Medical Geography in Global Health | BS

Geography is the science of place, space, and environment. Each place on earth is distinguished by a unique mix of natural resources, cultural practices, and socioeconomic and political systems. Geographers study what makes each place unique, as well as the connections and interactions between places.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Geography Department offers a range of topics in contemporary geography and geospatial science, rich and lively cultural and learning environments, BA and BS undergraduate degrees, MA, M.S., and PhD degrees, as well as the largest Medical Geography program in the United States.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.392.0494 (tel) | 352.392.8855 (fax)

P.O. Box 117315
330 Newell Drive
3141 TURLINGTON HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7315
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 Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Geography in Global Health is best suited for someone who wishes to pursue a career in public or animal health or disease management or graduate work in medical geography, public health or related natural sciences, including ecology, biology, or epidemiology/public health. This specialization offers the flexibility for students to prepare for admission to health professions programs.

Requirements for the major

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Geography in Global Health (MGGH) requires a minimum of 39 credits of geography coursework and 19 credits of related coursework in biology, chemistry, and statistics. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all coursework for the major.

Required Coursework

Geography BS MGGH Core Courses34-35
Dynamic Planet Earth
and Dynamic Planet Earth Laboratory
Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers
Communicating Science in the Geosciences
Senior Seminar
Select one:
Natural Hazards Geography
Social Geography
People, Place, and Culture
Global and Regional Economies
Select one GeoAI Fundamental course:
The Digital Earth
The World & Big Data
Two Geography Techniques courses:
Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (required)
Select one:
Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers
Geovisualization and Map Design
Aerial Photo Interpretation
Digital Image Processing
Introduction to Spatial Networks
Spatial Surface Modeling and Geostatistics
Select one regional geography course:
Geography of Florida
Geography of Latin America
Geography of Europe
Amazonia
Select two medical geography core courses:
Introduction to Medical Geography
Peoples and Plagues
Plants, Health and Spirituality
Shelter and Care Options for US Elderly
Geography BS MGGH Elective Courses6
Select two geography elective courses: 1
Extreme Weather
Hungry Planet: Global Geographies of Food
Climatology
Principles of Geographic Hydrology
Extreme Floods
The Human Footprint on Landscape
Conservation of Resources
Plants, Health and Spirituality
Population Geography
Introduction to Medical Geography
Peoples and Plagues
Economic Geography
Urban and Business Geography
Housing, People, and Places in a Spatially Diverse America
Geography of Alcohol
Special Topics in Geography
Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers
River Forms and Processes
Water, Risk, and Extreme Events
Environmental Biogeography
Geography of Vector-borne Diseases
Regional Development
Shelter and Care Options for US Elderly
Transportation and Urban Accessibility
Selected Topics in Geography
Honors Thesis
The Digital Earth
GIS Models for Public Health
Aerial Photo Interpretation
Digital Image Processing
GIS Programming
Introduction to Spatial Networks
Spatial Surface Modeling and Geostatistics
Weather and Forecasting
Hurricanes
Atmospheric Teleconnections
Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS
Quest 3/Experiential Learning Academic Requirement 20-3
Total Credits40-44

The same course may not be used to satisfy requirements for more than one bulleted group.

1

Other geography courses may be counted at the discretion of the undergraduate coordinator.

2

To fulfill the Quest 3/UF Experiential Learning Academic Requirement (Q3/ELAR), students should enroll in an experience for 3 credit hours (or opt for 0-2 credit hours if needed, although the student effort during the semester will remain the equivalent of 3 credit hours) through existing courses that are designated to fulfill the Quest 3 requirement. Students who complete the Quest 3/ELAR requirement for 0-2 credits may need to take additional Geography electives in order to reach 120 total credits. 

Related Coursework

CHM 2045
2045L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
CHM 2046
2046L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
4
BSC 2010
2010L
Integrated Principles of Biology 1
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory
4
BSC 2011
2011L
Integrated Principles of Biology 2
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2
4
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 13
Total Credits19

Quest 3/Experiential Learning Academic Requirement 

To fulfill the Quest 3/UF Experiential Learning Academic Requirement (Q3/ELAR), students will pursue experiential learning in the form of internships or co-ops, global engagement/study abroad, community/public service, undergraduate research, or design competitions. Students should consult with department faculty to learn more about opportunities available to Geography students.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete 1 geography course (GEA 1000 not acceptable)
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete 1 additional geography course (1 of the 2 must be GEO 2200; GEA 1000 not acceptable) or complete STA 2023 with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete all critical-tracking courses (STA 2023 and 2 geography courses, 1 of which must be GEO 2200; GEA 1000 not acceptable) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • Complete 1 medical geography core course and 1 geography technique course.
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

  • Complete 1 additional geography technique course and 1 geography elective course
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

  • Complete all remaining geography (GEO, GIS, or MET) 3000/4000 required courses and Quest 3/Experiential Learning Academic Requirement
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two general education mathematics courses must be a pure math course.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students additional flexibility in its Distribution Requirements. Students may count a maximum of 6 credits TOTAL from the CLAS Distribution course lists towards Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Biological and Physical Sciences, with no more than 3 credits of Humanities, 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences, or 6 credits of Biological or Physical Sciences.

The full list of major-specific requirements for this major can be found on the Overview tab. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree requirements can be found on the College’s degree requirements page.

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities, if needed) 3
CHM 2045
2045L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry Laboratory (State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
Gen Ed Mathematics; with math prefix 3-4
Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
 Credits13-14
Semester Two
CHM 2046
2046L
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Gen Ed Physical Sciences)
4
GEO 2200 Dynamic Planet Earth (Critical Tracking) 3
GEO 2200L Dynamic Planet Earth Laboratory 1
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 1 3
 Credits14
Semester Three
BSC 2010
2010L
Integrated Principles of Biology 1
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory (Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
4
Select one: 3
Natural Hazards Geography (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Science; Gen Ed International)
Social Geography (Critical Tracking)
People, Place, and Culture (Critical Tracking)
Global and Regional Economies (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences)
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Gen Ed Composition 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
 Credits16
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences, if needed) 3
BSC 2011
2011L
Integrated Principles of Biology 2
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
4
GeoAI Fundamental course (Critical Tracking; select one:) 3
The Digital Earth
The World & Big Data
Regional geography course (Critical Tracking) 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Five
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (Critical Tracking) 4
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (Critical Tracking) 4
Medical geography core course (Critical Tracking) 3 3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 2 5
 Credits16
Semester Six
Quest 3/Experiential Learning Academic Requirement 4 3
Medical geography core course (Critical Tracking) 3 3
Geography BS MGGH elective (Critical Tracking) 3
CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 2 5
 Credits14
Semester Seven
GEO 4170 Communicating Science in the Geosciences (Critical Tracking) 3
Geography Techniques course (Critical Tracking) 3-4
Geography BS MGGH elective (Critical Tracking) 3-4
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 6
 Credits15-17
Semester Eight
GEO 4930 Senior Seminar (Critical Tracking) 1
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 12
 Credits16
 Total Credits120
1

PSY 2012 recommended.

2

CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement

3

GEO 3452 or GEO 3454 recommended.

4

To fulfill the Quest 3/UF Experiential Learning Academic Requirement (Q3/ELAR), students should enroll in an experience for 3 credit hours (or opt for 0-2 credit hours if needed, although the student effort during the semester will remain the equivalent of 3 credit hours) through existing courses that are designated to fulfill the Quest 3 requirement. Students who complete the Quest 3/ELAR requirement for 0-2 credits may need to take additional Geography electives in order to reach 120 total credits. 

Electives to reach the 120-credit minimum will vary depending on whether students select minimum or maximum credit course options.


A major in Geography enables students to know the earth’s physical environment, to learn social, cultural, and economic concepts from spatial and regional perspectives, and to understand the relationship between environment and society. Students will learn how geographic techniques, skills, and concepts are applied in the subfields of geography. Computer-based lab assignments teach students how to analyze geographic information and to apply an interpretation of data toward problem solving or modeling. They will be able to interpret and to effectively communicate information spatially, graphically, and/or with statistics.

The Bachelor of Arts in Geography enables students to learn how geographic techniques, skills, and concepts are applied in various subfields of geography. The Bachelor of Science enables students to learn basic concepts in sciences related to the earth and its atmosphere.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Complete a capstone exam in GEO 4930, as developed by geography faculty.
  • Complete a capstone portfolio in GEO 4930, evaluated by geography faculty.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Identify and describe the physical and human characteristics of Earth and its regions, the essentials of human‐environment interactions, and the techniques of geographic science.

Critical Thinking

  1. Analyze geographic information and apply interpretation of data toward problem solving or modeling.

Communication

  1. Interpret and effectively communicate information spatially, graphically, and/or with statistics.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3
GEA 2000-4000 level Regional Geography R
GEO 2000 level Human Geography I
GEO 2200 I
GEO 2200L R
GEO 3162C I I R
GEO 4930 R, A A A
GIS 3043 and GIS 4001C R R R
STA 2023 I
BA Only Plus 15 additional credits in the department R R R
BS Only Plus 12 additional credits in the department and 22 credits outside the department with CHM, GLY, MET, PHY, SWS prefixes R R R

Assessment Types

  • Capstone exam
  • Portfolio