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Office of the University Registrar

2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Geography
College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
Hours for the Degree: 120
Minor: Yes
Combined-Degree Program: Yes
Website: www.geog.ufl.edu/undergrad/overview.html

A degree in geography provides skills in high demand in today's job market. Techniques such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography (map-making), air photo interpretation, data base handling, and computer-based cartography are used intensively in map production, regional planning and environmental assessment.

Geography majors learn about the Earth's physical environment, understand social, cultural and economic concepts from a spatial perspective, and can 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, foreign service and education.

Majors should take STA 2023 to fulfill part of the General Education math requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major. The same course cannot be used for credit in two different categories. Credit will not be given toward the degree for a graduate and undergraduate section of the same course.

In addition to satisfying college and university requirements, geography majors are required to follow one of the following courses of study:

Bachelor of Arts: GEO 2200, 2200L, 2410 (or 2420 or 2500), 3162C, GIS 4001C or GIS 3043, GIS 4021C (GEO 4167C, GIS 4037 or GIS 5127) and GIS 4930.

Four courses from: GEO 2201 or 2242 or 2426, 3250, 3280, 3315, 3352, 3372, 3424, 3427, 3430, 3502, 3602, 3611, 3803, 3930, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4554, 4612, 4620, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.

Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.

Bachelor of Science: GEO 2200, 2200L, 3162C, GIS 4001C or 3043, GIS 4021C
(GEO 4167C or GIS 4037), CHM 1030, GEO 4930, GLY 2010, MET 1010, PHY 2004, 2004L, 2005, 2005L, SWS 3022, 3022L.

One from: GEO 2410, 2420 or 2500.

Three from: GEO 3250, 3280, 3315, 3372, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.

Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.

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.

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5

Semester 2:

  • Maintain 2.0 UF GPA

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 2 geography courses and STA 2023 or equivalent with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Recommended semester plan

Semester 1Credits
GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography and Laboratory (GE-P)4
MET 1010 Introduction to Weather and Climate (GE-P)3
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Foreign language4-5
Total 14-15
Semester 2Credits
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications, Part 1 (GE-P)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
GLY 2010C Physical Geology (GE-P)4
Foreign language3-5
Total 13-15
Semester 3Credits
GEO/GIS 3000 level or above (Systematic)3
PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 and Laboratory (GE-P)4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M)3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 16
Semester 4Credits
GEO/GIS 3000-level (Systematic)3
PHY 2005 Applied Physics 2 (GE-P)3
PHY 2005L Applied Physics 2 Laboratory (GE-P)1
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Mathematics (GE-M)3
Total 16
Semester 5Credits
GEA 2000-4000 level (Regional)3
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P)4
Biological Science (GE-B)3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16
Semester 6Credits
GEO 3000-5000 level (Technique)3-4
GIS 4001C Maps and Graphs (4) or
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems
4
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)3
Elective3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 16-17
Semester 7Credits
GEO 4930 Senior Seminar1
SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) (GE-P) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
Elective *3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)6
Total 14
Semester 8Credits
Biological Science (GE-B)3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)6
Electives *3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S, if needed)3
Total 15

* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.

Bachelor of Arts

Recommended semester plan

Semester 1Credits
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 language4-5
Total 13-14
Semester 2Credits
GEO 2200 Physical Geography (3) (GE-P) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P)4
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M)3
Foreign language3-5
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 13-15
Semester 3Credits
GEO/GIS 3000 level (Systematic)3
GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P)4
Composition (GE-C, WR)3
Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option)3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16
Semester 4Credits
GEO/GIS 3000-/4000 level (Systematic)3
GIS 4001C Maps and Graphs or
GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems
4
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)3
Humanities (GE-H)3
Mathematics (GE-M)3
Total 16
Semester 5Credits
GEA 2000-4000 level (Regional)3
GEO/GIS 3000-5000 level (Technique)3-4
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 15-16
Semester 6Credits
GEO 3000-/4000 level (Systematic)3
Biological Science (GE-B)3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)6
Humanities (GE-H)3
Total 15
Semester 7Credits
GEO/GIS 4000 level (Systematic) *3
GEO 4930 Senior Seminar1
Electives9
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S)3
Total 16
Semester 8Credits
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)3
Electives*13
Total 16

* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.