Geography (BA/BS)

Home to a number of breathtaking geographic landforms, from the Cascade Range to the McKenzie and Rogue rivers, Oregon is the ideal place to study geography. But geography is more than mountains and rivers and maps. It’s about how cultures and societies are affected by their natural surroundings and how people can enact change in the world. Geography is a way of looking at the world, understanding the dynamics between humans and the environment, and learning to use that information to make real change.

As a geography major, you’ll come to understand how national and physical boundaries affect power and inequality; the significance of resource abundance and resource shortage for different people in different places; why particular regions contribute more to environmental issues than others; how climate change affects plants, animals, and water resources; how place defines who we are, how we act, and the choices we make; and much more. You’ll learn how to use cutting edge spatial technologies that are in high demand in business, governments, and nonprofits around the world. Asking these questions and using these methods, you’ll learn where positive change is taking place and how to be a part of it.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Recognize the diverse human and biophysical processes shaping places and spaces in the world around us.
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative methods to spatial data to critically evaluate processes shaping places.
  • Identify key geographic research questions and critically evaluate them in the context of the evidence presented.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively about complex geographical topics using written, verbal, or graphic approaches.
  • Identify and communicate the skills and competencies relevant to their potential career path.

An undergraduate major in geography follows a broadly based general degree program. Both bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS) degrees are offered in the department. To achieve depth in a particular subfield of geography, electives are chosen from one of six specializations:

  1. environment, economy, and sustainability
  2. water science and policy
  3. culture, politics, and place
  4. environmental systems
  5. geographic information system science

Although a degree in geography is a liberal arts degree, many graduates have found related vocational opportunities in government or private employment, principally in planning, environmental research, cartography, or geographic information system science.

Geography Major Requirements

Fundamentals: Introductory Core
GEOG 141The Natural Environment4
GEOG 142The Human Planet4
GEOG 181Our Digital Earth4
Fundamentals: Advanced Core
GEOG 391Social Science Inquiry and Research4
Select one of the following:4
GEOG 201
World Regional Geography
GEOG 202
Geography of Europe
GEOG 208
Geography of the United States and Canada
GEOG 209
Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
GEOG 250
Geographies of Outdoor Adventure
GEOG 281
The World and Big Data
GEOG 471
Breadth Requirements: Geographic Information System Science4
Select one of the following:
GEOG 393
Data Driven Cartography
GEOG 489
Mapping with Drones
GEOG 492
Web Mapping
GEOG 481
GIScience I
GEOG 482
GIScience II
GEOG 485
Remote Sensing I
GEOG 486
Remote Sensing II
GEOG 490
GIScience: [Topic]
GEOG 491
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 493
Advanced Cartography and Geo-Visualization
GEOG 494
Spatial Analysis
GEOG 495
Geographic Data Analysis
GEOG 497
Qualitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 498
Breadth Requirements: Biophysical Geography4
Select one of the following:
GEOG 321
Climatology
GEOG 322
Geomorphology
GEOG 323
Biogeography
GEOG 360
Watershed Science and Policy
GEOG 361
Global Environmental Change
GEOG 421
Advanced Climatology: [Topic]
GEOG 423
Advanced Biogeography: [Topic]
GEOG 425
Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 427
Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 430
Long-Term Environmental Change
GEOG 433
Fire and Natural Disturbances
Breadth Requirements: Human Geography4
Select one of the following:
GEOG 341
Population and Environment
GEOG 342
Geography of Globalization
GEOG 343
Society, Culture, and Place
GEOG 441
Political Geography
GEOG 442
Urban Geography
GEOG 444
Cultural Geography
GEOG 448
Tourism and Development
GEOG 465
Environment and Development
GEOG 468
Contemporary Food Systems
GEOG 471
Electives
Three courses from one specialization (see specialization lists) 112
The Launchpad2-4
CAS 417
Career Readiness
GEOG 401
Research: [Topic]
GEOG 403
Thesis
GEOG 406
Practicum: [Topic]
GEOG 409
Terminal Project
GEOG 419
Total Credits46-48
1

Seminar: [Topic] (GEOG 407), Experimental Course: [Topic] (GEOG 410), and other upper-division courses approved by an advisor may be used to satisfy the elective requirement.

At least eight geography courses must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of C– or better or P (pass) is required in each course, and a GPA of 2.25 or better is required in courses used to satisfy major requirements.

Environment, Economy, and Sustainability

Select three of the following:12
GEOG 321
Climatology
GEOG 322
Geomorphology
GEOG 323
Biogeography
GEOG 341
Population and Environment
GEOG 342
Geography of Globalization
GEOG 360
Watershed Science and Policy
GEOG 361
Global Environmental Change
GEOG 421
Advanced Climatology: [Topic]
GEOG 423
Advanced Biogeography: [Topic]
GEOG 425
Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 427
Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 430
Long-Term Environmental Change
GEOG 433
Fire and Natural Disturbances
GEOG 465
Environment and Development
GEOG 468
Contemporary Food Systems

Water Science and Policy

Select three of the following:12
GEOG 322
Geomorphology
GEOG 360
Watershed Science and Policy
GEOG 361
Global Environmental Change
GEOG 425
Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 427
Fluvial Geomorphology

Culture, Politics, and Place

Select three of the following:12
GEOG 341
Population and Environment
GEOG 342
Geography of Globalization
GEOG 343
Society, Culture, and Place
GEOG 441
Political Geography
GEOG 442
Urban Geography
GEOG 444
Cultural Geography
GEOG 448
Tourism and Development
GEOG 465
Environment and Development
GEOG 468
Contemporary Food Systems
GEOG 471

Environmental Systems

Select three of the following:12
GEOG 321
Climatology
GEOG 322
Geomorphology
GEOG 323
Biogeography
GEOG 360
Watershed Science and Policy
GEOG 361
Global Environmental Change
GEOG 421
Advanced Climatology: [Topic]
GEOG 423
Advanced Biogeography: [Topic]
GEOG 425
Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 427
Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 430
Long-Term Environmental Change
GEOG 433
Fire and Natural Disturbances

Geographic Information System Science

Select three of the following:12
GEOG 393
Data Driven Cartography
GEOG 481
GIScience I
GEOG 482
GIScience II
GEOG 485
Remote Sensing I
GEOG 486
Remote Sensing II
GEOG 489
Mapping with Drones
GEOG 490
GIScience: [Topic]
GEOG 491
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 492
Web Mapping
GEOG 493
Advanced Cartography and Geo-Visualization
GEOG 495
Geographic Data Analysis
GEOG 497
Qualitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 498

Honors Program in Geography

Clark Honors College students majoring in Geography must design a course of study in consultation with a major advisor in Geography.

The Department of Geography also offer an honors option for its majors.

Students have the option of earning honors by either completing a thesis or an honors project. To initiate one of those options, students must have taken at least half of the requirements for their major, have at least a 3.5 GPA in major courses, and have a 3.0 as their overall UO GPA.

 

Students majoring in Geography or SDS can find this information in the Canvas Communities site. Email Leslie McLees, the Director of Undergraduate Studies at geogadvr@uoregon.edu for more information or if you need access to the Canvas site.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
GEOG 142 The Human Planet 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
First term of first-year second-language sequence 4
 Credits 16
Winter
GEOG 141 The Natural Environment 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
Area-satisfying course in science 4
Second term of first-year second-language sequence 4
 Credits 16
Spring
GEOG 181 Our Digital Earth Fundamentals sequence complete4
Area-satisfying course in social science 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Third term of first-year second-language sequence 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
Geography advanced core elective (201-214) 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Area-satisfying course in social science that also satisfies cultural literacy requirement in US: Difference, Inequality, & Agency 4
First term of second-year second-language sequence 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Human geography breadth course 4
Area-satisfying course in science 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Second term of second-year second-language sequence 4
Consider studying abroad in third year (optional)  
 Credits 16
Spring
Biophysical geography breadth course 4
Area-satisfying course in social science 4
Third term of second-year second-language sequence 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
GEOG 481 GIScience I 4
Area-satisfying course in social science 4
Upper-division elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Winter
GEOG 391 Social Science Inquiry and Research Advanced core complete4
CAS 417 Career Readiness 2
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code 4
Upper-division elective ocurse Investigate summer internships4
 Credits 14
Spring
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code 8
Upper-division elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code 8
Upper-division elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Winter
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code Apply for graduation on DuckWeb8
Upper-division elective course 4
Elective course 4
Start a job research with geography academic career advisor  
 Credits 16
Spring
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code 8
Upper-division elective courses 8
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 190

Bachelor of Science in Geography

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
GEOG 142 The Human Planet 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Area-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
GEOG 141 The Natural Environment 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
Mathematics course 4
Area-satisfying course in science 4
 Credits 16
Spring
GEOG 181 Our Digital Earth fundamentals sequence complete4
Mathematics course 4
Area-satisfying course in social science 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
Geography advanced core elective (201-214) 4
Mathematics course 4
Area-satisfying course in social science that also satisfies cultural literacy requirement in US: Difference, Inequality, & Agency 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Physical geography breadth course 4
Area-satisfying course in social science 4
Area-satisfying course in arts and letters 4
Elective course 4
Consider studying abroad in third year (optional)  
 Credits 16
Spring
Human geography breadth course 4
Area-satisfying course in science 8
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
GEOG 481 GIScience I 4
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code 4
Upper-division elective course 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
GEOG 391 Social Science Inquiry and Research Advanced core complete4
CAS 417 Career Readiness 2
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code 4
Elective course Investigate summer internships4
 Credits 14
Spring
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code 4
Upper-division elective courses 8
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code 8
Upper-division elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Winter
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code Apply for graduation on DuckWeb8
Upper-division elective course 4
Elective course 4
Start a job search with geography academic career advisor  
 Credits 16
Spring
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code 4
Upper-division elective courses 8
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 190