Geography, B.S.

The B.S. in Geography is for students interested in natural science—concepts and issues related to the environment, earth processes, atmospheric processes, and climate—or in GIScience. Students will have a chance to benefit from our expertise in ecology, weather analysis, meteorology, climatology, hurricanes and other types of severe weather, plus GIS spatial analysis and technologies.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography has a core of 24 credit hours ending with a capstone course sequence. The B.S. in Geography requires a minimum total of 45 credit hours of Geography coursework. Beyond the Geography Core Requirements, students choose a minimum of 15 credits from Physical Geography or GIScience. Remaining electives to reach 45 total credits in GEO may be chosen from any GEO courses. To compensate for the increased number of hours for the B.S. in Geography (including the Meteorology, Weather Broadcasting, and Geospatial Information Science areas of emphasis), students are exempted from the College of Liberal Arts foreign language requirement. 

Also, the B.S. in Geography is available as an online degree program. 

Optional:

  • Area of Emphasis in Weather Broadcasting
  • Area of Emphasis in Meteorology
  • Area of Emphasis in Geospatial Information Science

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - 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

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - 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/.

Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critcal Thinking
FYS 100First Yr Sem Critical Thinking3
GEO 100 Bison image Intro to Human Geography (CT)3
STA 150 Bison image Foundations of Statistics3
STA 150L Bison image Foundations of Statistics Lab1
Core 2
ENG 101 Bison image Beginning Composition3
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition3
CMM 103 Bison image Fund Speech-Communication3
Core II Natural/Physical Science4
Core II Humanities3
GEO 100 Bison image Intro to Human Geography (CT) (Core II Social Science)3
Core II Fine Arts3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive (300/400)3
GEO 100 Bison image Intro to Human Geography (CT) (Multicultural or International)3
Capstone4
College-Specific
COLA Humanities3
COLA Humanities3
COLA Humanities3
COLA Social Science3
COLA Social Science3
COLA Social Science3
GEO 101 Bison image Physical Geography (CT) (COLA Natural/Physical Science)4
Major-Specific
GEO 100 Bison image Intro to Human Geography (CT)3
GEO 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Physical Geography (CT)4
Any Regional Geography course3
GEO 300Methods in Geography3
GEO 423Cartography & GIS3
GEO 426 Cap graduation image Principles of GIS4
GEO 499 Bison image Senior Capstone II (WI)3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective3
GEO Elective3
GEO Elective3
300/400 Elective3
300/400 Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective2

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.S. in Geography requires a minimum total of 45 credit hours of Geography coursework. Beyond the Geography Core Requirements, students choose a minimum of 15 credits from Physical Geography or GIScience. Remaining electives may be chosen from any GEO courses. To compensate for the increased number of hours for the B.S. in Geography (including the Meteorology and Weather Broadcasting areas of emphasis), students are exempted from the College of Liberal Arts foreign language requirement.

Semester Plan

 Bison image - General Education Course

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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CMM 103 Bison image Fund Speech-Communication 3
ENG 101 Bison image Beginning Composition 3
FYS 100 First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
GEO 100 Bison image Intro to Human Geography (CT) (MC/I) 3
STA 225 Bison image  Cap graduation image Introductory Statistics (CT) 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition 3
GEO 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Physical Geography (CT) (Core II Nat/Phys. Science) 4
Writing Intensive 3
Core II Humanities 3
Fine Arts 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Year
First Semester
COLA Humanities 3
Regional Geography 3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective 3
COLA Social Science 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective 3
COLA Physical/Natural Science 4
COLA Humanities 3
GEO 300 Methods in Geography 3
COLA Social Science 3
 Credit Hours16
Third Year
First Semester
COLA Social Science 3
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective 3
GEO 423 Cartography & GIS 3
COLA Humanities 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
GEO 426 Cap graduation image Principles of GIS 4
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective 3
300/400 Writing Intensive 3
300/400 Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Fourth Year
First Semester
GEO 498 Bison image Senior Capstone 2
Physical Geo. or GIScience Elective 3
GEO Elective 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
GEO 499 Bison image Senior Capstone II (WI) 2
GEO Elective 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 1
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120