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
Map

 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.

Coursework for the Major

The Bachelor of Science in Medical Geography in Global Health 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

GEO 2200
& 2200L		Dynamic Planet Earth
and Dynamic Planet Earth Laboratory		4
GEO 3162CIntroduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers4
GEO 4170Communicating Science in the Geosciences3
GEO 4930Senior Seminar1
Select one:3
GEO 2410
Social Geography
GEO 2420
People, Place, and Culture
GEO 2500
Global and Regional Economies
Select one GeoAI course:3
GIS 2002
The Digital Earth
GIS 2114
The World & Big Data
Select two technique courses:6-8
GIS 3043C
Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (required)
Select one:
GEO 4167C
Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers
GIS 3001C
Spatial Maps and Graphs
GIS 4021C
Aerial Photo Interpretation
GIS 4037
Digital Image Processing
GIS 4113
Introduction to Spatial Networks
GIS 4115C
Spatial Surface Modeling and Geostatistics
Select one regional geography course:3
GEA 2270
Geography of Florida
GEA 3405
Geography of Latin America
GEA 3500
Geography of Europe
GEA 3600
Geography of Africa
GEA 4465
Amazonia
Select two medical geography core courses:6
GEO 3452
Introduction to Medical Geography
GEO 3454
Peoples and Plagues
GEO 3427
Plants, Health and Spirituality
GEO 4612
Shelter and Care Options for U.S. Elderly
Select two geography elective courses: 16
GEO 2242
Extreme Weather
GEO 3250
Climatology
GEO 3280
Principles of Geographic Hydrology
GEO 3315
Hungry Planet: Global Geographies of Food
GEO 3341
Extreme Floods
GEO 3352
The Human Footprint on Landscape
GEO 3372
Conservation of Resources
GEO 3427
Plants, Health and Spirituality
GEO 3430
Population Geography
GEO 3452
Introduction to Medical Geography
GEO 3454
Peoples and Plagues
GEO 3502
Economic Geography
GEO 3602
Urban and Business Geography
GEO 3611
Housing, People and Places in a Spatially Diverse America
GEO 3803
Geography of Alcohol
GEO 3930
Special Topics
GEO 4167C
Intermediate Quantitative Analysis for Geographers
GEO 4281
River Forms and Processes
GEO 4285
Water, Risk, and Extreme Events
GEO 4300
Environmental Biogeography
GEO 4306C
Geography of Vector-borne Diseases
GEO 4554
Regional Development
GEO 4612
Shelter and Care Options for U.S. Elderly
GEO 4700
Transportation Geography
GEO 4938
Selected Topics in Geography
GEO 4970
Honors Thesis
GIS 2002
The Digital Earth
GIS 3420C
GIS Models for Public Health
GIS 4021C
Aerial Photo Interpretation
GIS 4037
Digital Image Processing
GIS 4102C
GIS Programming
GIS 4113
Introduction to Spatial Networks
GIS 4115C
Spatial Surface Modeling and Geostatistics
MET 3503
Weather and Forecasting
MET 4532
Hurricanes
MET 4560
Atmospheric Teleconnections
MET 4750
Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS
Total Credits39-41

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.

Related Coursework

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

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
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

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) 3
CHM 2045
& 2045L		 General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences)		 4
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics; recommended course: 3-4
MAC 2311
 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; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 3
GEO 2200L Dynamic Planet Earth Laboratory (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; 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 1		 4
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Select one: 3
GEO 2410
 Social Geography (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences and Diversity)
GEO 2420
 People, Place, and Culture (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences and International)
GEO 2500
 Global and Regional Economies (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Gen Ed Composition 2 3
 Credits13
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
BSC 2011
& 2011L		 Integrated Principles of Biology 2
and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2		 4
GeoAI course (select one:) 3
GIS 2002
 The Digital Earth
GIS 2114
 The World & Big Data
Regional geography course 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Five
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 4
Medical geography core course 3 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits15
Semester Six
GIS 3043C Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (Critical Tracking) 4
Medical geography core course 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits15
Semester Seven
GEO 4170 Communicating Science in the Geosciences 3
Geography techniques course (Critical Tracking) 3-4
Geography 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
Geography elective (Critical Tracking) 3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 9
Electives 6
 Credits19
 Total Credits120
1

PSY 2012 or SYG 2000 recommended.

2

The following are recommended:

3

GEO 3452 or GEO 3454 recommended.

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