Geography and the Environment

Geography is the study of place in the same sense that history is the study of time. Moreover, geographers can visit and explore any place in the world. Geographers concentrate on asking two essential questions – “Where are things located?” and “Why are they located there?” From the information we obtain to these questions, geographers can study the local, national and global patterns that shape our lives.

Geographers are interdisciplinary scientists who study both the human and natural environments. As a result, geographers are free to study issues and phenomena from virtually all other disciplines.

  • Human geography
  • Physical geography
  • Technical geography

Human geography is the study of topics in the social sciences and human environment such as social, political, economic, or population issues. Physical geography is the study of topics in the physical sciences and natural environment such as climate, geology, resources, or biology. Technical geography encompasses the technical skills of geography including mapping and data analysis. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have enabled geographers to merge these technical skills.

Major Requirements

Geography majors must complete the following courses:

GEOG 200World Geography

3

GEOG 211Quantitative Methods Soc Sci

3

Or

GEOG 425

3

GEOG 230Earth Science

3

GEOG 350TIGeographic Information System

3

GEOG 420Methods of Social Research

3

GEOG xxx
Additional 12 credit hours of geography courses

12

XX xxx
Any writing intensive (WI) course

3

XX xxx
Any speech-intensive (SI) course

3

GEOG 341WI, POL 341WI, or SOC 341WI: Writing for the Social Sciences is recommended.

XX xxx: Any writing-intensive (WI) course

Total Credit Hours: 33

Environment Track within the Geography major

Geography majors may elect to pursue the Environment Track within the major. The following courses are required for the environment track. The GEOG courses in the environment track may also be used to fulfill the 12 credit hour requirement in the geography major.

The following courses are required:

BIOL 100Principles of Biology

4

Or

BIOL 100LPrinciples of Biology Lab

0

GEOG 314

3

GEOG 320Green Criminology

3

Or

SOC 320Green Criminology

3

Or

SUST 320Green Criminology

3

GEOG 335Sustainability

3

Or

SUST 335Sustainability

3

GEOG 410Green Societies

3

Or

SOC 410Green Societies

3

Or

SUST 410Green Societies

3

GEOG 431

3

GEOG 455Adv Geographic Info Science

3

GEOG 460

3

Total Credit Hours: 16

Geography Minor Requirements

A minor in geography consists of the following courses:

GEOG 200World Geography

3

XX xxx
Any four (4) additional geography courses

12

Total Credit Hours: 15

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor Requirements

A minor in geographic information systems consists of the following courses:

GEOG 200World Geography

3

GEOG 350TIGeographic Information System

3

GEOG 455Adv Geographic Info Science

3

GEOG 490Internship

1-12

CS 360Database Design & Development

3

Total Credit Hours: 15