Geography
G eography provides an understanding of issues across the human-environmental interface and skills that are in demand in today's job market. Techniques such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, air photo interpretation, data base handling, and computer-based cartography are used in regional planning, map production, and environmental assessment.
About This Major
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Specialization: Geography B.A., Geography - Environmental Geosciences B.A., Geography B.S.
- Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: www.geog.ufl.edu/undergrad/overview.html
Overview
The practical and flexible curriculum, small class sizes, computer-based learning, strong faculty and coursework in several areas of general education make this major appealing to students who want skills linked to employment or preparation for entry to professional schools (e.g., law, medicine, business, etc.). The department's computer laboratories are available to undergraduate majors when not used for classes.
Geography majors learn about the Earth's physical environment including climate and learn to understand social, cultural and economic concepts from a spatial perspective. They also learn to integrate information about relationships between environment and society. These skills and the geographic perspective also open doors to employment in government agencies and private firms that deal with urban and regional planning, water management, environmental and market analysis, mapping, foreign service and education.
Coursework for the Major
The geography major has three different specializations: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences (a joint program with the Department of Geological Sciences). Coursework for the major will depend upon the specialization. All three specializations are flexible.
The Bachelor of Arts in geography is the most flexible and is best suited for students interested in careers in urban and regional planning, business geography, medical geography, geographic education or for students who want a broad overview of the discipline with a focus on human geography.
The Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences is intended for students interested in land and water aspects of the environment, focusing on human impacts, water and mineral resource exploitation and management, disasters, environmental planning, earth science education or environmental law.
The Bachelor of Science in geography emphasizes physical geography and supplements this with 21 credits of coursework in physics, chemistry, geology and soils. This track is best suited for someone who wishes to pursue a career in environmental consulting or graduate work in physical geography or related natural sciences, including atmospheric science, geosciences, hydrologic sciences or meteorology.
Students who are uncertain which track best suits them should consult the Department of Geography's undergraduate coordinator for information and curriculum planning.
Required Coursework
The Bachelor of Arts in geography requires 34-37 semester hours of coursework in geography, completed with grades of C or better. Majors must also complete STA 2023 to fulfill tracking requirements (STA 2023 will also help fulfill the general education math requirement).
The Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences requires a total of 38-43 hours of coursework completed with grades of C or better. This is a joint offering between the Department of Geography and the Department of Geological Sciences. Majors must take STA 2023 to fulfill tracking requirements for geography, which will also help to fulfill the general education math requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major.
The Bachelor of Science in geography requires 51-52 semester hours of coursework in geography and related areas, completed with grades of C. Majors must also take STA 2023 to fulfill tracking requirements (STA 2023 also helps fulfill the general education math requirement).
Overseas Study
The department participates in an exchange program with the University of Utrecht. A course on the geography of Europe (GEA 3500) is regularly offered each summer in the Netherlands.
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Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts: Environmental Geosciences Specialization
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Required Courses
- GEO 2200 and 2200L
- GEO 2410 (or GEO 2420 or 2500)
- GEO 3162C
- Two courses from GEO 4167C, GIS 4001C, GIS 3043, GIS 4021C, GIS 4037
- GEO 4930
- Four courses from GEO 2201 or 2242 or 2426; GEO 3250, 3280, 3315, 3341, 3352, 3372, 3424, 3427, 3430, 3502, 3602, 3611, 3803, 3930, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4300, 4554, 4612, 4620, 4970, 4938; GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037; MET 3503, 4532
- One course from GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465
Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
Semester 3
- Complete 1 geography course
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional geography course (1 of the 2 must be GEO 2200) or complete STA 2023 or equivalent with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete all critical tracking courses (2 geography courses, 1 of which must be GEO 2200, and STA 2023 or equivalent) with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Recommended Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 2410 Social Geography or
GEO 2420 Introduction to Human Geography (GE-S, D) or
GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies (GE-S) |
3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
4-5 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography (3) and Physical Geography
Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
3-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
13-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P) or
GEO 3000 level (Systematic) |
3-4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Electives (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 3000/4000 level (Systematic) |
3 |
| Electives |
4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 3162 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P) or
GEO 3000 level (Systematic) |
3-4 |
| GEA 2000/4000 level (Regional) |
3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems or
GIS 4001 Maps and Graphs |
4 |
| GEO 3000/4000 level (Systematic) |
3 |
| Electives |
3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 4930 Senior Seminar |
1 |
| GEO/GIS 4000 level (Technique) * |
3-4 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 3000/4000 level (Systematic) |
3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Electives * |
9 |
| Total |
15 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on whether students select minimum or maximum credit course options.
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Bachelor of Arts: Environmental Geosciences Specialization
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Required Courses
- GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L
- GIS 3043
- GLY 2010C
- GLY 2100C or GLY 3105C
- GLY 3202C
- GEO 4930
- Three geography electives from GEO 3162C, GEO 3250, GEO 3280, GEO 3341, GEO 3352, GEO 3372, GEO 4167, GEO 4221, GEO 4281, GEO 4285, GEO 4300; GIS 4021C, GIS 4037; MET 3503, MET 4532
- Two geology electives from GLY 3074, GLY 3163, GLY 3603C, GLY 3882C, GLY 4155C, GLY 4310C, GLY 4400C, GLY 4552C, GLY 4571, GLY 4734
- STA 2023
Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
- Complete one critical-tracking course with laboratory (GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L, or GLY 2010C or equivalent) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 3
- Complete the other critical-tracking course with laboratory (GEO 2200 and GEO 2200L, or GLY 2010C or equivalent) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 4
- Complete STA 2023 and maintain a 2.5 GPA critical-tracking on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete two additional GLY or GEO courses with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA on all critical-tracking coursework. Recommended GLY courses include GLY 2100C or GLY 3105C
Recommended Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
4-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) |
3 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography (3) (GE-P) and Physical Geography
Laboratory (1) (GE-P) or
GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) (GE-P) |
4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
3-5 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
13-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography (3) (GE-P) and Physical Geography
Laboratory (1) (GE-P) or
GLY 2010C Physical Geology (4) (GE-P) |
4 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) |
3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems |
4 |
GLY 2100C Historical Geology or
GLY 3105C Evolution of Earth and Life (both GE-P) |
4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| GLY 3202C Earth Materials |
3 |
| Geography elective from list |
3-4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
9 |
| Total |
15-16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| Geography elective from list |
3-4 |
| Geology elective from list |
3-4 |
| Electives * |
9 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Total |
18 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 4930 Senior Seminar |
1 |
| Geography elective from list |
3-4 |
| Geology elective from list |
3-4 |
| Electives * |
9 |
| Total |
16 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on whether students select minimum or maximum credit course options.
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Bachelor of Science
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Required Courses
- CHM 1025 or 1030
- GEO 2200 and 2200L
- GEO 3162C
- GEO 4930
- Two courses from GEO 4167C, GIS 3043, GIS 4001C, GIS 4021C, GIS 4037
- GLY 2010C
- MET 1010
- PHY 2004 and 2004L
- PHY 2005 and 2005L
- SWS 3022 and 3022L
- One course from GEO 2410, 2420 or 2500.
- Three courses from GEO 3250, 3280, 3315, 3372, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4970 and 4938; GIS 3043, 4021C and 4037; MET 3503 and 4532.
- One course from GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.
Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2
Semester 3
- Complete 1 geography course
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional geography course (1 of the 2 must be GEO 2200) or complete STA 2023 or equivalent with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5
- Complete all critical tracking courses (2 geography courses, 1 of which must be GEO 2200, and STA 2023 or equivalent) with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Recommended Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing and math requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography (3) and Physical Geography
Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| MET 1010 Introduction to Weather and Climate (GE-P) |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
5 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
CHM 1025 Introduction to Chemistry (2) or
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications 1 (3) (GE-P) |
2-3 |
GEO 2410 Social Geography or
GEO 2420 Introduction to Human Geography (GE-S, D) or
GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies (GE-S) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Foreign language |
5 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 (3) and Applied Physics 1 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
13 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 3000/4000 level (Systematic) |
3 |
| PHY 2005 and 2005L Applied Physics 2 (3) and Applied Physics 2 Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P) |
4 |
| GEA 2000/4000 level (Regional) |
3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 3000/5000 level (Systematic) |
3-4 |
GIS 4001C Maps and Graphs (4) or
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems |
4 |
| GLY 2010C Physical Geology (GE-P) |
4 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
17-18 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| GEO 4930 Senior Seminar |
1 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) (GE-P) |
4 |
| GEO 3000/4000 level (Systematic) |
3 |
| Elective * |
1 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| GEO/GIS 3000 level or above (Systematic) |
3-4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S, if needed) |
3 |
| Total |
15-16 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on whether students select minimum or maximum credit course options.
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