
• GEOG 255 Geography of Subsaharan Africa
• GEOG 256 Geography of the Middle East
• GEOG 257 Geography of Latin America

Related: Choose four (4) courses in consultation with the concentration advisor (substitutions may be made with the approval of the Geography Department Chair).

• CSCI 108 HTML, JavaScript Programming and Website Development
• CSCI 120 Introduction to Information Technology
• CSCI 140 Introduction to the Internet, Graphics, and Multimedia or COMM 140 Introduction to the Internet, Graphics, and Multimedia
• GEOG 208 Medical Geography
• GEOG 260 Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning in the United States
• GEOG 339 Methods for Planning Analysis and Plan Making
• GEOG 495 Internship in Geography*

^{* Must be approved according to department guidelines.}

Concentration in Global Studies (UGYG)

Required Concentration Core (4 courses):

• GEOG 165 Global Cities
• GEOG 212 Geographic Perspectives on the Global Environment
• GEOG 222 Geographic Perspectives on Globalization
• GEOG 460 Global Development Theories and Policies

• GEOG 250 Geography of the United States and Canada
• GEOG 251 Geography of New England  
• GEOG 252 Geography of Europe
• GEOG 253 Geography of Russia and the Former Soviet Republics
• GEOG 254 Geography of Monsoon Asia
• GEOG 255 Geography of Subsaharan Africa
• GEOG 256 Geography of the Middle East
• GEOG 257 Geography of Latin America

Related: Choose four (4) courses in consultation with the concentration advisor (substitutions may be made with the approval of the Geography Department Chair).

• GEOG 180 Native Americans: A Geographical and Legal Perspective
• GEOG 201 Economic Geography
• GEOG 206 Political Geography
• GEOG 208 Medical Geography
• GEOG 211 Cultural Geography
• GEOG 214 Spatial Analysis Using Geographic Information Systems
• GEOG 230 Geography of Natural and Man-Made Hazards