Rocks on a table in the Geography lab

Geography - Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

About this Degree

Infographic of Process of Bachelor of Science

Geography opens doors to a wide variety of careers, such as an environmental specialist, business location/allocation expert, market researcher, community development and planning specialist, cartographer, satellite image analyst, weather forecaster, or teacher. In fact, almost any career would benefit from a better understanding of geography. Since Geography is the study of the relationship between the planet earth and its inhabitants, it can be considered both a natural and a social science.  Geographers look at all interactions and distributions in both the natural and human realms.  They also examine how these interactions vary spatially. Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

The major in Geography requires at least 24 hours of geography courses at the 3000-4000 level and must include GEOG 2011-2011L  or GEOG 4370/6370-4370L/6370L or GEOG 4370E/6370E. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) must be earned in each course. For the A.B. degree, 3000-4000-level course work in the major must include 6 hours of human geography courses, 3 hours of physical geography courses, and 12 additional elective hours in geography; at least 6 hours must comprise 4000-level courses in human geography or techniques. For the B.S. degree, 3000-4000-level course work in the major must include 6 hours of physical geography courses, 3 hours of human geography courses, and 12 additional elective hours in geography; at least 6 hours must be 4000-level courses in physical geography or techniques.

 

I. FOUNDATION COURSES (9 HOURS)

Courses: 

II. SCIENCES (7-8 HOURS)

At least one of the physical science or life science courses must include a laboratory.

Physical Sciences (3-4 hours)

Preferred Course(s): 

Life Sciences (3-4 hours)

Please consider the Franklin College's Biological Sciences requirement when selecting courses from the Core Curriculum. Some courses approved for the core curriculum do not satisfy the Franklin College requirement. 

III. QUANTITATIVE REASONING (3-4 HOURS)

Preferred Course(s): GEOG 2011-2011L  

IV. WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURE, HUMANITIES AND THE ARTS (12 HOURS)

Note: Course credit received as a result of a score on a departmental foreign language placement test will not satisfy the General Education Core Curriculum requirements in Area IV, World Languages and Culture, Humanities and the Arts.

World Languages and Culture (9 hours)

Preferred Course(s): 

Humanities and the Arts (3 hours)

No preferred courses for this area. See Core Curriculum view.

V. SOCIAL SCIENCES (9 HOURS)

  • Students who have not met the Georgia and U.S. Constitution requirement by examination should enroll in POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1105H.
  • A passing grade on an examination on the history of the United States and Georgia is required to satisfy the United States and Georgia History Requirement for all persons receiving a baccalaureate degree from the University, unless exempted by one of the following courses: HIST 2111, HIST 2111E, HIST 2111H, HIST 2112, HIST 2112E, HIST 2112H, HIST 3080H. Examinations are given at University Testing Services. Reexamination is permitted. Contact University Testing Services at (706) 542-3183 for information.
  • Preferred Course(s): GEOG 1101 or GEOG 1103 or GEOG 1125 or GEOG 2010H or GEOG 2130H or GEOG 2250H 

VI. COURSES REALTED TO THE MAJOR (18 HOURS)

Choose 1 course(s) from the following:

Choose 1 course(s) from the following:

Choose 1 course(s) from the following:

  • One 4-hour lab science course beyond those required under Area II in one of the following prefixes:

If any of the courses in Area VI have been used to satisfy Areas II-V of the Core Curriculum, General Electives may be taken here. (Refer to College-wide requirements when selecting General Electives)

REQUIRED COURSES (17-21 HOURS)

A baccalaureate degree program must require at least 21 semester hours of upper division courses in the major field and at least 39 semester hours of upper division work overall.
Students in the Franklin College must earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in major required courses.

Physical and Environmental Geography Anchor Courses

Choose 4 course(s) from the following:

Methods Courses

Choose 1 course from the following:

 

MAJOR ELECTIVES (12-16 HOURS)

Major Elective

Choose 1 course from the following:

  • ATSC prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • GEOG prefix courses 3000-level and above
Out of Area Major Electives

Choose 2 course(s) from the following:

  • GEOG prefix courses 3000-level and above*
  • *These courses cannot be Physical and Environmental Geography anchor courses
Out of Department Electives

Choose 1 course(s) from the following:

  • ANTH prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • CHEM prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • CRSS prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • CSCI prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • DMAN prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • ECOL prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • FORS prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • GEOL prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • LAND prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • MARS prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • MATH prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • PHYS prefix courses 3000-level and above
  • STAT prefix courses 3000-level and above

GENERAL ELECTIVES (23-31 HOURS)

Choose 23 to 31 credit hours from the following:

  • Upper division courses

  • Refer to College-wide requirements when selecting general electives.

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What you will learn

The Department of Geography at UGA has been a leading center of scholarship about earth's landscapes and human relationships to the environment. Our inquiries encompass a wide range of topics, from the economies of cities and cultures of built landscapes, to tropical climates and the flow of polar ice sheets. We combine rigorous empirical work with deeply conceptual theoretical analyses, always recognizing the importance of both spatial processes and accumulated histories. We use geographic analyses to illuminate the abiding problems of the modern world.

The Earth and its environment represent a complex and dynamic system that has undergone change for millions of years. For most of this time, changes to Earth's physical environment could be attributed to natural processes, but in the era of human activity, anthropogenic processes have become more important. Current direction for earth and environmental research is to study past, current, and future interactions among the continents, oceans, and atmosphere.

Work in GIScience seeks to redefine geographic concepts and their use in the context of geographic information systems (GIS). GIScience draws from and overlaps with more specialized research fields such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, and psychology, while it also contributes to further developments in those fields. The GIScience area is open to both B.S. and A.B. students.

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU)
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
UGA Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS)
GeogDawgs
Employers:

Common employers of Geography graduates include various federal agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Local and state governments employ many geography graduates in emergency management, environmental impact specialists, waste management, naturalists/interpreters, urban/regional planning, housing specialists, convention/tourism planning, and community development specialists. Private employers include broadcast media, real estate development firms, industrial location consultants, environmental consulting firms, electric utilities, transportation companies, Geographic Information Systems software firms, among others.

Possible Job Titles:
  • Atmospheric Scientist
  • CAD Editor
  • Cartographer
  • Climatologist
  • Data Analyst
  • Ecologist
  • Education Policy Advisor
  • Emergency Management Officer
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Geographic Specialist
  • GIS Analyst
  • GIS Program Coordinator
  • GIS Specialist
  • Location Analyst
  • Mapping Technician
  • Meteorologist
  • Naturalist
  • Photogrammetrist
  • Physical Geographer
  • Research Analyst
  • Regional Planner
  • Research Technician
  • Special Projects Coordinator
  • Specialist
  • Tour Guide
  • Traveling Consultant
  • Transportation Planner
  • Waste Management Specialist
  • Water Planning Manager
  • Water Policy Analyst
  • Wildlife Interpreter

Contact INFO

White man wearing a gray sweater with a black backpack on his back, posing in front of a mountain landscape

Have questions about our program?

Contact Academic Advisor, Zach Chamberlin, for assistance!

zchamberlin@uga.edu