Geography and Geospatial Sciences, B.A.

The B.A. in Geography and Geospatial Sciences is a flexible program that meets a wide variety of personal educational goals and interests. Geographers study all aspects of places (including physical, environmental, and societal patterns), analyzing geospatial data to address changing patterns through time. The B.A. in Geography and Geospatial Science is commonly combined with a second major or minor to define a specific area of focus, and prepares students for careers and graduate study in geospatial, earth and environmental sciences.

Oral Communication Requirement:

To satisfy the oral communication requirement for the B.A. degree in Geography and Geospatial Sciences a student must successfully complete GGY 395 .

Applied Learning Requirement:

To satisfy the applied learning requirement for the B.A. degree in Geography and Geospatial Sciences a student must successfully complete one of the following courses: GGY 322 , GGY 333 , GGY 335 , GGY 424 , GGY 426 , GGY 428 , GGY 433 , GGY 437 , GGY 473 , GGY 491 , GGY 494 , GGY 498 , GGY 499 , GLY 390 or OCN 390 .

Requirements for a Major in Geography and Geospatial Sciences for the B.A. Degree:

Core requirements:

GGY 101 - Modern World Geography Credit Hours: 3
GGY 130 - Geosystems Credit Hours: 4
GGY 215 - The Digital Globe Credit Hours: 3 or
GGY 220 - Cartography and Data Visualization Credit Hours: 3
GGY 222 - Quantitative Methods in Earth Sciences Credit Hours: 3
GGY 230 - Introduction to Weather and Climate Credit Hours: 3
GGY 321 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
GGY 322 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 3
GGY 365 - Written Communications in the Geosciences Credit Hours: 2
GGY 395 - Oral Communication in Geography Credit Hours: 1

Total: 25 hours

Elective Requirements:

In addition, students must complete a minimum of 18 elective hours consisting of any GGY courses beyond the core, and up to 10 hours from among:

GLYL 100 - Earth Systems Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
GLY 125 - Natural Disasters Credit Hours: 3
GLY 226 - Principles of Hydrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 390 - Field Methods in Geosciences Credit Hours: 2
GLY 420 - Global Climate Change Credit Hours: 3
OCN 250 - Coasts and Society Credit Hours: 3
OCN 390 - Field Methods in Oceanography Credit Hours: 2

Total: 43 hours

Geography majors are strongly encouraged to pursue a minor or second major, and to carefully select courses that will define their main area of interest.

Additional Information:

GLY 390 or OCN 390 may be repeated once for a total of 4 credit hours.

GGY courses listed as core requirements that are not counted toward the core may count as elective hours.

A “C” (2.00) or better average is required on all courses that count toward the major.

At least 14 hours toward the Geography and Geospatial Sciences B.A. must be at the 300-400 levels.

The Geography and Geospatial Sciences major is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers and to allow for complementary study in allied disciplines. Geography and Geospatial Sciences majors are strongly encouraged to pursue a minor or second major, and to carefully select courses that will define their main area of interest.

For example, working closely with an advisor, students may select elective courses tailored to specific areas of interest such as:

Applied Geography (GGY 215 , GGY 220 , GGY 421 , GGY 424 , GGY 426 , GGY 428 , GGY 429 , GGY 473 , or a second major or minor in GIS Remote Sensing and UAS, Computer Science, or Information Technology).
Human-Environment Geography (GGY 340 , GGY 383 , GGY 435 , GGY 438, GGY 473 , GGY 475 , or a second major or minor in International Studies, Anthropology, or Environmental Sciences).
Physical Geography (GGY 333 , GGY 335 , GGY 420 , GGY 432 , GGY 433 , GGY 436 , GGY 437 , GGY 439 , or a second major or minor in Geology, Geoscience, or Oceanography).