B.S. Geography

Explore the connections between ecological, atmospheric, hydrologic, and geologic sciences to better understand the impacts on natural and human-dominated landscapes.

About the Major

Geographers study the earth's features but with a strong appreciation for the human-environment relations that shape and are shaped by the distributions of these features across the landscape. Geography is an interdisciplinary field that connects ecological, atmospheric, hydrologic, and geologic sciences to understanding the impacts of a dynamic and changing landscape.

With the B.S. in Geography, you can focus on specific areas such as climate change, fire history, biogeography, arid lands, or other topics that bridge the physical sciences. You'll learn to analyze data, use cartographic and geographic information systems, and work in the field and in remote-sensing laboratories. Internships are integral to the major and credit can be earned for internships in the public private and non-profit sectors.

We also offer a B.A. in Geography for students interested in exploring the environmental, social, political, and economic processes that shape places and our lives.

Areas of Study

You'll complete courses in both physical and human geography, as well as methods courses areas such as cartography, remote sensing, or statistics. You also complete specialized courses in one area of concentration:

• Physical geography
• Geographic information science
• Water, land, and society

See degree requirements

Required Minor

All majors in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences require a minor (or double major). We encourage you to seek out departments with courses that complement your area of study. Some of the areas of interest you may look into include: public administration and policy, environmental science, information science, ecology, and much more.

Career Pathways

As a graduate of a field critical to the future of the planet, you will have multiple career opportunities:

• GIS analyst
• Landscape and resource analyst
• Environmental health and safety officer
• Emergency management professional
• Urban sustainability consultant
• Teacher

Plus many other emerging positions involving research methods and information systems.