Geography, B.A.
Overall Requirements
- 120 credit hours, to include at least 36 credits at or above the 300 course level.
- A minimum of 27 credits in geography above the 100 level. Only grades of C- or higher will count toward completion of the major and concentrations.
- No more than 6 credit hours from GES courses numbered 160-170, 260-289, 360-399, 460-489 may be applied to the major.
Degree Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | ||
| General Education Requirements (MAC) | ||
| College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CIC) | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Techniques | 3 | |
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science | ||
| Research Methods in Spatial Science | ||
| Principles of Cartography | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment | ||
| Earth Science | 3-4 | |
Select one option of the following courses: | ||
| Option A: | ||
| Our Dynamic Planet | ||
| Option B: | ||
| Introduction to Earth Science and Earth Science Laboratory | ||
| Human Geography | 3 | |
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Cities of the World | ||
| Urban Geography: Sustainable Land Use | ||
| World Population Problems | ||
| Sustainable Transport and Mobility | ||
| World Economic Geography | ||
| The Geography of World Affairs | ||
| Regional Geography | 3 | |
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| The Historical Geography of the Western World | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Natural Resource Regions of North America | ||
| Geography of Europe | ||
| Geography of East Asia | ||
| Geography of the United States and Canada | ||
| Seminar in Regional Geography | ||
| Current Topics in Regional Geography | ||
Optional Concentrations
Any of the optional concentrations as detailed following the major requirements may be added, but a concentration is not required.
- Earth Science
- Geographic Information Science
- Urban Planning
Electives
Electives sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for degree.
Earth Science Concentration Requirements
A central theme of geography is human interaction with the earth’s physical environment. This concentration permits students to apply the basic scientific principles of physical geography, cartography, and natural resource analysis to the problem of ensuring a high quality of life through maintenance of the natural processes that support human existence. This concentration also provides training to enhance the employment opportunities of students with a strong interest in environmental assessment and resource evaluation.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Concentration Requirements | 23 | |
| Weather and Climate and Climatology Laboratory | ||
| Physical Geography: Landscape Processes and Physical Geography Laboratory | ||
Select five of the following courses: | ||
| Environmental Change: Its Nature and Impact | ||
| Environmental Hazards Assessment | ||
| Geomorphology of North America | ||
| Elements of Hydrology | ||
| Principles of Cartography | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Advanced Weather and Climate-Synoptic Climatology | ||
| Applied Physical Geography | ||
| Advanced Cartography | ||
| Advanced Remote Sensing-Imaging | ||
Geographic Information Science Concentration Requirements
Students with this concentration will develop skills in using maps, geospatial computer programs, and remotely sensed images to answer geographic questions relevant to land use planning, urban development, geomorphic or biogeographic processes, or environmental impact assessment. A capstone course (GES 421), which includes a faculty-directed major project, is completed in the final semester.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Concentration Requirements | 16 | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Intro to Geographic Information Science Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Cartography | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment | ||
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| Advanced Cartography | ||
| Advanced Remote Sensing-Imaging | ||
| Geographic Information Science * | ||
- *
Taken after the completion of the other Additional Concentration Requirements.
Urban Planning Concentration Requirements
The inter-regional shift of people and jobs in the United States and elsewhere over the past decades coupled with the movement away from large central cities has increased the need for formal urban and regional planning. Planners are needed in the private sector as well as in state and local governments to provide the appropriate kinds of economic and community development that will ensure a high quality of life in both developed and developing countries. In a growth region like the Southeast, geographers with a planning background are in increasing demand
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Concentration Requirements | 24 | |
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Cities of the World | ||
| World Economic Geography | ||
Select five of the following courses: | ||
| Urban Geography: Sustainable Land Use | ||
| World Population Problems | ||
| Sustainable Transport and Mobility | ||
| Tourism Planning and Development | ||
| Research Methods in Spatial Science | ||
| Sustainable Tourism and Transportation | ||
| Geography of the United States and Canada | ||
| Principles of Cartography | ||
| Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment | ||
| Geography of Livable Cities | ||
| Regional Economic Development | ||
Geography as a Second Major
- Minimum of 27 credit hours
A student may obtain a second major in geography along with any other major. The student should take 27 credits, including four core courses listed above for the Geography Major. Students considering this option should consult a faculty member in the department.
Disciplinary Honors in Geography
Requirements
- A minimum of 12 credit hours as defined below.
- UNC Greensboro cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better or, for transfer students, cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better from all prior institutions.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | 3-6 | |
| Senior Honors Project | ||
or GES 493 | Honors Work | |
| 6 credits of Honors course work in the major | 6 | |
| 3 credits of Honors course work in the major or another area | 3 | |
Recognition
Receive a Certificate of Disciplinary Honors in Geography; have that accomplishment, along with the title of the Senior Honors Project, noted on the official transcript; and be recognized at a banquet held at the end of the spring semester.
Honors Advisor
Contact Jay Lennartson at gjlennar@uncg.edu for further information and guidance about Honors Geography. To apply: https://honorscollege.uncg.edu/disciplinary-honors/disciplinary-honors-admissions