This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ufl.edu.
About this Program
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degrees: Bachelor of Arts | B.A.: Environmental Geosciences
- Credits for Degree: 120
- Contact: 1.855.99GATOR | Email
- More Info
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, B.A. and B.S. undergraduate degrees, M.A., 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
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 Bachelor of Arts degree requires 33-35 credits of coursework in geography, plus 3 credits of STA 2023. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all coursework for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework | ||
| GEO 2200 & 2200L | Physical Geography and Physical Geography Laboratory | 4 |
| GEO 2420 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| or GEO 2500 | Global and Regional Economies | |
| GEO 3162C | Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers | 4 |
| Technique Courses | ||
| Select two: | 6-8 | |
| Spatial Maps and Graphs | ||
| Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Aerial Photo Interpretation | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Regional Geography Course | ||
| GEA 3405 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
| or GEA 3600 | Geography of Africa | |
| Systematic Geography Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits (minimum): | 12 | |
| Extreme Weather | ||
| Climatology | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| Individual Work | ||
| Undergraduate Research in Geography | ||
| Selected Topics in Geography 1 | ||
| Internship | ||
| Honors Thesis | ||
| The Digital Earth | ||
| Spatial Maps and Graphs | ||
| Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Aerial Photo Interpretation | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| GIS Programming | ||
| Atmospheric Teleconnections | ||
| GEO 4930 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Related Coursework | ||
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36-38 | |
| 1 | Upper division transfer courses with no UF equivalent will be substituted as GEO 4938. |
Transfer coursework is considered on a case-by-case basis.
The same course may not be used to satisfy requirements for more than one bulleted group.
Related Geography Programs
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
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional geography course (1 of the 2 must be GEO 2200) 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) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Complete 1 GIS 3000/4000 technique course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 7
- Complete 1 additional geography technique course (GEO or GIS 4000 level)
- 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.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Select one: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Human Geography (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences with International) | ||
| Global and Regional Economies (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | ||
| State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement) | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 4-5 | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| GEO 2200 | Physical Geography (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; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) | 3 |
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 3-5 | |
| Credits | 13-15 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| GEO 2000/3000 Level (Systematic) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement) | 3 | |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| GEO 3000/4000 Level (Systematic) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Mathematics (pure math) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| GEA 3405 or GEA 3600 |
Geography of Latin America or Geography of Africa |
3 |
| GEO 3162C | Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | 4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| GEO 3000/4000 Level (Systematic) | 3 | |
| Select one: | 4 | |
| Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (Critical Tracking) | ||
| Aerial Photo Interpretation | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| GEO 4930 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Select one GEO/GIS 4000 level technique course: | 3-4 | |
| Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (Critical Tracking) | ||
| Aerial Photo Interpretation (Critical Tracking) | ||
| Digital Image Processing (Critical Tracking) | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| GEO 3000/4000 Level (Systematic; Critical Tracking) | 3 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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
- 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
- Analyze geographic information and apply interpretation of data toward problem solving or modeling.
Communication
- 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 or 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