Bachelor of Science in Geography
The Bachelor of Science in Geography (B.S.) prepares students for a career in the area of geographic information science (GIS) and environmental problem solving using a variety of spatial analysis techniques.
Basic requirements include preparation in mathematics, physic science, computer science and a history or philosophy of science course. Advanced course work includes classes in cartography and geo-visualization, GIS, remote sensing, and statistics. In addition, students are also required to take some coursework in physical and human/regional geography to understand the processes that affect human-environment interactions.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
Requirements for the B.S. Degree
Geography Prerequisite or Co-Requisite Knowledge
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| History or Philosophy of Science: Select one of the folloiwng or consult undergraduate committee for approval of alternatives: | 3 | |
| Environment and History | ||
| Technological Revolutions and Global Transformations | ||
| Environmental History of North America | ||
| Technology in American History | ||
| Moral Issues in Medicine | ||
| Moral Issues in Computer Technology | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Natural Science | ||
| Philosophy of Social Science | ||
| Ethics, Ideas and Nature | ||
| Calculus I Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| MATH 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
| or MATH 145 | Calculus I, Honors | |
| Calculus II. Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| MATH 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
| or MATH 146 | Calculus II, Honors | |
| General Physics I. Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | 5 |
| PHSX 114 & PHSX 201 | College Physics I and Calculus Supplement to College Physics I | 5 |
| General Physics II. Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 | General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | 4 |
| PHSX 115 & PHSX 202 | College Physics II and Calculus Supplement to College Physics II | 4 |
| Computing Fundamentals. Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| GEOG 360 | Computer Programming for Mapping and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| or EECS 138 | Introduction to Computing: _____ | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Overview Geography Courses | ||
| GEOG 102 | People, Place, and Society | 3 |
| or GEOG 103 | People, Place, and Society, Honors | |
| GEOG 104 & GEOG 105 | Introduction to Physical Geography and Introductory Laboratory in Physical Geography | 5 |
| GEOG 111 | Mapping Our Changing World | 4 |
| Core Geography Courses | ||
| Eight Courses, at least one from each category: | 24 | |
| Cartography and Visualization | ||
| Introductory Cartography and Geovisualization | ||
| Advanced Cartography and Geovisualization | ||
| Geographical Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Spatial Data Analysis | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment I | ||
| Remote Sensing of Environment II | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | ||
| Advanced Geostatistics | ||
| Physical Geography | ||
| Climate and Climate Change | ||
| Glaciers and Landscape | ||
| Microclimatology | ||
| Human and/or Regional Geography | ||
| Geographic Adventures in Climate Change | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Geography | ||
| Environmental Geopolitics | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Borders, Politics, and Territory | ||
| Environmental Issues of: _____ | ||
| Topics in Regional Studies: _____ | ||
| Senior Capstone in Geography | ||
| GEOG 500 | Senior Capstone in Geography | 3 |
| Geographic Information Science (GIS) Electives | ||
| Choose two: | 6 | |
| Computer Programming for Mapping and Spatial Analysis | ||
| Spatial Databases | ||
| GIS Application Programming | ||
Other courses related to GIS may be used with department approval | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Geography BS Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 33 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BS in Geography. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | MATH 126 (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| MATH 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030* | 4 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| History or Philosophy of Science (Major requirement)1 | 3 | GEOG 104 & GEOG 105 (Major requirement) | 5 |
| PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040* | 5 | Core Geography Course 300 + (1 of 8) Major Requirement2, 3 | 3 |
| GEOG 102 or 103 (Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE))050* | 3 | PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 (Major Prerequisite) | 4 |
| GEOG 111 (Major requirement) | 4 | EECS 138 or GEOG 360 (Major Pre-requisite) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core Geography Course 300+ (2 of 8), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 | Core Geography Course 300+ (5 of 8), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 |
| Core Geography Course 300+ (3 of 8), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 | Core Geography Course 300 + (6 of 8), Major Requirement2, 3 | 3 |
| Core Geography Course 300 + (4 of 8), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 | Core Geography Course 300+ (7 of 8), Major Requirement2, 3 | 3 |
| Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GIS elective 300_ (1 of 2), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 | GEOG 500 (Capstone Course, Major requirement)2 | 3 |
| Core Geography Course 300+ (8 of 8), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 | GIS elective 300+ (2 of 2), Major requirement2, 3 | 3 |
| Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- 1
Geography BS majors are required to take a course in History or Philosophy of Science. A list of possible courses can be found under the Degree Requirements tab.
- 2
All major required Geography courses and most Geography elective courses numbered 300 and above are offered once a year, either in the fall, spring, or summer term.
- 3
Eight core Geography courses are required with at least one from each of the following categories: Cartography and Visualization, Geographical Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Statistics, Physical Geography, and Human and/or Regional Geography. A list of courses for each can be found under the Degree Requirements tab.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Articulate the definitions of, connections between, and differences among fundamental concepts, models, and theories in geography.
- Analyze geographically based issues using approaches and tools appropriate to the problem.
- Demonstrate sub-disciplinary/thematic depth of training and comprehension.
- Communicate effectively orally, graphically, and in writing for diverse audiences.
Departmental Honors in Geography
To be accepted as a candidate for honors, an undergraduate major must have completed at least 9 hours of upper-division credit in geography with a grade-point average of 3.5 in all geography courses. In addition to outstanding work in geography, the program requires GEOG 499, an independent study course consisting of an honors paper.
The student presents the results of this paper in an oral examination to a committee of at least 2 faculty members, normally from the geography department, chaired by the GEOG 499 supervisor. To graduate with honors, the student must complete the paper and the examination and maintain the 3.5 grade-point average.