GEOGRAPHY
Department of Geography and
Environmental Studies

FACULTY: Julie Cidell, Jeffrey Hackel (Chair), Michal Kohout, Ted McDowell, Norman Meek, James Mulvihill, Richard Rowland, Jenny Zorn

Geography is concerned with the spatial variations and interrelationships between the natural and cultural features of the earth. Geographers study the earth primarily as the home of human beings. As an approach to knowledge, geography forms an interdisciplinary bridge between the physical and cultural worlds, examining both humans and their environment. As a synthesizing discipline, geography is an especially attractive major for liberal arts and science students.Its body of theory and methodologies provides an analytic technique applicable to a wide range of questions. For students planning to terminate their formal education with a bachelor's degree, it also provides both the regional and world perspective required of responsible citizens. For the same reasons, geography is especially valuable for those who plan to do graduate work. Geography offers job opportunities in teaching, business, government, armed forces, conservation and water resources, planning and market research, geographic information systems (GIS) and international organizations.

Students who can meet the qualifications are also encouraged to participate in the California State University's International Programs. Such participation will not only contribute immediately to the student's geographical knowledge and degree program, but may have longer term educational and career benefits as well. For further information, see Page 20 of the Course Bulletin.

B.A. IN GEOGRAPHY
Requirements (64 units)
Total units required for graduation: 180

Requirements for the B.A. in Geography:

Lower-division requirements (18 units)

1. GEOG 100. Introduction to Human Geography (4)
2. GEOG 103. Physical Geography (5)
3. GEOG 201. Map Interpretation (4)
4. GEOG 202. Introduction to Geographical Information
Systems and Mapping (5)

Upper-division requirements (46 units)

1. GEOG 305. Geographic Statistics and Research Methods (4)

2. Twelve units chosen from:

GEOG 320. Geography of Social Issues (4)
GEOG 322. United States and Mexico Border Issues (4)
GEOG 350. Conservation and Natural Resources (4)
GEOG 380. Population Geography (4)
GEOG 420. Geography of Economic Activity (4)
May choose only one of the following two courses:
GEOG 415. Urban Planning and Land Development (4)
GEOG 440. Understanding the City (4)

3. Twelve units chosen from:

GEOG 304. Field Methods in Geography (4)
May choose only one of the following two courses:
GEOG 360. Weather and Climate (4)
GEOG 365. Climate Change (4)
GEOG 370. Landscape Analysis (4)
GEOG 470. Hydrology and Water Resources (4)
GEOG 480. Geomorphology (4)

4. Eight units chosen from:

GEOG 312. Geography of the Developing World (4)
May choose one of the following two courses:
GEOG 313. Geography of the Developed World (4)
GEOG 323. Area Study: North America (4)

5. A minimum of four units chosen from:
GEOG 306. Remote Sensing of the Environment (4)
GEOG 307. Transportation Issues and Development (4)
GEOG 308. Advanced Geographic Information Systems (5)
GEOG 402. Geographic Information Systems Applications (5)
GEOG 403. Advanced Map Design (5)
GEOG 406. Digital Image Processing (4)

6. GEOG 500. Senior Seminar (2)

7. Four units of upper-division course work in geography except GEOG 300 and 311 which cannot count for the Geography major.

MINOR IN GEOGRAPHY
Requirements (24 units)

Requirements for a minor in Geography:

1. GEOG 420. Geography of Economic Activity (4)

2. Twenty units chosen from any geography courses, of which at least fifteen must be upper-division. Only four of these units may be drawn from the area studies group.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

Students majoring in geography are eligible to receive honors in geography at graduation if they have:
1. Completed at least one-half of the course work required by the major at this university;
2. Earned a grade point average of at least 3.5 in the major, both at this university and overall;
3. Earned an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better;
4. Completed a senior project approved in advance by the department chair. Students interested in receiving this recognition must initiate the process by making a formal application with the Geography Department Administrative Support Coordinator.