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Geography B.A.

The general geography B.A. degree (without concentration) is very flexible. In addition to meeting the core requirements for all geography majors, students may choose electives in geography (minimum 17, maximum 31 elective credits) from the fields of regional geography, geographic methods and techniques, or systematic geography (physical geography, human-environment interaction, or geography and society).

Bachelor of Arts - Geography

W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 36

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.5

Catalog Year: 2019-2020

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

Summary

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Introduction to Geography

7

Regional Geography Course

3

Geographic Methods

6

Upper-Division Systematic Geography

9

Physical Geography

Geography and Society

Human Environment Interaction

Capstone

1

Upper-Division Writing

3

Degree Electives

7

Mathematics Requirement

Teaching Geography Track

Total Hours

36


Introduction to Geography

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

GPHY 111N

Intro to Physical Geography

3

GPHY 112N

Intro to Phys Geography Lab

1

GPHY 121S

Human Geography

3

Total Hours

7

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Regional Geography Course

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

GPHY 141S

Geography of World Regions

GPHY 144

Glacier National Park in Winter

GPHY 241

Montana

GPHY 245X

The Middle East

GPHY 342

North America

GPHY 344

Crown of the Continent

GPHY 347

Regional Geography (Multiple Regions)

GPHY 348

Field Studies in Geography

GPHY 444

High Asia

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Geographic Methods

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete all of the following courses:

GPHY 284

Intro to GIS and Cartography

3

GPHY 385

Field Techniques

3

Total Hours

6

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Systematic Geography

Rule: Complete the following subcategories. 9 total credits required.

Physical Geography

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

ERTH 303N

Weather and Climate

GPHY 311N

Biogeography

GPHY 314

Global Mountain Environments

GPHY 317

Geomorphology

GPHY 438

Mountain Field Study

GPHY 525

Advanced Physical Geography

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Geography and Society

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

GPHY 323S

Economic Geography of Rural Areas

GPHY 421

Sustainable Cities

GPHY 434

Food and Famine

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Human Environment Interaction

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

GPHY 335

Water Policy

GPHY 338

Mountains and Society

GPHY 432

Human Role Environmental Change

GPHY 433

Community Resilience

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Capstone

Note: Seniors graduating in spring or summer must enroll in GPHY 400 in fall, attend GPHY 500 in fall, and complete course requirements in spring. Seniors graduating in fall must enroll in fall and complete course requirements in fall.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following course:

GPHY 400

Geography Capstone

1

Total Hours

1

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Upper-Division Writing

Note: GPHY 335 or GPHY 433 will also count toward the upper division core requirements GPHY 499 will also count toward upper division elective credits.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

GPHY 335

Water Policy

GPHY 433

Community Resilience

GPHY 499

Senior Thesis

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Degree Electives

Note: Students must fulfill the degree credit total of 36 credits plus the university requirement for 39 upper division credits.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete 7 credits of GPHY electives.

7

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Mathematics Requirement

Note: Students are encouraged to take M 115. Students who successfully complete M 122, M 171, or M 172 also meet the degree specific Mathematics requirement. This requirement does not count towards degree credits.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete one of the following courses:

3

M 115

Probability and Linear Mathematics

M 121

College Algebra

M 151

Precalculus

M 162

Applied Calculus

Total Hours

3

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Teaching Geography Track

Notes:

  • This teaching track contains different/additional course requirements designed to meet state standards. Those interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete the teaching track of a major in a teaching content area plus the Teacher Education Program through the Department of Teaching and Learning. Additional teaching areas can be added through completion of the teaching track of a major or minor in that content area.

  • To complete this teaching track, you need to contact the Teaching and Learning Department. You do not fill out a major/minor form for graduation or the major/minor/concentration section of the major change form. Approvals for this track must come from the Teaching and Learning Department.

  • Tracks will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publications. They are used for advising purposes only. You do not fill out a major change for a track.

  • This major does not qualify as a single field endorsement. Individuals must complete the teaching track in a second major or minor in another teaching content area.

Teaching Geography Track Required Courses

Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497 Methods: 5-12 Social Studies.

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Complete the following course.

4

EDU 497

Teaching and Assessing

Total Hours

4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Secondary Teaching Licensure

Note: For endorsement to teach geography, a student also must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet all the requirements for secondary teaching licensure. For more information, see the Teaching and Learning Department.