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)

  - General Education Course

  - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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

Course List

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 Natural/Physical 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		3
Foreign Language 204		3
COLA Literature		3
COLA Literature		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
COLA International Credit		3
COLA Multicultural Credit		3
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.

  - General Education Course

  - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

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 o fer 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.

Plan of Study Grid

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
COLA Humanities		3
Regional Geography		3
Foreign Language 101		3
COLA Literature		3
COLA Social Science		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
Foreign Language 102		3
COLA Physical/Natural Science		4
COLA Literature		3
GEO 300	Methods in Geography	3
COLA Social Science		3
	Credit Hours	16
Third Year
First Semester
COLA Social Science		3
Foreign Language 203		3
GEO 423	Cartography & GIS	3
Human or Regional GEO Elective		3
COLA Multicultural		3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Semester
Foreign Language 204		3
300/400 Writing Intensive		3
Human or Regional GEO Elective		3
COLA International		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

Geography Electives