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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | (18 credits) | |
| GS-101 | Understanding Earth: an Introduction to Physical Geography | 3 |
| or GS-110 | Weather and Climate | |
| or EV-150 | Environmental Science | |
| GE-102 | Human Spaces: Culture, Society, and Environment | 3 |
| GS-140 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GS-165 | Geographic Information Systems I | 4 |
| GE-200 | Applied Skills in Geography | 2 |
| GE-400 | Geography Seminar | 2 |
| Requirements for the Concentration in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | (27 credits) | |
| Required core courses | ||
| GS-218 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GS-318 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Independent Study: Earth Science- Geoscience | ||
| Readings and Directed Research | ||
| Internship: Geography | ||
| Core electives | ||
| 4 courses at the 200+ level in either physical or human geography. Students are encouraged to focus on one area. | 12 | |
| Ancillary Courses | ||
| To be taken by the time the student has 21 credits in the major | ||
| CS-135 | Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| MA-150 | Statistics I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Geography Major: GIS Concentration
Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester One | Credits | |
| EN-101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| MA-150 | Statistics I | 3 |
| GE-102 | Human Spaces: Culture, Society, and Environment | 3 |
| GS-101 | Understanding Earth: an Introduction to Physical Geography or Weather and Climate or Environmental Science | 3 |
| GenEd | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| EN-102 | College Writing II | 3 |
| GS-165 | Geographic Information Systems I | 4 |
| GS-140 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Semester Three | ||
| GE-200 | Applied Skills in Geography | 2 |
| GS-218 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CS-135 | Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| GS-318 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| GS/GE 2XX+ | Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Semester Five | ||
| GS/GE 2XX+ | Elective | 3 |
| GS/GE 2XX+ | Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| GS/GE 2XX+ | Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| GenEd | GenEd Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Semester Seven | ||
| GE-400 | Geography Seminar | 2 |
| GE-410 | Independent Study: Geography or Independent Study: Earth Science- Geoscience or Readings and Directed Research or Readings and Directed Research or Internship: Geography or Internship: Geography | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| SELECT | Minor/Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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.