Geography is an empowering discipline that examines the Earth through the lens of human-environment interaction. Geography is recognized for both its physical and its cultural attributes. The physical realm examines the Earth's dynamic systems and landscape evolution while the cultural realm focuses on human interaction to the constantly changing forces of nature. Major topics of study include population distributions, climate change, technology, language, urbanization, globalization, resource management, and environmental impacts. Geospatial technologies, including GIS, remote sensing, and computer mapping, form an integral component of analysis.

Abundant employment opportunities are available for geographers in local, state, and federal agencies concerned with such issues as regional planning, geopolitics, economic development, and environmental impact. Industry and business employs geographers as market researchers, analysts, and consultants. The U.S. Department of Labor has identified spatial technologies and expertise (geography/GIS) as one of the three primary areas of employment opportunity for the 21st century. Geography students who complete the teacher education option are eligible for Secondary Social Studies certification.

The geography major requires 40 credits of geography courses. One statistics course is recommended. Students considering graduate work in geography should develop strong skills in GIS.

INTEGRATIVE STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
44 credits minimum

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
40 credits

• ISGEOG 203 The Human Cultural Mosaic
• ISGEOG 203 The Human Cultural Mosaic
• ISGEOG 204 Physical Geography
• GEOG 395 Seminar I
• GEOG 495 Seminar II
• Select one of the following regional courses:
  
  • GEOG 340 Topics in Regional Geography
  • GEOG 341 Geography of the U.S. and Canada
    (recommended for Teacher Certification)
  • GEOG 371/571 Geography Field Studies
• Select two of the following systematic fields of geography:
  
  • GEOG 223 Methods of Spatial Analysis
  • GEOG 303 The Politics of Place
  • GEOG 304 Population Geography
  • GEOG 305 The Global Economy
  • GEOG 307 Urban Geography and Planning
  • GEOG 330 Natural Resource Management
  • GEOG 332 Global Water Resources
  • GEOG 420 Environmental Assessment
• Select two of the following geographic skills courses:
  
  • GEOG 321 Geospatial Technology for K-12
    (recommended for teacher certification candidates only)
  • GEOG 323 Land Surveying and Cartography
  • GEOG 324 Vector GIS
  • GEOG 325 Cartographic Design and Analysis
  • GEOG 326 Raster GIS
  • GEOG 327 Environmental Remote Sensing

ELECTIVES
One additional course in Geography, bringing total to 40 credits in Geography.
Select additional courses to reach a total of 120 credits.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
120 credits