Bloomsburg University Academic Programs
Academic Catalog

Geography (B.A.)

Administered by Geography and Geosciences

Effective Fall 2008

Three options are available:

General Geography Option

In addition to 54 semester hours of general education requirements, a total of 30 to 60 semester hours is required for a major in geography. The balance of hours toward the 120-hour university requirement for a bachelor's degree is made up of elective courses

Core Courses: All Required

41.101 World Physical Geography

41.102 World Cultural Geography

41.221 Economic Geography

41.242 Map Skills

41.260 Principles of GIS I

41.462 Techniques of Geographic Measurement

41.492 Geography Seminar

18 semester hours to be selected from electives. The elective courses are divided into areas of specialization for your information. A minimum of 9 semester hours are to be selected from 300- and 400-level courses.

Physical:

41.125 Weather and Climate
41.303 Soil Resources Management

Human:

41.250 Elements of Planning
41.310 Population Geography
41.363 Urban Geography

Regional:

41.200 Geography of the United States and Canada
41.203 Geography of Australia
41.204 Geography of South Asia
or any regional geography course that may be offered

Environmental:

41.105 Environmental Issues and Choices
41.258 Environmental Conservation
41.301 Water Resources Management
41.302 Land Resources Management
41.304 Environmental Valuation
41.315 Geography of Recreation, Tourism and Sport
41.305 Environmental Risks and Hazards

Techniques:

41.264 Applied Cartography
41.460 Principles of GIS II
51.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth
Special Topic: Title changes depending on topic
Optional Elective: 41.496 Internship in Geography

Upon departmental approval a student may choose to undertake an internship of 3 to 12 semester hours of which a maximum of 3 semester hours may be applied to the required elective credits.

Urban and Regional Planning Option

In addition to 54 semester hours of general education requirements, a total of 30 to 60 semester hours is required for a major in geography. The balance of hours toward the 120-hour university requirement for a bachelor's degree is made up of elective courses

Core Courses: All Required

41.101 World Physical Geography

41.221 Economic Geography

41.250 Elements of Planning

41.260 Principles of GIS I

41.350 Advanced Planning

41.497 Internship in Planning

41.498 Applied Planning Seminar

Electives (choose 3 from the following six courses)

41.258 Environmental Conservation

41.302 Land Resources Management

41.304 Environmental Valuation

41.315 Geography of Recreation, Tourism and Sport

41.363 Urban Geography

51.100 Environmental Geology

Skills and Tools

41.240 Writing for Environmental Careers

25.103 Public Speaking

53.141 Introduction to Statistics

Choose two from the following four courses:

41.242 Map Skills
41.264 Applied Cartography
41.460 Principles of GIS II
51.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth

Cognate Areas

Economics (choose at least one from the following four courses)

40.121 Principles of Economics I

40.122 Principles of Economics II

40.316 Urban Economics

40.410 Public Finance

Political Science (required)

44.120 United States Government

44.452 State and Local Government

Also recommended are:

44.438 Public Personnel Administration

44.452 Public Policy

Sociology (choose at least one from the following five courses)

45.211 Principles of Sociology

45.213 Contemporary Social Problems

45.316 Urban Sociology

45.457 Sociology of Community

45.468 Social Service Planning

Environmental Planning Option

In addition to 54 semester hours of general education requirements, a total of 30 to 60 semester hours is required for a major in geography. The balance of hours toward the 120-hour university requirement for a bachelor's degree is made up of elective courses

Core Courses: All Required

41.101 World Physical Geography

41.105 Environmental Issues and Choices

41.250 Elements of Planning

41.260 Principles of GIS I

41.301 Water Resources Management

41.302 Land Resources Management

41.350 Advanced Planning

41.497 Internship in Planning

41.498 Applied Planning Seminar

51.100 Environmental Geology

Electives - A minimum of three courses (9 or 10 credits total) must be selected from the following:

41.258 Environmental Conservation

41.303 Soil Resources Management

41.304 Environmental Valuation

41.305 Environmental Risks and Hazards

41.315 Geography of Recreation, Tourism and Sport

41.380 Dams, Reservoirs, and Rivers

41.386 U.S. Public Lands: Geography, Politics and Management

51.370 Hydrology

55.250 Wetlands Ecology

Skills and Tools (18-19 credits total)

41.240 Writing for Environmental Careers

25.103 Public Speaking

44.452 State and Local Government

53.141 Introduction to Statistics

Two courses must be selected from the following:

41.242 Map Skills
41.264 Applied Cartography
41.460 Principles of GIS II
51.320 Remote Sensing of the Earth