Overview

Geography/Standard Program prepares students to understand the environment around us and interpret the patterns found across Earth’s surface. Comprised of 45 units, the Geography major allows flexibility in course selection, while providing solid background in human, physical and regional aspects of the discipline.

Social Science Subject Matter Program for the Single Subject Credential

Geography majors interested in teaching social studies at the middle school or high school level may combine their major program with the Single Subject Social Science Subject Matter Program to meet requirements for entering a Single Subject Credential Program. For information on the CSBS Single Subject Social Science Subject Matter Program, look under Social and Behavioral Sciences in this Catalog. The Geography undergraduate advisor also can provide assistance in coordinating the completion of both the major and the subject matter program simultaneously.

Program Requirements

1. Lower Division Courses (6 units)

Foundation Courses

Take the following:

GEOG 101 The Physical Environment (3)
or GEOG 103 Weather (3)
and GEOG 107 Introduction to Human Geography (3)
or GEOG 150 World Geography (3)

2. Upper Division Courses (39 units)

a. Gateway Course (3 units)

Take the following:

GEOG 300 The Geographer’s Craft (3)

b. Field Studies (3 units)

Select one course from the following:

GEOG 404A-Z Field Studies in Geography (1-3)

c. Content Courses (6 units)

Select two courses from the following:

GEOG 301 Cultural Geography (3)
GEOG 311 The Atmosphere (3)
GEOG 316 Environmental Geography (3)
GEOG 340 Economic Geography (3)
GEOG 351 Urban Geography (3)
GEOG 364/L Geography of World Ecosystems and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 365/L Geomorphology and Lab (3/1)
GEOG 366 Geography of Environmental Hazards (3)

d. Method Courses (6 units)

Select two courses from the following:

GEOG 206/L Introduction to Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 304/L Map and Imagery Interpretation and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 305/L Maps and Graphics and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 306/L Intermediate Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 360/L Introduction to Spatial Analysis and Lab (2/1)

e. Regional Course (3 units)

Select one course from the following:

GEOG 318 Europe (3)
GEOG 321 United States (3)
GEOG 322 Latin America (3)
GEOG 323 Canada (3)
GEOG 324 China (3)
GEOG 326 Africa (3)
GEOG 328 Mexico (3)
GEOG 330 California (3)
GEOG 334 Geography of Oceania (3)
GEOG 350 Metropolitan Los Angeles (3)

f. Application Courses (6 units)

Select two courses from the following:

GEOG 402/L Physical Geography Techniques/Lab (2/1)
GEOG 406/L Advanced Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408A/L Human/Cultural Applications in Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408B/L Environmental/Physical Applications in Geographical Information Science and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408C/L Geospatial Project Management and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408D/L Spatial Database Management and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408E/L GIS Automation and Customization and Lab (1/2)
GEOG 408F/L WebGIS and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 408G/L GIS and Decision-Making and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 409/L Digital Cartography and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 411 World Climate (3)
GEOG 412 Boundary Layer Climatology (3)
GEOG 413 Bioclimatology (3)
GEOG 414 Hydroclimatology (3)
GEOG 415 Air Pollution (3)
GEOG 416 Global Warming (3)
GEOG 444 Conservation (3)
GEOG 451 Advanced Urban Geography (3)
GEOG 452 Urban Land-Use Planning (3)
GEOG 453 Housing and Community Development (3)
GEOG 459 Environmental Impact Studies (3)
GEOG 460/L Spatial Analysis and Comparison and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 462/L Computer Applications in Geography and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 465/L Fluvial Geomorphology and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 466/L Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 467/L Arid Lands Geomorphology and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 468/L Coastal Geomorphology and Lab (2/1)
GEOG 482 Population Geography (3)
GEOG 486 Medical Geography (3)
GEOG 487 Geography of Popular Culture (3)
GEOG 494 Internship (3)
GEOG 497A-F Senior Seminar in Geography (3)

g. Capstone Course (3 units)

Take the following:

GEOG 490 Senior Project (3)

h. Elective Courses (9 units)

Take three additional Upper Division (300- or 400-level) Geography courses.

Total Units in the Major: 45

General Education Units: 48

Additional Units: 27

Total Units Required for the Degree (Option 1): 120