Major
All students: Students may satisfy some requirements with equivalent coursework taken at other institutions. Courses toward the major must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better. Students are encouraged to take additional geography courses beyond the minimum required for the major.
For students whose catalog year is Fall 2018 or later:
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography requires at least 42 units in the major, at least 27 of which must consist of upper-division courses; plus General Education, all-university requirements and free electives.
1. Core Classes (15 units):
Geography 100 Global Geography; Geography 110 Introduction to the Natural Environment; Geography 160 Human Geography; Geography 281 Map Making with GIS; Three additional units from courses numbered 280 to 289.
2. Upper-Division Courses
Physical Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 310 to GEOG 319
Environmental Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 320 to GEOG 329
Regional Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 330 to GEOG 349
Human Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 350 to GEOG 369
Advanced Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 420 to GEOG 479
Geotechnical Geography (3 units)
Select from courses numbered GEOG 480 to GEOG 489
Geography Electives (6 units)
Select upper-division Geography courses not used to satisfy any other requirements
3. Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units)
GEOG 300A - Geographical Thought
For students with catalog years prior to Fall 2018:
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography requires at least 39 units in the major - of which at least 21 must be in upper-division courses - plus General Education, all-university requirements and free electives.
1. Lower-Division Core (15 units):
Geography 100 Global Geography; Geography 110 Introduction to the Natural Environment; Geography 160 Human Geography; Geography 281 Map Making with GIS; Three additional units from courses numbered 280 to 289.
2. Environmental Geography (3 units):
Geography 327 Geography of Health OR Geography 329 Cities and Nature OR Geography 350 Nature and Society.
3. Human Geography (3 units):
Geography 360 Geography of the World's Economies OR Geography 370 Cities and Suburbs OR Geography 375 Population and Migration OR Geography 379 World Cities.
4. Physical Geography (3 units):
Geography 312 Geomorphology OR Geography 323 Weather and Climate OR Geography 325 Natural Vegetation.
5. Regional Geography (3 units):
Three units from courses numbered 330 to 349.
6. Advanced Geography (6 units):
Six units from courses numbered 400 to 489.
7. Geography Elective (3 units):
Three units lower or upper-division geography not used to satisfy any other requirement.
8. Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units):
Geography 300(A) Geographic Thought.
9. Capstone Requirement:
Prior to graduation, each student must demonstrate a critical understanding of the major processes that shape the earth's landscapes, regions and places, and that influence human interaction with the earth's cultural and physical environments.
This requirement will be met through satisfactory completion of one of the following capstone courses:
Geography 422 Regional Climatology OR Geography 425 Tropical Rainforests OR Geography 426 The Coastal Environment OR Geography 450 Human Response to Environmental Hazards OR Geography 452 Ecotourism OR Geography 478 Urban Planning Principles.
Units earned from the capstone course can be used to satisfy the Advanced Geography or Geography Elective requirements of the Geography Major.
