Geography, B.A.
The B.A in Geography is for students interested in the spatial and human dimensions of places, cities, and regions. Students will explore concepts and issues related to population dynamics and migration, globalization, planning, economic development, transportation systems, connectivity and accessibility, segregation, urban growth and decline. These themes are explored at the local, regional, and global scales. Students will have a chance to benefit from our areas of regional specialization: West Virginia, Appalachia, U.S. and Canada, and Latin America. The B.A. in Geography degree requires a minimum total of 39 hours of Geography coursework. Beyond the Geography Core Requirements, students choose a minimum of 12 credit hours from Human or Regional Geography. Remaining electives may be chosen from any GEO courses.
Geography Core Requirements (B.A.): 19 credit hours
- GEO 100 Human Geography (CTI (3 credits)
- GEO 101 Physical Geography (CT) (4 credits)
- Any Regional Geography course (3 credits}
- GEO 300 Methods in Geography (3 credits; prerequisite STA150 and 150L (preferred), STA225 or MGT 218, PSY 223, SOC 345/ANT 301 or equivalent)
- GEO 423 Cartography and GIS (3 credits}
- GEO 499 Senior Capstone (3 credits)
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Curriculum | ||
Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
GEO 100 | Intro to Human Geography (CT) | 3 |
STA 150 | Foundations of Statistics | 3 |
STA 150L | Foundations of Statistics Lab | 1 |
Core 2 | ||
ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
Core II Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
Core II Humanities | 3 | |
GEO 100 | Intro to Human Geography (CT) (Core II Social Science) | 3 |
STA 150 | Foundations of Statistics | 3 |
STA 150L | Foundations of Statistics Lab | 1 |
Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
Additional University Requirements | ||
Writing Intensive (300/400) | 3 | |
GEO 100 | Intro to Human Geography (CT) (Multicultural or International) | 3 |
GEO 499 | Senior Capstone II (Writing Intensive) | 3 |
College-Specific | ||
Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
Foreign Language 203 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
Foreign Language 204 or MC, I, or GLC Course | 3 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
GEO 101 | Physical Geography (CT) (COLA Natural/Physical Science) | 4 |
Major-Specific | ||
GEO 100 | Intro to Human Geography (CT) | 3 |
GEO 101 | Physical Geography (CT) | 4 |
Any Regional Geography course | 3 | |
GEO 300 | Methods in Geography | 3 |
GEO 423 | Cartography & GIS | 3 |
GEO 499 | Senior Capstone II | 2 |
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
GEO Elective | 3 | |
GEO Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 |
Major Information
- The total number of free electives will depend on the amount of double and triple counting of requirements.
- See course attributes each semester for courses that meet multiple requirements.
- Questions about requirements should be directed to the College of Liberal Arts (304-696-2350). Core II and COLA requirements may not be double counted.
- Forty-eight credit hours (sixteen 3-hour courses) must be at the 300/400 level.
- Students must earn a C or better in ENG 201 Advanced Composition and all foreign language courses.
- Minimum of 120 hours to graduate.
- The B.A. in Geography degree requires a minimum total of 39 hours of geography coursework. Beyond the Geography Core Requirements, students choose a minimum of 9 credit hours from Human or Regional Geography. Remaining electives may be chosen from any GEO courses.
Geography Electives
Human Geography Courses
- GEO 203 Economic Geography (CT)
- GEO 207 Biblical Geography
- GEO 222 Global Environment Issues (CT)
- GEO 405 Political Geography
- GEO 406 Population Geography
- GEO 410 Urban Geography
- GEO 422 Environmental Geography
- GEO 424 Transportation Geography
- Other Human Geography courses offered infrequently
Regional Geography Courses
- GEO 206 Geography West Virginia
- GEO 305 Geog of USA & Canada
- GEO 402 Geography of Appalachia
- GEO 404 Geography of Europe
- GEO 408 Geog of South & Middle America
- other Regional Geography courses offered infrequently
- GEO 110 Basic GIS
- GEO 111 Air Photos & Satellite Imagery
- GEO 112 Smartphone GPS
- GEO 113 Web GIS
- GEO 426 Principles of GIS
- GEO 427 Principles of GIS II
- GEO 429 Location Analysis and GIS
- GEO 430 GIS-Raster Analysis
- GEO 431 Remote Sensing & Photogram
- GEO 432 Enterprise GIS
- GEO 433 GPS & Mobile Geospatial Tech
- GEO 434 Floods Hazards and GIS
- GEO 440 Spatial Statistics and GIS
- GEO 454 Drones: Remote Sensing & GIS
Semester Plan
Geography is the systematic study of the spatial aspects of human activity, the natural world, and human-environment interaction. The discipline of Geography occupies a unique position as a bridge between the social sciences (Human Geography), natural sciences (Physical Geography), and STEM fields (GIScience). As a result, the Geography Department offers both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Both degrees offer students broad exposure to the various subfields of Geography and provide specialized career training and preparation. Geography is a rapidly expanding discipline with diverse career opportunities across the environmental sciences, social sciences, and technological fields in both the public and private sectors.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
First Semester | Credit Hours | |
CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
GEO 100 | Intro to Human Geography (CT) (MC/I) | 3 |
STA 225 | Introductory Statistics (CT) | 3 |
UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Second Semester | ||
ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
GEO 101 | Physical Geography (CT) (Core II Nat/Phys Science) | 4 |
Writing Intensive | 3 | |
Core II Humanities | 3 | |
Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
First Semester | ||
Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
Regional Geography | 3 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Second Semester | ||
GEO 300 | Methods in Geography | 3 |
Foreign Language 102 | 3 | |
COLA Physical/Natural Science | 4 | |
COLA Humanities | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
First Semester | ||
GEO 423 | Cartography & GIS | 3 |
Foreign Language 203 or MC, I or GLC Course | 3 | |
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
COLA Social Science | 3 | |
COLA 300/400 Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Second Semester | ||
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
Foreign Language 204 or MC, I or GLC Course | 3 | |
300/400 Writing Intensive | 3 | |
COLA 300/400 Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
First Semester | ||
GEO 498 | Senior Capstone | 2 |
Human or Regional GEO Elective | 3 | |
GEO Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 14 | |
Second Semester | ||
GEO 499 | Senior Capstone II | 2 |
GEO Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 3 | |
Free Elective | 2 | |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Total Credit Hours | 120 |