Geography offers exciting undergraduate degrees at UF. Students learn from world-renowned faculty and award-winning mentors, and contribute to groundbreaking research, all while studying topics that have great environmental and social significance. Geography is an integrated and highly interdisciplinary field of study spanning the physical world and society. It is also a hands-on discipline, with a strong emphasis on computer-based tools and field studies.

Geographers can choose to study an enormous range of subjects, essentially anything that has a spatial component. Students who major in geography use the lens of space to examine issues as diverse as climate variability and change on the African continent, malaria outbreaks in Africa and South America, deforestation and land conflict in the Amazon, and the origin and spread of blues music in the Southeastern United States. Across the globe, geographers study tropical cyclones, river restoration, disease outbreaks, the role of parks and other protected areas, changes in land cover, forest management and fragmentation, community conservation, emerging infectious diseases, environmental influences on the elderly, and economic development.

Geography explores the relationship between human and biophysical systems and deals with some of the most critical issues of our time such as environmental hazards, climate change, sustainability of resource management systems, international development, and community and urban planning. Understanding the concept of place, including how and why places differ from each other, is a central concern. Students who have social and economic interests can enter into careers in international development, urban and regional planning, geographic information systems, and environmental consultancy. Students who combine the study of socioeconomic factors and the biophysical world can work in resource management, conservation, environmental assessment, and watershed and coastal planning.

Coursework for the Major

The geography major has six different programs: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences, the Bachelor of Arts in Geographical Science and Sustainability, the Bachelor of Arts in medical geography in global health, and the Bachelor of Science in medical geography in global health. Coursework for the major will depend upon the program, which are all flexible. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all coursework for the major.

Students who are uncertain of a program should contact the Department of Geography's undergraduate coordinator for information and curriculum planning.

Required Coursework

All majors take some techniques courses, including GEO 3162C and a minimum of two additional courses that involve working with data and computers. All majors take a regional course, focusing on the countries, cultures and landscapes of one region in the world. The systematic courses include specialized courses in human or environmental/physical geography, but majors can also take additional techniques courses as part of this requirement. Students can concentrate coursework in economic geography and planning, environmental/physical geography, geospatial technologies, medical geography, or natural resource management.

Coursework for the major will depend upon the degree program. Courses for each program are listed below under Critical Tracking and Model Semester Plan.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Best suited for students interested in careers in urban and regional planning, business geography, medical geography, and geographic education, or for students who want a broad overview of the discipline with a focus on human geography.

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geosciences

A joint program between the Department of Geography and the Department of Geological Sciences and is intended for students interested in land and water aspects of the environment. The degree focuses on human impacts, water and mineral resource exploitation and management, disasters, environmental planning, earth science education, or environmental law.

Bachelor of Science in Geography

Best suited for someone who wishes to pursue a career in environmental consulting or graduate work in physical geography or related natural sciences, including atmospheric science, geosciences, hydrologic sciences, or meteorology.

Bachelor of Arts in Geographical Science and Sustainability

A joint program (specialization) co-offered by Geography and Sustainability Studies and is intended for students interested in using geospatial technologies to advance sustainability. Students in this specialization learn modern geospatial technologies, such as geographical information system, remote sensing and spatial analysis, and use them to maintain ecological and environmental health, create economic welfare, and pursue social justice in a changing world.

Bachelor of Arts in Medical Geography in Global Health

Intended for students interested in social and cultural aspects of medical geography and global health and disease issues. The degree focuses on human impacts, cultural and social aspects of health and disease, and public health planning and management.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Geography in Global Health

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.

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Bachelor of Science: Medical Geography in Global Health

The Bachelor of Science in medical geography in global health requires a minimum of 34 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

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
GEO 2200 & 2200L	Dynamic Planet Earth and Physical Geography Laboratory	4
GEO 3162C	Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers	4
GEO 4930	Senior Seminar	1
Select one:		3
GEO 2410	Social Geography
GEO 2420	People, Place, and Culture
GEO 2500	Global and Regional Economies
Select two technique courses:		6-8
GIS 3043	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 4115	Applied Geostats
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:		6
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 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 4115	Applied Geostats
MET 3503	Weather and Forecasting
MET 4532	Hurricanes
MET 4560	Atmospheric Teleconnections
MET 4750	Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS
Total Credits		33-35

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

Related Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
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 2023	Introduction to Statistics 1	3
Total Credits		19

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 One		Credits
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
	Credits	13-14
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	Physical Geography 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
	Credits	14
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
	Credits	13
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
Regional geography course		3
Electives		6
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	15
Semester Six
GIS 3043	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
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
Geography techniques course (Critical Tracking)		3-4
Geography elective (Critical Tracking)		3-4
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
Electives		4
	Credits	16-18
Semester Eight
GEO 4930	Senior Seminar (Critical Tracking)	1
Geography elective (Critical Tracking)		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		9
Electives		5
	Credits	18
	Total Credits	120

¹

PSY 2012 or SYG 2000 recommended.

²

The following are recommended:

• ENC 3459
• ENC 3254
• ENC 3453
• ENC 3464

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.

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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

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

Communication

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

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 3

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
B.A. Only Plus 15 additional credits in the department	R	R	R
B.S. 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