The Bachelor of Science in Geography is a degree program that focuses on the interdisciplinary study of the spatial and temporal distribution and interrelationships of people, natural resources, and plant and animal life.
The curriculum offers two tracks, Geographic Information Science and Physical Geography; it also includes offerings in historical and political geography, cultural geography, environmental geography, economic geography, regional science and urban geography.
Applications of the skills and methods learned in the BS in Geography degree program encompass a wide variety of areas such as land-use planning, conservation, modeling, development studies, and studies of various countries, regions and resources.
Requirements
General Requirements
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses below.
For the bachelor of science degree students must complete a concentration in either geographic information science or physical geography. The coursework for these two transcripted concentrations is listed below.
Students must complete at least 39 and no more than 66 credit hours towards the major area with grades of C- or better (22 credit hours must be upper-division). No pass/fail grades are allowed in the major. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate.
Transfer students majoring in geography must complete at least 12 credit hours of upper-division geography courses at CU Boulder. No course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement for the major.
Required Courses and Credit Hours
Physical Geography Concentration
Complete the following GEOG coursework as well as the ancillary mathematics and science coursework.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required GEOG Coursework | ||
| GEOG 1101 & GEOG 1106 | Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation and Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation Lab | 4 |
| GEOG 1111 & GEOG 1116 | Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water and Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following human geography courses: | 3-4 | |
| Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society and Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society Lab | ||
| Human Geographies | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Statistics Requirement | ||
| GEOG 3023 | Statistics and Geographic Data | 4 |
| Select one of the following mapping courses: | 3-4 | |
| Mapping Our World | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Mapping and Geographic Information Science: Mapping Lab | ||
| Select at least one of the following methods courses: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Quantitative Methods for Spatial Data | ||
| Advanced Geovisualization and Web Mapping | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Research Seminar | ||
| Field Methods in Human Geography | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics | ||
| Physical Geography Concentration Courses | ||
| Select at least two of the following: | 6-8 | |
| Biogeography | ||
| The Water Cycle and The Water Cycle Lab | ||
| Principles of Climate | ||
| Earth Surface Processes | ||
| Select at least two of the following electives: | 6-8 | |
| Mountain Geosystems | ||
| Analysis of Climate and Weather Observations | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| The Water Cycle and The Water Cycle Lab | ||
| Principles of Climate | ||
| Topics in Physical Geography 1 | ||
| Research Seminar (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Biometeorology | ||
| Earth Surface Processes | ||
| River Processes and Forms: Fluvial Geomorphology | ||
| The Arctic Climate System | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Forest Geography: Principles and Dynamics | ||
| Soils Geography | ||
| Internship (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Senior Thesis (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Take additional lower-division or upper-division GEOG courses to reach 22 overall and 39 upper-division GEOG credits. (If necessary) | 6-0 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 39-40 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ancillary Mathematics & Natural Sciences Coursework | ||
| Select one of the following two-semester sequences in calculus: | 8-10 | |
| Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 | ||
| Calculus 1 for Engineers and Calculus 2 for Engineers | ||
| Select three of the following semesters of physics and chemistry, including related labs: | 14-15 | |
| General Physics 1 | ||
| General Physics 2 and Experimental Physics 1 | ||
| General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | ||
| General Chemistry 2 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 22-25 | |
| 1 | Special topics courses may be used to satisfy upper-division concentration requirements with approval from the department. |
Geographic Information Science Concentration
Complete the following GEOG coursework as well as the ancillary mathematics, computing, or GIS coursework.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 1101 & GEOG 1106 | Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation and Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation Lab | 4 |
| GEOG 1111 & GEOG 1116 | Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water and Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following human geography courses: | 3-4 | |
| Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society and Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society Lab | ||
| Human Geographies | ||
| Advanced Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Statistics Requirement | 4 | |
| Statistics and Geographic Data | ||
| Select one of the following mapping courses: | 3-4 | |
| Mapping Our World | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Mapping and Geographic Information Science: Mapping Lab | ||
| Select at least one of the following methods courses: | 3-4 | |
| Advanced Quantitative Methods for Spatial Data | ||
| Advanced Geovisualization and Web Mapping | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Research Seminar | ||
| Field Methods in Human Geography | ||
| Geographic Information Science Concentration | ||
| GEOG 4123 & GEOG 4126 | Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics and Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics Lab 1 | 4 |
| Upper Division GIS Geography Electives | 12 | |
| Topics in Geographic Skills (Only certain topics apply) | ||
| Advanced Geovisualization and Web Mapping | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Spatial Programming | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Space Time Analytics | ||
| Geographic Information Science: Project Management | ||
| Research Seminar (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Internship (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Senior Thesis (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis) | ||
| Take additional lower-division or upper-division GEOG courses to reach 39 overall and 22 upper-division GEOG credits. | 2-3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 39-43 | |
| 1 | Does not count as a methods course for students pursuing the GIS concentration. |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ancillary Mathematics, Computing, or GIS Requirements | ||
| Take at least 15 credits from the following Mathematics, Computing, or GIS courses. | 15 | |
| Programming for Information Science 1 | ||
| Programming for Information Science 2 | ||
| Computer Science 1: Starting Computing | ||
| Computer Science 2: Data Structures | ||
| Calculus 1 | ||
or APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 for Engineers | |
| Calculus 2 | ||
or APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 for Engineers | |
| Quantitative Reasoning for Information Science | ||
| Quantitative Research Methods | ||
| Biological Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Any GEOG course ending in -3 not used for another requirement | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Graduating in Four Years
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee: it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in geography, students should meet the following requirements:
- By the end of the third semester, complete GEOG 1101, GEOG 1111 and one of the following: GEOG 1962, GEOG 1972, GEOG 1982, GEOG 1992 or GEOG 2092.
- By the end of the sixth semester, complete an approved upper-division human geography course and 9 credit hours of upper-division geography courses.
- By the end of the sixth semester, complete the mapping requirement and GEOG 3023.
- By the eighth semester, complete the remaining upper-division credit hours.
Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study
Through the required coursework for the BS, students will complete all 12 credit hours of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, including the lab component and at least 6 credits hours of the Social Sciences area of this requirement.
Depending on which track students follow and which elective courses they select within the track of the BS, students can potentially complete all of the Social Sciences area and 3 credits in the Arts and Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and, potentially, the Global Perspective and United States Perspective components of the Gen Ed Diversity Requirement.
Physical Geography Concentration Plan
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| GEOG 1101 & GEOG 1106 | Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation and Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation Lab | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/US Perspective) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Global Perspective) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOG 1111 & GEOG 1116 | Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water and Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water Lab | 4 |
| MATH 1300 or APPM 1350 | Calculus 1 or Calculus 1 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOG 1972 & GEOG 1976 | Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society and Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society Lab (or GEOG 1992 or GEOG 2092) | 3-4 |
| MATH 2300 or APPM 1360 | Calculus 2 or Calculus 2 for Engineers | 4-5 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOG 3153 & GEOG 3156 | Geographic Information Science: Mapping and Geographic Information Science: Mapping Lab | 4 |
| GEOG Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| PHYS 1110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOG 3023 | Statistics and Geographic Data | 4 |
| Physical Geography Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1114 | General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1 | 5 |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOG Methods course (Upper-division) | 3-4 | |
| CHEM 1133 & CHEM 1134 | General Chemistry 2 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2 | 5 |
| Upper-division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEOG 3351 | Biogeography or The Water Cycle or Principles of Climate or Earth Surface Processes | 3-4 |
| Physical Geography Concentration Elective | 3-4 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEOG 4241 | Earth Surface Processes or Biogeography or Principles of Climate or The Water Cycle | 3-4 |
| GEOG Elective (Upper-division, if needed or elective) | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (if needed) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-127 | |
Learning Outcomes
By the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of geographic theories and concepts in the discipline and a thorough understanding of interactions between human and environmental processes, through a geographical lens.
- Perform critical inquiry in the discipline, including acquiring, analyzing and interpreting geographical data to be used in statistical analyses, to create basic maps and perform geospatial analyses.
- Demonstrate information literacy in relevant geographic scholarship.
- Effectively communicate about geographical issues through scholarly writing, presentations and visualizations.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and logical approaches to problem solving within interdisciplinary settings.
- Address real-world problems by applying advanced analytical techniques ranging from qualitative, to quantitative, to spatial and field survey methodologies.