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2023-2024 Catalog

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:

Exhibit a general understanding of major biophysical and social patterns in the world, and the key drivers that give rise to those patterns.
Identify and use geospatial techniques to analyze spatial data towards problem solving or modeling.
Exhibit the ability to critically analyze geographic problems, ask research questions, understand methods, and conduct research.
Demonstrate effective written, verbal, and graphic communication skills.

Culture, Politics, and Place Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Understand the socio-economic, cultural, and political processes that shape places and the connections between them.

Environment, Economy, and Sustainability Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Interpret the relationship of human and natural systems that result interactions between processes operating at local to global scales.
Develop an awareness of the natural and cultural landscapes of several regions of the world and investigate the processes that form them.

Environmental Systems Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate understanding of the important processes that affect the distribution and abundance of life, the geomorphic processes that shape the surface of the earth, and the climate system at local to global scales.

Geographic Education Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate knowledge of the core concepts of geography to enable students to teach geography at the K-12 level.

Geographic Information Science Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate understanding of geospatial analysis and the GIScience project process.

Water Science and Policy Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate knowledge of human and environmental processes that affect water systems around the world.

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:

environment, economy, and sustainability
geographic education
water science and policy
culture, politics, and place
environmental systems
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

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Fundamentals: Introductory Core
GEOG 141	The Natural Environment	4
GEOG 142	Human Geography	4
GEOG 181	Our Digital Earth	4
Fundamentals: Advanced Core
GEOG 391	Social Science Inquiry and Research	4
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 281	The World and Big Data
GEOG 471	North American Historical Landscapes
Breadth Requirements: Geographic Information System Science		4
Select one of the following:
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
GEOG 494	Spatial Analysis
GEOG 495	Geographic Data Analysis
GEOG 497	Qualitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 498	Geospatial Project Design
Breadth Requirements: Biophysical Geography		4
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 425	Hydrology and Water Resources
GEOG 427	Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 430	Long-Term Environmental Change
GEOG 433	Fire and Natural Disturbances
Breadth Requirements: Human Geography		4
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	North American Historical Landscapes
ASIA 425	Asian Foodways
ASIA 480	Chinese Economy: Transition, Development, Globalization
ENVS 450	Political Ecology
ENVS 455	Sustainability
Electives
Three courses from one specialization (see specialization lists) ¹		12
Additional Requirements		2
GEOG 401	Research: [Topic]
GEOG 403	Thesis
GEOG 406	Practicum: [Topic]
GEOG 409	Terminal Project
GEOG 419	Professional Geographer
Total Credits		46

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

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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
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 467
GEOG 468	Contemporary Food Systems
ASIA 425	Asian Foodways
ENVS 450	Political Ecology
ENVS 455	Sustainability

Geographic Education

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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 471	North American Historical Landscapes
GEOG 475
Upper-division courses in geography (GEOG) ¹

¹

With approval of advisor.

Water Science and Policy

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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
GEOG 467

Culture, Politics, and Place

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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 467
GEOG 468	Contemporary Food Systems
GEOG 471	North American Historical Landscapes
GEOG 475
ASIA 425	Asian Foodways
ASIA 480	Chinese Economy: Transition, Development, Globalization
ENVS 450	Political Ecology
ENVS 455	Sustainability

Environmental Systems

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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
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

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Select three of the following:		12
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
GEOG 495	Geographic Data Analysis
GEOG 497	Qualitative Methods in Geography
GEOG 498	Geospatial Project Design

Honors Programs

The Department of Geography offers an honors option for its majors. More information is available on the department website or by contacting the undergraduate advisor, geogadvr@uoregon.edu.

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
Fall		Milestones	Credits
GEOG 142	Human Geography		4
WR 121Z	Composition I		4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
First term of first-year second-language sequence			5
	Credits		17
Winter
GEOG 141	The Natural Environment		4
WR 122Z	Composition II		4
Group-satisfying course in science			4
Second term of first-year second-language sequence			5
	Credits		17
Spring
GEOG 181	Our Digital Earth	Fundamentals sequence complete	4
Group-satisfying course in social science			4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
Third term of first-year second-language sequence			5
	Credits		17
	Total Credits		51

Degree Map
Second Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Geography advanced core elective (201–214)			4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
Group-satisfying course in social science that also satisfies multicultural requirement in American cultures or identity, pluralism, and tolerance			4
First term of second-year second-language sequence			5
	Credits		17
Winter
Human geography breadth course			4
Group-satisfying course in science			4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
Second term of second-year second-language sequence			5
Consider studying abroad in third year (optional)
	Credits		17
Spring
Biophysical geography breadth course			4
Group-satisfying course in social science			4
Third term of second-year second-language sequence			5
Elective course			4
	Credits		17
	Total Credits		51

Degree Map
Third Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
GEOG 481	GIScience I		4
Group-satisfying course in social science			4
Upper-division elective courses			8
	Credits		16
Winter
GEOG 391	Social Science Inquiry and Research	Advanced core complete	4
GEOG 419	Professional Geographer	Launchpad requirement	2
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code			4
Upper-division elective course		Investigate summer internships	4
	Credits		14
Spring
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code			8
Upper-division elective courses			8
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		46

Degree Map
Fourth Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
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 DuckWeb	8
Upper-division elective course			4
Elective course			4
Start a job search 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		48

Bachelor of Science in Geography

Degree Map
First Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
GEOG 142	Human Geography		4
WR 121Z	Composition I		4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
Group-satisfying course in science			4
	Credits		16
Winter
GEOG 141	The Natural Environment		4
WR 122Z	Composition II		4
Mathematics course			4
Group-satisfying course in science			4
	Credits		16
Spring
GEOG 181	Our Digital Earth	fundamentals sequence complete	4
Mathematics course			4
Group-satisfying course in social science			4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		48

Degree Map
Second Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Geography advanced core elective (201–214)			4
Mathematics course			4
Group-satisfying course in social science that also satisfies multicultural requirement in American cultures or identity, pluralism, and tolerance			4
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
Winter
Physical geography breadth course			4
Group-satisfying course in social science			4
Group-satisfying course in arts and letters			4
Elective course			4
Consider studying abroad in third year (optional)
	Credits		16
Spring
Human geography breadth course
Group-satisfying courses in science			8
Elective course			4
	Credits		12
	Total Credits		44

Degree Map
Third Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
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 complete	4
GEOG 419	Professional Geographer	Launchpad requirement	2
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code			4
Elective course		Investigate summer internships	4
	Credits		14
Spring
Upper-division course with GEOG subject code			4
Upper-division elective courses			8
Elective course			4
	Credits		16
	Total Credits		46

Degree Map
Fourth Year
Fall		Milestones	Credits
Upper-division courses with GEOG subject code			8
Upper-division elective courses			8
	Credits		16
Winter
Upper-division coursed with GEOG subject code		Apply for graduation on DuckWeb	8
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		48

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