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Geography Undergraduate Degree Requirements

For Fall 2009 please see updated BA and BS Handout here!

General Education Requirements for Geography Majors

Geography majors must meet the mathematical literacy requirement by taking MATH 117. Students obtaining a geography degree without option may meet the university-wide symbolic systems requirement either by taking one year of foreign language instruction (100 level or higher) or by taking MATH 117 and MATH 241. Students obtaining a degree in geography with option must meet the university-wide symbolic systems requirement by taking MATH 117 and MATH 241. The upper-division writing expectation must be met by successfully completing an upper-division writing course from the approved list in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog (see index), or by writing a senior thesis in geography.

Requirements for a Major in Geography

A major in Geography requires a minimum of 36 (maximum of 60) credits. All geography majors take a 26-credit core consisting of the following courses: GEOG 101S, GEOG 102N, GEOG 105, GEOG 385, GEOG 387/9, GEOG 103S or other regional course, three 300- or 400-level courses, one each from the systematic fields of geography and society, physical geography, and human-environment interaction. Students who pursue a geography degree without option (general geography) elect a minimum of 10 (maximum of 34) additional credits in geography. Students who pursue an option in cartography and GIS, in community and environmental planning, or in physical geography must also meet the course requirements of the option (see below).

General Geography

The general geography degree (without option) is very flexible. In addition to meeting the core requirements for all geography majors, students may take a wide range of electives in geography (minimum 10, maximum 34 elective credits). Electives may be chosen from the fields of regional geography, geographic methods and techniques, or systematic geography course (geography and society, physical geography, or human-environment interaction).


Community and Environmental Planning Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, the student desiring to achieve the option in community and environmental planning must complete a minimum of 12 additional credits as follows: GEOG 465 and GEOG 468, plus four of the following five courses: GEOG 315S, GEOG 335, GEOG 412S, GEOG 432, GEOG 435. (These courses can concomitantly satisfy the 300- or 400-level core requirement in geography and society, and human-environment interaction.) An internship is strongly recommended.

Cartography and GIS Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, the student desiring to achieve an option in cartography and GIS must complete a minimum of 18–20 additional credits as follows: CS 101, GEOG 487 and 489, GEOG 488 and 489, plus two courses from the following four: GEOG 468 and 469,GEOG 483 and 489, GEOG 484, GEOG 485 and 489.

Physical Geography Option

In addition to satisfying the general requirements for a degree in geography, a student pursuing the option in physical geography must complete a minimum of 24 additional credits as follows: six additional credits of upper-division coursework in physical geography, geology, hydrology, and/or ecology, and three credits of undergraduate thesis devoted to a theme in physical geography. Coursework and thesis topic should be determined in consultation with the student's advisor. In addition, a student must complete a course in applied calculus (MATH 150 or equivalent) or an upper-division course in statistics (MATH 444 or equivalent), and two two-course sequences in science (such as CHEM 151-152, PHYS 121-122, BIOL 120-121, or their equivalents).

MInor in Mountain Studies

The Department of Geography offers a new undergraduate Minor in Mountain Studies. The curriculum for the minor is interdisciplinary in nature and draws on courses in geography, geosciences, biology, forestry, and recreation management. The participating faculty members bring significant expertise in glacial processes, watershed hydrology, mountain hazards, alpine ecology, mountain-based livelihood systems, and wilderness politics and policy to this program. Field trips and field courses introduce students to the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Alberta, particularly the Crown of the Continent, and high mountain environments of South and Central Asia. Inquiries about the program should be addressed to one of the two co-advisors Drs. Sarah J. Halvorson (sarah.halvorson@umontana.edu; 406-243-2793) or Ulrich Kamp (ulrich.kamp@umontana.edu; 406-243-6469).


Teacher Preparation in Geography

Teaching Major in Geography: Students seeking licensure to teach geography in a middle or secondary school must complete the requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in geography (36 credits minimum, no specific option is required) as follows: GEOG 101S; GEOG 102N; GEOG 103S or GEOG 201S or another regional course; GEOG 105; GEOG 385 or GEOG 471; three upper-division systematic geography courses (one each from the fields of geography and society, physical geography, and human-environment interaction); C&I 428; plus electives. Students must complete a teaching minor in another curriculum area taught in grades 5-12. Students must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet the professional studies requirements for all middle and secondary teachers, as indicated in the School of Education section of this catalog. Students are encouraged to seek licensure advising from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction.

Teaching Minor in Geography: Students seeking a teaching minor in geography complete a minimum of 21 credits by meeting the following requirements: GEOG 101S, GEOG 102N, GEOG 103S or GEOG 201S or other regional course, GEOG 105, GEOG 385 or GEOG 387/389 or GEOG 471, two upper-division systematic geography courses from the fields of geography and society, physical geography, or human-environment interaction; and C&I 428. Students must complete a teaching major in another curriculum area taught in grades 5-12. Students must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet the professional studies requirements for all secondary teachers, as indicated in the School of Education section of this catalog. Students are encouraged to seek licensure advising from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction.

Undergraduate Certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies

Our previous option has now evolved into a certificate open to all students on campus. For more information about this new undergraduate certificate, please go to Undergraduate Certificate in GIS Sciences and Technologies

Additional Information

Advisor

Every geography student will be assigned a geography faculty member to act as advisor. The advisor offers help in designing a program and in monitoring progress. In addition to guiding students toward meeting degree requirements, advisors can also direct students toward special opportunities, such as study abroad and field experiences, scholarship and internship opportunities. All course substitutions must be approved by the advisor. The advisor also reviews and initials a student's application for graduation before the application is signed by the chairperson.

International and Field Experience for Geographers

Students obtaining a degree in geography are encouraged to explore study-abroad options and field experiences. Geography credits obtained through studies abroad will be applied toward the geography degree. With approval of the students advisor additional credits obtained through studies abroad and field experiences may count toward geography electives.

 

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