Why study geography?
A much more specialized degree, the Bachelor of Science offers concentrated specializations in one of two aspects of Geography: physical geography or geographic information science (GIS). The BS has fewer general education requirements and require solid backgrounds in mathematics and basic science.
There are two B.S. degree options:
Physical Geography Option
Students prepare for a career in environmental assessment and problem solving. Basic requirements include preparation in chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. Advanced course work includes the study of the processes that affect the physical environment (soils, vegetation, climate and geomorphology), and techniques for performing statistical and computational analysis of these processes (statistics, GIS and remote sensing).
Geographical Information and Analysis Option
Students prepare for a career in the area of geographic information science and problem solving using a variety of spatial analysis techniques. Basic requirements include preparation in mathematics, science and computer science. Advanced course work includes work in cartography, GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, spatial analysis and data presentation and visualization. In addition, students are expected to take some coursework in one of the other areas of geography (physical, human, and regional).
Beyond the basic requirements listed under each option, both Geography B.S. degrees have a common set of general education requirements, including courses in English, mathematics, communications, humanities, social sciences and a history or philosophy of science course. Some courses are shared by the two options; however, different course selection menus apply for the remaining requirements.
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 Admissions website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Students should begin the major by meeting the core requirements and preparing for major courses.
Requirements for the B.S. Degree
Geography B.S. General Education Requirements
Written Communication – Core Skill and Critical Inquiry.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| Composition | |
| |
| |
| |
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| Critical Reading and Writing | |
| Honors Introduction to English |
| |
| |
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| Topics in Reading and Writing: _____ | |
| Freshman-Sophomore Honors Proseminar: _____ |
| Introduction to Fiction | |
| Introduction to Poetry | |
| Introduction to the Drama | |
| Foundations of Technical Writing (recommended) | |
| |
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Communications. Satisfied by COMS 130 (COMS 230, PHIL 148, PHIL 310 or exemption).
History or philosophy of science.
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 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 | |
Physical Geography Option
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Calculus I | |
| 4 |
| Calculus II | |
| |
| 4-5 |
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory (recommended) | |
| College Physics I and Calculus Supplement to College Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | |
| 4-5 |
| General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | |
| College Physics II and Calculus Supplement to College Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | |
| 8 |
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Principles of Organismal Biology and Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | |
| 10 |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II (or CHEM 190 and CHEM 191 and CHEM 195 and CHEM 196) | |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Computing: _____ | |
GEOG 104 | Introduction to Physical Geography | 3 |
GEOG 105 | Introductory Laboratory in Physical Geography | 2 |
| 3 |
GEOG 321 | Climate and Climate Change | 3 |
GEOG 336 | Introduction to Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources | 3 |
or CE 455 | Hydrology |
GEOG 335 | Introduction to Soil Geography | 4 |
or GEOG 535 | Soil Geography |
GEOG 332 | Glaciers and Landscape | 3 |
BIOL 414 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
GEOG 316 | Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | 4 |
GEOG 358 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| 3 |
GEOG 500 | Senior Capstone in Geography | 3 |
| 6 |
| Ecohydrology | |
| Microclimatology | |
| Geoarchaeology | |
| Geomorphology | |
| |
Physical Geography Option 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
Satisfied by 44 hours of major courses.
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 36 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.
Geographical Information and Analysis Option
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Calculus I | |
| Calculus I, Honors |
| 4 |
| Calculus II | |
| Calculus II, Honors |
| 4-5 |
| General Physics I | |
| College Physics I and Calculus Supplement to College Physics I | |
| 3-5 |
| General Physics II | |
| College Physics II and Calculus Supplement to College Physics II | |
| 3 |
| Computer Programming for Mapping and Spatial Analysis | |
| Introduction to Computing: _____ |
| |
| Introduction to Physical Geography and Introductory Laboratory in Physical Geography | |
| Global Environment I: The Discovery of Environmental Change and Environmental Solutions | |
| |
| Mapping Our Changing World | |
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems |
| |
| People, Place, and Society | |
| People, Place, and Society, Honors |
| |
| |
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| Introductory Cartography and Geovisualization | |
| Advanced Cartography and Geovisualization | |
| |
| Spatial Data Analysis | |
| GIS Application Programming | |
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| Remote Sensing of Environment I | |
| Remote Sensing of Environment II | |
| |
| Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | |
| Advanced Geostatistics | |
| |
| Senior Capstone in Geography | |
| |
| 9 |
Geographical Information and Analysis Option 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
Satisfied by 56 hours of major courses.
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 45 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.
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.