Geography, B.A.

Program Description

The Department of Geography in Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences offers a strong mix of human, physical, and methodological components that comprise the core of the Geography major. Combining geography with other areas of study allows students to choose from a broad range of topics in order to suit their individual interests. Undergraduate degrees in geography are offered in the Bachelor of Science (BS) and in the Bachelor of Arts (BA). Both programs offer an integrated course of study in which students learn fundamental concepts in physical and human geography while developing methodological proficiency in qualitative analysis, spatial analysis, and/or geospatial technologies.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) major is a broader liberal-arts based program that incorporates foreign language study and courses outside the major in combination with core and elective geography courses. The BA Geography major is especially appropriate for students seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience and human-environment interactions, planning to combine their degree with concurrent majors and minors, or intending to pursue postgraduate work in geography or related disciplines.

In both the B.A. and B.S., students can customize and specialize their programs through the completion of undergraduate certificates. The Geography major can provide preparation for a career in business, industry, or government. Geographers with bachelor's degrees are currently being placed in federal, state, and local administrative and planning agencies and in private firms that specialize in planning and development or in environmental, socioeconomic, or location analysis.

What is Geography?

What do Amnesty International, Boeing, National Geographic, and Esri have in common? Penn State geographers are there, hard at work every day. Our students and alumni are behind the maps you use daily, as well as the policies that shape our cities and the analysis that sustains our environment. Geographers help shape the future design of cities and infrastructure. Geographers assess impacts of rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and tropical storms, as well as study impacts of wild fires or manage wetlands. Geographers analyze new markets and locations for businesses. Geographers use cutting-edge satellite data to defend human rights by detecting large-scale abuses. Geographers also work directly with local people on social justice issues such as health and migration. If you want to change the world, there is no better discipline for people who thrive on complex challenges and want to make a real impact on lives and our environment.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You want to understand and influence the economic, political, and environmental forces that shape our world.
• You want to make maps using cutting-edge technology to understand people and environments to make a difference in our world.
• You want to work at the intersection of science, technology, and policy in information technology, business, nonprofits, local, state, or federal governments, or education.
• You are passionate about issues of human and environmental justice.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

3 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GWS courses.

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Requirements for the Major

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
EMSC 100S	Earth and Mineral Sciences First-Year Seminar 1	3
GEOG 210	Geographic Perspectives on Environmental Systems Science	3
GEOG 220	Perspectives on Human Geography	3
GEOG 230	Geographic Perspectives on Environment, Society and Sustainability	3
GEOG 260	Geographic Information in a Changing World: Introduction to GIScience	3
GEOG 301	Thinking Geographically	3
GEOG 390	Professional Development Seminar in Geography	1
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Engaged Scholarship:
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
GEOG 493	Service Learning (1-3 credits)
GEOG 494	Research Project in Geography (1-3 credits)
GEOG 494H	Research Project in Geography (1-3 credits)
GEOG 495B	Geography Teaching Internship (1-3 credits)
GEOG 495G	Giscience Internship (1-3 credits)
GEOG 499	Foreign Studies (1-3 credits)
Qualitative or quantitative methods in geography:
Select 3 credits from the following:		3
GEOG 308	Research and Qualitative Inquiry in Geography
GEOG 364	Spatial Analysis 2
300-level geography:
Select 9 credits, not including courses taken above:		9
GEOG 308	Research and Qualitative Inquiry in Geography
GEOG 310	Introduction to Global Climatic Systems
GEOG 314	Biogeography and Global Ecology
GEOG 315	Landforms and Geomorphic Systems in the Anthropocene
GEOG 320	Urban Geography: A Global Perspective
GEOG 324	Place, Space and Culture
GEOG 326	Geographic Perspectives on Economic Systems
GEOG 328	War, Peace, and Diplomacy: Understanding Contemporary Geopolitics
GEOG 330N	Political Ecology
GEOG 333	Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards
GEOG 361	Cartography--Maps and Map Construction
GEOG 362	Image Analysis
GEOG 363	Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 364	Spatial Analysis
GEOG 365	Introduction to GIS Programming
400-level geography:
Select 12 credits, not including courses taken above:		12
GEOG 410
GEOG 411	Forest Geography
GEOG 411W	Forest Geography
GEOG 412
GEOG 414	Principles and Applications in Landscape Ecology
GEOG 420Y	Comparative Urbanism
GEOG 421	Population Geography
GEOG 422W	Globalization, Migration, and Displacement
GEOG 424	Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 424W	Geography of the Global Economy
GEOG 425	Geography of Race, Class, and Poverty in America
GEOG 426W	Gendered Worlds
GEOG 428W	Political Geography
GEOG 430	Human Use of Environment
GEOG 431	Geography of Water Resources
GEOG 432	Energy Policy
GEOG 433	Geographies of Justice
GEOG 434	Politics of the Environment
GEOG 436	Ecology, Economy, and Society
GEOG 438W	Human Dimensions of Global Warming
GEOG 439	Property and the Global Environment
GEOG 444	Resource Governance in Africa
GEOG 461W	Dynamic Cartographic Representation
GEOG 462	Advanced Observation of Earth and Its Environment
GEOG 463	Geospatial Information Management
GEOG 464	Advanced Spatial Analysis
GEOG 465	Advanced Geographic Information Systems Modeling
GEOG 467	Applied Cartographic Design
GEOG 481	Topographic Mapping with Lidar
GEOG 485	GIS Programming and Software Development
GEOG 493	Service Learning (1-3 credits)
GEOG 494	Research Project in Geography (1-3 credits)
GEOG 495	Internship (1-3 credits)
GEOG 495B	Geography Teaching Internship (1-3 credits)
GEOG 495G	Giscience Internship (1-3 credits)
GEOG 496	Independent Studies (1-3 credits)
GEOG 497	Special Topics
GEOG 498	Special Topics
GEOG 499	Foreign Studies (1-6 credits)

¹

The following substitutions are allowed for students attending campuses where the indicated course is not offered: CAS 100 or ENGL 202C can be substituted for EMSC 100S.

²

Note: GEOG 364 has a prerequisite of STAT 200.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

Foreign Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language. See the Placement Policy for Penn State Foreign Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)

Other Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the General Education US/IL requirement.​

Program Learning Objectives

• Majors in Geography will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental geographic skills and concepts and apply them to complex spatial relationships (interactions, patterns, processes) within the human socio-cultural and natural environments at global, regional, and local scales.
• Majors in Geography will engage in spatial and environmental critical thinking by analyzing, discussing and synthesizing geographical information that may include professional/technical documents, primary data, maps, graphics, and/or archival data.
• Majors in Geography will communicate geographic information utilizing oral, written, and visual formats to effectively process and integrate facts, ideas, and research results.
• Majors in Geography will develop research skills by locating, understanding, and explaining geographic challenges and opportunities related to human socio-cultural and/or environmental phenomena at global, regional, and local scales.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Jodi Vender
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator
305 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-5730
advising@geog.psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Geography, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

¹

Students who begin their studies at non-UP locations and/or join the college after their first year should substitute CAS 100 (GWS) or ENGL 202A (GWS) or ENGL 202B (GWS) or ENGL 202C (GWS) or ENGL 202D (GWS) for EMSC 100S (GWS). EMSC 100S Earth and Mineral Sciences First year Seminar (3) is a required course only for students who begin their studies at UP in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Advising Notes:

Students who place out of world language courses will have additional electives. For example, a student who has had 4 years of high school French and begins world language study at Penn State in Intermediate French (FR 3) will have 8 additional elective credits.

STAT 200 is a prerequisite for GEOG 364 and therefore only required for GEOBA students if the student elects to take GEOG 364 rather than GEOG 308. However, the Geography Department recommends that all students have a foundation in statistics.

To enter the major, students need a minimum 2.00 grade point average and third semester standing.

Courses required for the major may be offered fall semester only, spring semester only, or both fall and spring semesters. Consult with your adviser and department to discuss your academic progress and course sequencing.

Geography course notes:

• Students who have taken GEOG 10, GEOG 20, GEOG 30N/Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability and Human-Environment Systems (GEOG 30), GEOG 115, Urban Geography (GEOG 120), GEOG 124, GEOG 126, GEOG 128, or GEOG 160 should NOT take GEOG 210, GEOG 220, GEOG 230, GEOG 315, GEOG 320, GEOG 324, GEOG 326, GEOG 328, or GEOG 260 as the latter courses are functionally equivalent to the former and substitutions will be made as needed.
• The following courses are typically offered in Fall semesters only at UP: GEOG 210, GEOG 220, GEOG 310, GEOG 324, GEOG 328, GEOG 361, GEOG 362, GEOG 364, GEOG 365, GEOG 461W
• The following courses are typically offered in Spring semesters only at UP: GEOG 301, GEOG 314, GEOG 315, GEOG 363, GEOG 464, GEOG 467
• Some courses may alternate between Fall and Spring offerings depending on teaching resources, and some 400-level courses may be offered only once every other year. Consult with geography undergraduate adviser (advising@geog.psu.edu) for current offering schedule.
• Geography majors must select at least one writing-intensive course (WAC) in their 300/400-level courses. Some courses alternate between writing-intensive and non-writing-intensive offerings (e.g., GEOG 310/GEOG 310W; GEOG 411/GEOG 411W; GEOG 410/GEOG 412WAC, whose number will be changed to GEOG 410W). Other courses are offered only as writing-intensive, even if the suffix W/Y does not appear (e.g.GEOG 461W).

Geography majors are encouraged to complete at least one 12-credit undergraduate certificate in geography as part of their degree program. With careful planning, there is room in the curriculum to complete 2 certificates. Certificate topics include Human Geography; Physical Geography; Environment & Society Geography; Geographic Information Science; Geospatial Big Data Analytics; Justice, Ethics, Diversity in Space; and Landscape Ecology. Certificate courses double-count with major requirements, but students completing more than one certificate may only double-count a single course for each.

Geography, B.A. at Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

¹

Students who begin their studies at non-UP locations and/or join the college after their first year should substitute CAS 100 (GWS) or ENGL 202A (GWS) or ENGL 202B (GWS) or ENGL 202C (GWS) or ENGL 202D (GWS) for EMSC 100S (GWS). EMSC 100S Earth and Mineral Sciences First-Year Seminar is a required course only for students who begin their studies at UP in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

Advising Notes:

Commonwealth campus students are strongly advised to complete all GWS, GQ, and GHW credits before transitioning to UP, as these courses may be challenging to schedule at UP.

Students who place out of world language courses will have additional electives. For example, a student who has had 4 years of high school French and begins world language study at Penn State in Intermediate French (FR 3) will have 8 additional elective credits.

STAT 200 is a prerequisite for GEOG 364 and therefore only required for GEOBA students if the student elects to take GEOG 364 rather than GEOG 308. However, the Geography Department recommends that all students have a foundation in statistics.

To enter the major, students need a minimum 2.00 grade point average and third semester standing.

Courses required for the major may be offered fall semester only, spring semester only, or both fall and spring semesters. Consult with your adviser and department to discuss your academic progress and course sequencing.

Geography course notes:

• Students who have taken GEOG 10, GEOG 20, GEOG 30N/Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability and Human-Environment Systems (GEOG 30), GEOG 115, Urban Geography (GEOG 120), GEOG 124, GEOG 126, GEOG 128, or GEOG 160 should NOT take GEOG 210, GEOG 220, GEOG 230, GEOG 315, GEOG 320, GEOG 324, GEOG 326, GEOG 328, or GEOG 260 as the latter courses are functionally equivalent to the former and substitutions will be made as needed.
• The following courses are typically offered in Fall semesters only at UP: GEOG 210, GEOG 220, GEOG 310, GEOG 324, GEOG 328, GEOG 361, GEOG 362, GEOG 364, GEOG 365, GEOG 461W
• The following courses are typically offered in Spring semesters only at UP: GEOG 301, GEOG 314, GEOG 315, GEOG 363, GEOG 464, GEOG 467
• Some courses may alternate between Fall and Spring offerings depending on teaching resources, and some 400-level courses may be offered only once every other year. Consult with geography undergraduate adviser (advising@geog.psu.edu) for current offering schedule.
• Geography majors must select at least one writing-intensive course (WAC) in their 300/400-level courses. Some courses alternate between writing-intensive and non-writing-intensive offerings (e.g., GEOG 310/GEOG 310W; GEOG 411/GEOG 411W; GEOG 410/GEOG 412WAC, whose number will be changed to GEOG 410W). Other courses are offered only as writing-intensive, even if the suffix W/Y does not appear (e.g. GEOG 461W).

Geography majors are encouraged to complete at least one 12-credit undergraduate certificate in geography as part of their degree program. With careful planning, there is room in the curriculum to complete 2 certificates. Certificate topics include Human Geography; Physical Geography; Environment & Society Geography; Geographic Information Science; Geospatial Big Data Analytics; Justice, Ethics, Diversity in Space; and Landscape Ecology. Certificate courses double-count with major requirements, but students completing more than one certificate may only double-count a single course for each.

Career Paths

There are many potential careers for Geography majors. The Geography major teaches students a variety of useful skills for the marketplace. Employers value the wide-ranging computer, research, and analytical skills that geography students bring to work as employees. Geography undergraduates find jobs in all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, and industry. In preparation for the job market both majors and non-majors can enhance their educational experience by enrolling in one or more of our certificate programs. The geography department offers certificates in Environment and Society, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Big Data Analytics, Human Geography, Landscape Ecology, and Physical Geography.

Careers

Very few geography-related jobs have the title of "geographer," but students with geography degrees find employment with diverse organizations including (but not limited to): Amnesty International; BAE Systems; Boeing; Esri; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Heifer International; NASA; National Geographic; National Park Service; Teach for America; United Nations; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. State Department; local, regional, and state planning agencies; environmental and engineering consulting firms; policy research institutes; private corporations; and humanitarian organizations.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE GEOGRAPHY PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

A Geography undergraduate degree is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees in the computational, environmental, and social sciences. Alumni can enter graduate and professional studies in a variety of programs, including (but not limited to) geography, planning, international development, urban studies, sustainability, environmental sciences, ecology, geographic information sciences, information technology, environmental informatics, geodesign, business administration, supply chain management, emergency management, law, and education. They sometimes begin graduate or professional programs directly after finishing undergraduate studies, but often get several years' work experience before returning to school, either full or part-time.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• American Association of Geographers (AAG)
• American Geographic Society (AGS)
• National Geographic Society (NGS)
• International Geographic Union (IGU)
• Society of Woman Geographers (SWG)
• North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS)
• ASPRS: The Imaging & Geospatial Information Society 
• National Council for Geographic Education

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
302 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3433
geography@psu.edu

https://www.geog.psu.edu