Geography Major

Geography is the quintessential liberal arts subject, with a broad array of classes that appeal to many different interests!  Enter the major at any level, from any direction: many Geography majors take a class or two to satisfy other requirements and then decide to declare.

The three-course core is taken by all majors; one additional method is chosen from a list of six courses.  Students are required to explore the breadth of geography by taking one course from each of three areas of specialization; one of these courses has to be at 300-level. Students then specialize by taking three additional courses in one area (a total of four in that area, providing real expertise).  They then cap their program with a senior seminar.  University catalog requirements can be found here.

Core requirements (11 credits):

  • GEOG 102 Intro to Human Geography (3)
  • GEOG 111 Landform Processes w/lab (4)
  • GEOG 250 or GISC 200 Introduction to GIS (4)

 Method requirement choose one (3-4 credits):

  • GEOG 352 Quantitative Methods (3)
  • GEOG 363 Qualitative Methods (3)
  • GEOG 365 Field Methods (4)
  • GISC 340 Remote Sensing (4)
  • GISC 351 Spatial Analysis (4)
  • GISC 355 Mobile Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems (4)

 Breadth Requirements (9-10 credits):

Take one course from each of the 3 areas of specialization, at least one being at 300-level.

Specialization Requirements (9 credits):

Take 3 additional courses from one of the areas of specialization, two of which are at 300- or 400-level. For each area, 3 credits of one of the following may be used: GEOG 200 Topics in Geography; 360 Study Abroad; 410 Advanced Topics in Geography; 485 Readings in Geography; 491 Individual Study in Geography; 494 Community Engaged Study in Geography. GEOG 337 may be counted in one area of specialization only.

 

 

 

Society & Politics

  • 231: Introduction to Planning
  • 236: Globalization & Local Development
  • 237: Cities
  • 331: Race & Place in America
  • 332: Migration Politics
  • 333: Planning Seminar
  • 337: Nature of Cities
  • 338: Geopolitics

 

 

Culture

  • 101: World Regional Geography
  • 221: Geography of Eastern North America
  • 222: Geography of Western North America
  • 301: Geography of Latin America & Caribbean
  • 304: Geography of Middle East
  • 335: Sacred Spaces
  • 339: Development Studies
  • 361: Grassroots Development in Guatemala

 

 

Environment

  • 110: Weather & Climate w/lab
  • 240: Hazards & Resilience
  • 241: Biogeography
  • 245: Environment & Society
  • 325: Dynamic Climatology
  • 326: Glacial Geomorphology
  • 327: Climate Change
  • 337: Nature of Cities

Capstone (3 credits):

GEOG 490 Senior Seminar in Geography