B.S. in Geography

College of Business and Public Management

The Bachelor of Science in Geography offers a choice of five emphases (called “tracks”): traditional geography (cultural, environmental, and economic geography including an international perspective), geographic information science (GIScience), location analytics, environmental geography, and elective social studies teacher certification. The geographic information science and location analytics areas emphasize specialized skill development. Internships are available and are recommended for qualified students.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement 16-7
Mathematics requirement3-4
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
Humanities requirement6
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Public Speaking
Business and Professional Speech Communication
Degree Requirements
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Core Courses
GEO 102Physical Geography3
GEO 225Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing3
GEO 230Environmental Conservation and Sustainability3
GEO 310Population Geography3
GEO 324Intro to Geographic Information Systems3
GEO 326Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning3
GEO 400Senior Seminar In Geography3
Additional Geography or Social/Behavioral Science Courses
Select one from the following list:3
World Geography 2
Human Geography 2
Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics 2
Track Requirements
Select one of the following tracks:
Geography Track
Select three courses from specified groups 39
Select three courses from specified lists of courses 39
Location Analytics Track
GEO 318Economic Geography3
GEO 325Intro Business GIS3
GEO 425Business GIS Applications3
Select three courses from specified lists of courses 39
Geographic Information Science Track
GEO 328Computer Cartography3
GEO 424Geographic Information Systems Application3
GEO 427Geodatabase System3
Select three courses from specified lists of courses 39
Environmental Geography Track
GEO 205Geography of Agriculture, Food & Sustainability3
GEO 332Environmental Crises3
GEO 334Sustainable Living3
Select three courses from specified lists of courses 39
Elective Social Studies Teacher Certification Track
See program page for specific Certification requirements.
Related/Cognate Requirements
Courses (taken under advisement) that are specifically related to identified career aspirations, and chosen outside general requirements, or geography core:15
Required of all majors:
Business and Organizational Writing
Technical Writing
Required for location analytics track: four courses selected under advisement
Required of geographic information science track: four courses selected under advisement
Required of environmental geographic track: four courses selected under advisement
Capstone Requirement
GEO 404Senior Project in Geography 43
Student Electives
Select 3-15 credits
Total Minimum Credits Required120
1

Geography majors must pass WRT 120 and WRT 200 (or equivalent) with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

2

Geography majors must pass GEO 101, GEO 103, or GEO 104 with a grade of 2.0 or higher. 

3

Taken under advisement

4

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement

Accelerated B.S. in Geography to M.S. in Geography Program

Any Geography major with junior-standing in the Environmental, Location Analytics, GIScience, or Geography track, with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher may substitute up to 12 graduate credits to satisfy the B.S. program.

Elective Courses
Select from the courses below:
GEO 502Topical Seminar in Geography3
GEO 505Planning Design3
GEO 506Seminar in Physical Geography3
GEO 507Internet Applications of Geographic Information Systems3
GEO 521Suburbanization and Land Development3
GEO 524Population Processes3
GEO 525Urban and Regional Planning3
GEO 526Metropolitan Systems and Problems3
PLN 527Planning Law and Organization3
GEO 531Transportation Planning3
PLN 536Environmental Planning3
GEO 538Environmental Modeling with Geographic Information Systems3
GEO 554Geography and Planning of Housing3
GEO 577Geodatabases3

To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.

The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.

B.S. in Geography: General Track

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
GEO 102 Physical Geography 3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits16
Semester Two
GEO 101 World Geography 3
GEO 230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability 3
MAT 103 Introduction to Mathematics (or higher) 3
SPK 208 Public Speaking 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
GEO 225 Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing 3
WRT 200 Critical Writing and Research 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
GEO 204 Introduction to Urban Studies 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
GEO 310 Population Geography 3
GEO 326 Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning 3
ENG 368
Business and Organizational Writing
or Technical Writing
3
Geography Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
GEO 400 Senior Seminar In Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
GEO 404 Senior Project in Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits121

B.S. in Geography: GIScience Track 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
GEO 102 Physical Geography 3
GEO 104 Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics 3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
General Education Course 3
 Credits16
Semester Two
GEO 101 World Geography 3
GEO 230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability 3
MAT 103 Introduction to Mathematics (or higher) 3
SPK 208 Public Speaking 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
GEO 225 Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing 3
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
WRT 200 Critical Writing and Research 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
GEO 204 Introduction to Urban Studies 3
GEO 328 Computer Cartography 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
GEO 427 Geodatabase System 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
GEO 310 Population Geography 3
GEO 326 Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning 3
GEO 424 Geographic Information Systems Application 3
ENG 368
Business and Organizational Writing
or Technical Writing
3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
GEO 400 Senior Seminar In Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
GEO 404 Senior Project in Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits121

B.S. in Geography: Environmental Track

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
GEO 102 Physical Geography 3
GEO 205 Geography of Agriculture, Food & Sustainability 3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
General Education Course 3
 Credits16
Semester Two
GEO 101 World Geography 3
GEO 230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability 3
MAT 103 Introduction to Mathematics (or higher) 3
SPK 208 Public Speaking 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
PLN 214 Introduction to Planning 3
GEO 225 Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing 3
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
WRT 200 Critical Writing and Research 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
GEO 204 Introduction to Urban Studies 3
GEO 332 Environmental Crises 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
GEO 310 Population Geography 3
GEO 326 Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning 3
GEO 334 Sustainable Living 3
ENG 368
Business and Organizational Writing
or Technical Writing
3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
GEO 400 Senior Seminar In Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
GEO 404 Senior Project in Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits121

B.S. in Geography: Location Analytics Track 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
GEO 102 Physical Geography 3
GEO 104 Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics 3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE 100XFirst Year Experience 4
General Education Course 3
 Credits16
Semester Two
GEO 101 World Geography 3
GEO 230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability 3
MAT 104 Introduction to Applied Mathematics (or higher) 3
SPK 208 Public Speaking 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
GEO 225 Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing 3
GEO 318 Economic Geography 3
GEO 324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3
WRT 200 Critical Writing and Research 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
GEO 204 Introduction to Urban Studies 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
GEO 325 Intro Business GIS 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
General Education Course 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
GEO 310 Population Geography 3
GEO 326 Quantitative Analysis in Geography and Planning 3
ENG 368
Business and Organizational Writing
or Technical Writing
3
GEO 425 Business GIS Applications 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
GEO 400 Senior Seminar In Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
GEO 404 Senior Project in Geography 3
Cognate Course 3
Geography Elective 3
Geography Elective 3
General Education Course 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits121