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Undergraduate Program

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Geography students connect the study of human spatial organizations and cultural landscapes with an in-depth investigation of the earth's landforms, climates, and vegetation. The undergraduate program provides a broad study of human and physical geography and geospatial techniques.

Two paths lead to a bachelor's degree.

  • One path is the BA degree in Geography and is designed for students who have broad interests in the field of geography or for students who would like to tailor their program to suit their own interests.
  • The second path is the BA degree in Geography with an emphasis in Environmental Analysis. This degree path is designed for those students choosing to emphasize environmental aspects of geography and who may be seeking employment in that particular branch of the field.

The department also offers a very flexible minor for students seeking a geographic perspective to complement their major. The BA degree in geography can be effectively combined with subject matter studies necessary for either the multiple subject teaching credential or the single subject credential in social studies. Geography undergraduate students find rewarding careers in environmental analysis and planning, business, government agencies, and education.

Graduating students posing

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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. 

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. See this link for a roadmap view: Geography Program Mapper

  1. Core Classes (15 units):
    1. GEOG 100 - Global Geography (3)
    2. GEOG 110 - Introduction to the Natural Environment (3)
    3. GEOG 160 - Human Geography (3)
    4. GEOG 281 - Map Making with GIS (3)
    5. 3 additional units from courses numbered 280 to 289.
  2. Upper-Division Courses (24 units)
    1. Physical Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 310 to GEOG 319
    2. Environmental Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 320 to GEOG 329
    3. Regional Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 330 to GEOG 349
    4. Human Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 350 to GEOG 369
    5. Advanced Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 420 to GEOG 479
    6. Geotechnical Geography (3 units)
      1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 480 to GEOG 489
    7. Geography Electives (6 units)
      1. Select upper-division Geography courses not used to satisfy any other requirements
  3. Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units)
    1. GEOG 300A - Geographical Thought (3)

 

Geography Minor

The minor in Geography serves students seeking a geographic perspective to complement their major.

Adding a Geography minor does not require permission from an advisor and can be completed using the online Major/Minor Change Form located here.

As indicated in the 2022-2023 University Catalog, interested students should take at least 18 units of geography courses:

  • GEOG 100 (3 units)
  • 3 units from the following (GEOG 110, GEOG 120, GEOG 160, or GEOG 281)
  • 12 units of upper-division electives

All courses counted toward the minor must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.0) or higher.

Faculty advisers are available to help students structure their minor in geography.

 

Urban Studies Minor

The Urban Studies minor explores cities and urban processes from multiple disciplinary perspectives including African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Health, and Sociology. A complex combination of opportunities and challenges characterizes cities and urban regions in the 21st century. This interdisciplinary program prepares students to understand and address these opportunities and challenges as career professionals, community members and citizens. Careers in Urban Studies include, but are not limited to community development, environmental management, local and regional government, city planning, social welfare, and advanced academic study and/or professional training.

Students must earn a “C” (2.0) or better in all courses counted toward the minor. A minimum 12 units must be applied exclusively to the minor and may not be used to satisfy other program requirements, except for general education.

Some courses have prerequisites; please review the course descriptions in the CSUF catalog for more information.

Students interested in becoming teachers and learning about social justice in schools should explore the Urban Learning B.A. in the Department of Special Education in the College of Education.

  1. Required (3 Units)
    1. GEOG 361 - Cities and Suburbs (3)
  2. Foundation (3 Units)
    1. ANTH 310 - Urban Anthropology (3)
    2. SOCI 371 - Sociology of City Life (3)
  3. Electives (12 Units)
    A maximum 6 units may be taken from one department/program.
    • AFAM 321 - Activism, Engagement and Professional Development (3)
    • AMST 401T - Proseminar in American Studies (3) **
    • AMST 405 - Images of Crime and Violence in American Culture (3)
    • AMST 416 - Southern California Culture: A Study of American Regionalism (3)
    • AMST 444 - American Placemaking (3)
    • AMST 454 - American Nightlife (3)
    • AMST 488 - Race, Sex and American Urban Culture (3)
    • ANTH 310 - Urban Anthropology (3) *
    • ANTH 472 - Los Angeles/Mumbai: Cinematic City Cross-Culturally (3)
    • ASAM 220 - Vietnamese Communities in the U.S. (3)
    • CHIC 306 - Barrio Studies (3)
    • CHIC 338 - Barrios and Health (3)
    • GEOG 329 - Cities and Nature (3)
    • GEOG 359 - World Cities (3)
    • GEOG 456 - Immigrant Orange County (3)
    • GEOG 478 - Urban Planning Principles (3)
    • GEOG 484 - Urban Planning Methods (3)
    • HIST 436A - Cities in European Civilization, 1000-1915 (3)
    • HIST 479A - The Urbanization of American Life (3)
    • HIST 481C - The History of Orange County (3)
    • HSS 301 - Politics, Culture, and History of Washington, D.C. (3)
    • POSC 309 - Introduction to Local Government (3)
    • POSC 427 - Metropolitan Politics and Policymaking (3)
    • POSC 478 - Urban Planning Principles (3)
    • POSC 484 - Urban Planning Methods (3)
    • PUBH 338 - Barrios and Health (3)
    • SOCI 361 - Population and the Environment (3)
    • SOCI 371 - Sociology of City Life (3) *
    • SOCI 456 - Immigrant Orange County (3)

Note:
   * If not taken to satisfy Foundation

   ** Select American Suburban Culture or Reading the City

Total (18 units)

Emphasis in Environmental Analysis

person hiking, trees is background

The emphasis in Environmental Analysis consists of a total of 42 units of coursework.

See this link for a roadmap view: Geography, Environmental Analysis Concentration Program Mapper

  1. Lower-Division Core (15 units):
    1. GEOG 100 - Global Geography. (3)
    2. GEOG 110 - Physical Geography. (3)
    3. GEOG 160 - Human Geography. (3)
    4. GEOG 281 - Map Making with GIS. (3)
    5. 3 additional units from courses numbered GEOG 280 to GEOG 289.
  2. Environmental Geography (3 units):
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 320 to GEOG 329
  3. Human Geography (3 units):
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 350 to GEOG 369
  4. Physical Geography (6 units):
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 310 to GEOG 319
  5. Regional Geography (3 units):
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 330 to GEOG 349.
  6. Advanced Physical and Environmental Geography (3 units):
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 420 to GEOG 449.
  7. Geotechnical Geography (3 units)
    1. Select from courses numbered GEOG 480 to GEOG 489.
  8. Geography Elective (3 units)
    1. Select an upper-division Geography course not used to meet any other elective.
  9. Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units):
    1. Geography 300A Geographic Thought.

GIS Certificate

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly important across a wide range of organizations. The certificate will demonstrate to potential employers a student’s competency in GIS principles and techniques. The  12-unit Certificate in GIS is designed for undergraduate students interested in learning geospatial technologies and applying techniques of GIS to represent and analyze spatial data. Undergraduate students completing the certificate will understand a variety of geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Web mapping, location-based services, and mobile apps. Students will be able to use up-to-date GIS tools to perform spatial analysis and mapping, and provide solutions to geographic problems. This certificate is open to undergraduate students in all majors. To add a certificate in GIS to your degree, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Courses:

  • GEOG 180 – Digital Earth: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies (3)
  • GEOG 281 – Map Making with Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • GEOG 481 – GIS: Introduction (3)
  • GEOG 485 – GIS: Principles and Applications (3)

For more information, please contact the GIS Certificate Coordinator, Dr. John Carroll (jcarroll@fullerton.edu) 

Geospatial Technologies Certificate

The 15-unit Certificate in Geospatial Technologies is designed for undergraduate students interested in learning geospatial technologies, and applying techniques of GIS and remote sensing to represent spatial data and perform spatial analysis. Undergraduate students completing the certificate will understand a variety of geospatial technologies, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Web mapping, remote sensing, and image processing and interpretation techniques. Students will be able to use up-to-date GIS tools and remote sensing technology to perform spatial analysis and mapping, and provide solutions to geographic problems. This certificate is open to undergraduate students in all majors. To add a certificate in Geospatial Technologies to your degree, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Courses:

  • GEOG 180 – Digital Earth: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies
  • GEOG 481 – GIS: Introduction
  • GEOG 485 – GIS: Principles and Applications
  • GEOG 486 – Environmental Remote Sensing
  • GEOG 489 – Digital Image Processing

For more information, please contact the Geospatial Technologies Certificate Coordinator, Dr. Jindong Wu (jindongwu@fullerton.edu)

Undergrad Advising

Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Mark Drayse

Office: H-423

Email address: mdrayse@fullerton.edu

Please email for advising hours for the current semester.

 

General Undergraduate Academic Advisement

For questions regarding general academic advisement, please visit the University Academic Advisement Center website. The Academic Advisement Center is located in UH-123.

For questions regarding graduation, please contact your graduation specialist.

Email: hssuccessteam@fullerton.edu

Phone: (657) 278-2594

Office: H-112

Hours: M-F 8AM to 5PM

If your TDA has any discrepancies, please contact the TDA unit at tda@fullerton.edu to review your record.

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