Geography Major: Earth Science Education Concentration

Requirements for a Major

Minimum requirement for the major is completion of a six-course (18 credit) core curriculum and one of five concentrations. Students will declare a concentration in either General Geography, Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Earth System Science, or Earth Science Education. Study Away/Study Abroad is strongly encouraged for geography majors.

Core Courses(18 credits)
GS-101Physical Geography3
or GS-110 Meteorology
GE-102Human Geography3
GS-140Physical Geology4
GS-165Geographic Information Systems I4
GE-200Geography Literature Seminar1
GE/GS-400Geography Seminar3
Requirements for the Concentration in Earth Science Education(48 credits)
Ancillary requirements (may apply to LASC requirements)
MA-190Pre-calculus (or any MA course at 200 level or above)4
BI-140Introduction to Organismal Biology4
BI-202Principles of Ecology4
PY-101Introduction to Astronomy3
Select one of the following:8
General Physics I
and General Physics II (8)
Physics I (Mechanics)
and Physics II ( Electricity, Magnetism and Optics ) (8)
Required courses
GS-110Meteorology3
GS-225Oceanography3
GS-250Hydrology3
GS-270The Sedimentary Record4
Electives
4 earth science electives at the 200+ level, including one earth science course at the 300+ level. No more than one geography (GE) or geospatial course can be counted toward this requirement12
Total Credits66

Geography Major: Earth Science Education concentration

Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
LASCFirst-Year Seminar 3
EN-101 College Writing I 3
LASCLASC Elective (TLC) 1 3
PY-101 Introduction to Astronomy 3
GS-101 Physical Geography 3
 Credits15
Semester Two
EN-102 College Writing II 3
LASCLASC Elective (CON) 3
GS-165 Geographic Information Systems I 4
GE-102 Human Geography 3
GS-140 Physical Geology 4
 Credits17
Year Two
Semester Three
GS-110 Meteorology 3
GS-230 Biogeography 3
BI-140 Introduction to Organismal Biology (NSP/Lab) 4
PY-250 Observational Astronomy 3
LASCLASC Elective (CA) 1 3
 Credits16
Semester Four
GS-210 Geomorphology 4
GS-225 Oceanography 3
MA-180 Introduction to Functions (if needed; or take BI-202) 3
LASCLASC Elective (USW) 1 3
LASCLASC Elective (GP) 1 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Semester Five
GE-200 Geography Literature Seminar 1
GS-250 Hydrology 3
MA-190 Pre-calculus 4
PY-221
General Physics I (NSP)
or Physics I (Mechanics)
4
LASCLASC Elective (ICW) 1 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
GS 2XX+Earth Science Elective 3
CH-112 Survey of Chemistry 4
PY-222
General Physics II
or Physics II ( Electricity, Magnetism and Optics )
4
BI-202 Principles of Ecology 4
LASCLASC Elective (HBS) 1 3
 Credits18
Year Four
Semester Seven
GS 2xx+Earth Science Elective 3
GS 3xx+Earth Science Elective 3
GS-270 The Sedimentary Record 4
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Eight
GE-400 Geography Seminar 3
GS 2xx+Earth Science Elective 3
LASCLASC Elective 1 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits128
1

The sequence of LASC courses marked with 1 is a suggestion but serves as a reminder that LASC designated courses must be taken to satisfy the LASC requirements.

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation.  For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.