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Geography Areas of Study

Geography Major, B.S.

I. Required Core Courses

GEOG 1224 Introduction to Map Use (3 credits)
GEOG 2100 Introduction to Human Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2200 Introduction to Human Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2225 Aerial Photo and Remote Sensing (3 credits)
GEOG 2300 Economic Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2400 Introduction to Planning (3 credits)
GEOG 3226 Cartography (3 credits)
GEOG 4190 Field Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4200 Quantitative Procedures in Geographic Investigation (3 credits)

Subtotal 27 Credits

II. Required Field of Emphasis

Select one of the following fields of emphasis:

Note: Fields of Emphasis B, C, and D "planning" fields, are intended for students anticipating a career in regional, community, land use, recreational, or natural resource planning.

A. Traditional

Field A is intended for students preparing for graduate work or a non-teaching career in geography. Majors in this option are expected to complete ENGL 2000 Expository Writing prior to their senior year.

1. Required Courses

GEOG 1400 World Regional Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 3410 Geography of the United States (3 credits)
GEOG 3510 Geography of Minnesota (3 credits)
or GEOG 3800 series: Regional Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4210 The History and Development of Geographic Thought (3 credits)

2. Required Guided Electives

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites that are not required in this program.

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3100 Weather and Climate (3 credits)
GEOG 3107 Applied Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4110 Advanced Physical Geography (3 credits)
*GEOG 4510 Site Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)
GEOG 4100 Geography of Population and Settlement (3 credits)
GEOG 4120 Urban Geography (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3800 Regional Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 3810 Geography of Europe (3 credits)
GEOG 3820 Geography of East Asia (3 credits)
GEOG 3830 Geography of South Asia (3 credits)

Select 3 credits of electives in Geography

Subtotal 24 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major, Field of Emphasis A 51 Credits

B. Regional and Land Use Planning
1. Required Planning Core

ENGL 2000 Expository Writing (2 credits)
GEOG 3310 Land Use Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

2. Additional Required Courses

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites that are not required in this program.

ECON 2000 Markets and Resource Allocation (3 credits)
GEOG 3107 Applied Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 3320 Regional Planning Methods (3 credits)
*POL 3210 Public Administration (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3231 Geographical Information Systems (3 credits)
GEOG 3232 Techniques in GIS (3 credits)
GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3410 Geography of the United States (3 credits)
GEOG 4100 Geography of Population and Settlement (3 credits)
GEOG 4120 Urban Geography (3 credits)

Subtotal 23 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major, Field of Emphasis B 50 Credits

C. Park and Recreation Planning
1. Required Planning Core

ENGL 2000 Expository Writing (2 credits)
GEOG 3310 Land Use Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

2. Additional Required Courses

BIOL 1117 General Biology (4 credits)
or BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology (4 credits)
BIOL 2614 General Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL/GEOG 3630 Conservation Biology (3 credits)
or GEOG 3410 Geography of the United States (3 credits)
GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)
GEOG 4510 Site Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

POL 3210 Public Administration (3 credits)
ED 3257 Introduction to Environmental Education and Interpretation (3 credits)
ED 4770 Organization and Administration of Environmental Education and Interpretation (2 credits)
GEOG 3800 series: Regional Geography (3 credits)

Select two of the following courses:

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites that are not required in this program.

*BIOL 3110 Field Botany (3 credits)
or *BIOL 3730 Taxonomy of Seed Plants (3 credits)
GEOG 3100 Weather and Climate (3 credits)
GEOG 3231 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
GEOG 3232 Techniques of GIS (3 credits)
GEOG 4110 Advanced Physical Geography (3 credits)
*GEOG 4500 Resource Assessment and Needs Analysis in Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)

Subtotal 29-30 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major, Field of Emphasis C 56-57 Credits

D. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

1. Required Planning Core

ENGL 2000 Expository Writing (2 credits)
GEOG 3310 Land Use Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

2. Additional Required Courses

GEOG 3231 Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
GEOG 3232 Techniques in GIS (3 credits)
GEOG 4910 Directed Independent Study in GIS Topics (4 credits)
or GEOG 4970 Internship in Geography (4 credits)

Select either of the following sets of courses:

Set One: Select three of the following courses:

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites that are not required in this program.

Updated:
*BUAD 4385 Data Modeling And Design (3 credits)
IT 1460 Computer Aided Drafting/Design (2 credits)
*CS 2229 Computer Programming: C/C++ (3 credits)
*CS 3718 Computer Graphics (3 credits)

Set Two: Select three of the following courses:

Note: Asterisked (*) courses have prerequisites that are not required in this program.

GEOG 3107 Applied Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG/INST 3210 American Indian Lands (3 credits)
GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)
GEOG 3320 Regional Planning Methods (3 credits)
GEOG 3410 Geography of the United States (3 credits)
*GEOG 4500 Resource Assessment and Needs Analysis (3 credits)
*GEOG 4510 Site Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

Subtotal 23-24 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major, Field of Emphasis D 50-51 Credits

SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR GEOGRAPHY MAJOR, B.S.

See suggested schedule listed under Geography Major, B.A.

Geography Major, B.A.

Majors in this option are expected to complete English 2000 prior to their senior year.

I. Required Courses

GEOG 1224 Introduction to Map Use (3 credits)
GEOG 2100 Introduction to Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2200 Introduction to Human Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2300 Economic Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4210 History and Development of Geographic Thought (3 credits)

Subtotal 15 Credits

II. Required Electives

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3810 Geography of Europe (3 credits)
GEOG 3820 Geography of East Asia (3 credits)
GEOG 3830 Geography of South Asia (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

Note: Asterisked (*) course has prerequisites that are not required in this program.

GEOG 3100 Weather and Climate (3 credits)
GEOG 3107 Applied Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4110 Advanced Physical Geography (3 credits)
*GEOG 4510 Site Analysis and Planning (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3410 Geography of the United States (3 credits)
GEOG 3420 Geography of Canada (3 credits)
GEOG 3510 Geography of Minnesota (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation (3 credits)
GEOG 4100 Geography of Population and Settlement (3 credits)
GEOG 4120 Urban Geography (3 credits)

Select one of the following courses:

GEOG 2225 Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing (3 credits)
GEOG 3226 Cartography (3 credits)
GEOG 4190 Field Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 4200 Quantitative Procedures in Geographic Investigation (3 credits)

Select 6 credits of electives from courses in Geography.

Subtotal 21 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 36 Credits

SUGGESTED SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR GEOGRAPHY MAJORS

The following is a list of Geography Major courses arranged by year. This schedule is intended to help students plan their courses in an orderly fashion; however, these are only suggestions and this schedule is flexible. Majors and minors in geography are strongly encouraged to meet with advisors in the Geography Department prior to selecting courses.

Freshman

Updated:
GEOG 1224 Introduction to Map Use
GEOG 2100 Introduction to Physical Geography
GEOG 2200 Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 2300 Economic Geography
Liberal Education requirements

Sophomore

Updated:
ENGL 2000 Expository Writing
GEOG 2400 Introduction to Planning
GEOG 2225 Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing
GEOG 3310 Land Use Analysis and Planning
POL 3210 Introduction to Public Administration
Electives in Geography (select one - GEOG 3100 Weather and Climate or GEOG 3107 Applied Physical Geography or GEOG 3300 Geography and Planning of Outdoor Recreation
Complete Liberal Education requirements

Junior/Senior

Updated:
GEOG 3226 Cartography
GEOG 3320 Regional Planning Methods
GEOG 4190 Field Geography
GEOG 4200 Quantitative Procedures in Geographic Investigation
GEOG 3800 Regional Geography
or any course in the 3800 series, i.e., Europe, East Asia, or South Asia
GEOG 4110 Advanced Physical Geography
or GEOG 4510 Site Analysis and Planning
GEOG 4224 Advanced Cartography
or GEOG 3231 Geographic Information Systems
Classes to fulfill plan areas - see advisor
Electives in Geography: select two:
GEOG 3330 Environmental Perception
GEOG 3410 Geography of the U.S.
GEOG 3510 Geography of Minnesota
GEOG 4100 Geography of Population and Settlement
GEOG 4120 Urban Geography
Complete Liberal Education requirements

Social Studies Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure) Geography Emphasis

Students wishing to teach geography at the secondary level should take the Social Studies Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure) and elect the Geography Emphasis. By additionally taking the Geography Major, B.S. a student can further increase his or her employability and depth of understanding in the field.

Geography Minor

I. Required Courses

GEOG 2100 Introduction to Physical Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2200 Introduction to Human Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2300 Economic Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 2400 Introduction to Planning (3 credits)
GEOG 3800 Series: Regional Geography (3 credits)

Subtotal 15 Credits

II. Required Electives in Geography

Select 6 credits of electives from courses in Geography.

Subtotal 6 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Minor 21 Credits

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