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: | ||
| 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: | ||
| Option A: | ||
| Our Dynamic Planet | ||
| Option B: | ||
| Introduction to Earth Science and Earth Science Laboratory | ||
| Human Geography | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| 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: | ||
| 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 | ||
| Current Topics in Regional Geography | ||
| Seminar 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 a minimum of five courses from the following: | ||
| 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 | ||
| Advanced Cartography | ||
| Advanced Remote Sensing-Imaging | ||
| Applied Physical Geography | ||
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 | 15 | |
Required | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Intro to Geographic Information Science Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Cartography | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment | ||
Select at least one of the following: | ||
| 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 courses from the following: | ||
| 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: http://honorscollege.uncg.edu/forms/disc-application.pdf
Accelerated B.A. to M.A. in Applied Geography
Application and Admission
Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students who are pursuing the B.A. in Geography may apply for admission to the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP). A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 based on at least 30 credits earned at UNC Greensboro is required. Applicants must have completed at least 60 credits and may not apply for admission to the AMP before the first semester of the junior year. Applicants will not be required to take the GRE. All applicants must complete the Accelerated Master's Program information along with their application for admission to the graduate degree program.
Courses
Admitted students may apply a maximum of 12 credits of graduate-level course work from the following course list toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degree, provided they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course and fulfill graduate-level requirements:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GES 602 | Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment | 3 |
| GES 604 | Political Geography | 3 |
| GES 618 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GES 619 | Advanced Weather and Climate-Synoptic Climatology | 3 |
| GES 632 | Geography of Livable Cities | 3 |
| GES 650 | Applied Physical Geography | 3 |
| GES 651 | Seminar in Regional Geography | 3 |
| GES 657 | Advanced Cartography | 3 |
| GES 659 | Advanced Remote Sensing-Imaging | 3 |
Please consult with an advisor to determine how the courses taken at the graduate level will meet requirements in the bachelor's degree program. All degree requirements for the B.A. and M.A. degree in Geography remain the same.