Undergraduate Catalog 2015-2016

Majors

Geography (GPY)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

8 Semester Plan

120 Credit Hours

CIP Code: 45.0701

College of Arts & Sciences

http://gep.usf.edu/ug/geo/

Major Description

This program offers a variety of courses in physical and human geography. Human geography courses focus on the social and spatial effects of the growth of cities, including issues such as the historical evolution of urban form and function, land-use changes and conflicts, economic restructuring, the growth and decline of inner cities, and urban racial and ethnic relations. Physical geography courses focus on major environmental systems including the hydrosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere and biosphere. Particular emphasis is placed on the human modification of the natural environment and the global interconnections of the major earth systems. 

College Level Requirements

You must click here to view the general college level requirements for this major.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites

Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at a Florida College System institution. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. If students transfer without an A.A. degree and have fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.

Two introductory courses in Geography with GEO prefix (6 credit hours) must be completed.

Total Major Hours: 38 Hours

Major Core

The degree program in Geography consists of at least 38 credit hours, 20 of which are associated with 7 core courses required of all majors. Students choose elective courses that should total at least 18 hours. Upper level electives offer applied and techniques orientations for students, depending on their interests, to complement the core course structure for the major.

Electives in physical geography focus on major environmental systems including the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. Particular emphasis is placed on the human modification of the natural environment and the global interconnections of the major earth systems.

Electives in human geography focus on the social and spatial effects of the growth of cities, including issues such as the historical evolution of urban form and function, land-use changes and conflicts, economic restructuring, the growth and decline of inner-cities, and urban racial and ethnic relations.

Courses Excluded as Electives for the major:

Only four (4) combined credit hours of the following courses may be applied toward the degree:

Major Core Courses - 20 Hours

Required core courses (7 courses + Physical Geography Lab):

Major Elective Courses - 18 Hours

With the help of their advisor, students must select from among the following list of courses to provide at least 18 credit hours of additional course work:

Research Opportunities

All undergraduate students in any degree program can participate in undergraduate research. There are a number of options to receive academic credit for a mentored research experience and to have the experience show on the official transcript. Students who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 2912 or IDS 4914 courses. These courses will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office for Undergraduate Research will assist students in understanding the various course options.

  More About this Major

  Research Opportunities

There are research opportunities associated with this major.

Hide

  Additional Requirements

There are additional requirements for this major such as grade, GPA, foreign language, and/or general education requirements.

Show Me More

  Additional Information

There is more information available for this major such as faculty, advising, and/or accreditation information.

Show Me More