Geography (GEOG) Major

Requirements for Geography Major

 Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences

System General Education Requirements*: 30

• Goal #1 Written Communication:
  ENGL 101
   , and
  ENGL 201
    Credits: 6
• Goal #2 Oral Communication:
  SPCM 101*
    Credits: 3
• Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity  Credits: 6
• Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity  Credits: 6
• Goal #5 Mathematics  Credits: 3
• Goal #6 Natural Sciences  Credits: 6

Institutional Graduation Requirements** Credits: 8-9

• Goal #1 Land and Natural Resources
    Credits: 3
• Goal #2 Personal Wellness
    Credits: 2-3
• Goal #3 Social Responsibility/Cultural and Aesthetic Awareness
    Credits: 3

College Requirements: 11

See the College of Arts and Sciences  for additional information.

• Humanities Credits: 3
• Natural Sciences Credits: 8

Major Requirements: 20

• GEOG 131-131L - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate and Lab Credits: 4
• GEOG 132-132L - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes and Lab Credits: 4
• GEOG 200 - Introduction to Human Geography * ** (G) Credits: 3
• GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography * ** (COM) (G) Credits: 3
• GEOG 382 - Geographic Research Methods (AW) Credits: 3
• GEOG 487 - Geographic Information Systems I Credits: 3

Electives: 58-59

• Geography Electives Credits: 15

Total Required Credits: 128

Note:

Students must earn at least a “C” in each course used to meet the departmental requirements of all majors, minors, and certificates.

Curriculum Notes:

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has an 8-9 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.

Environmental Planning and Management Emphasis

It is strongly suggested that environmental geographers choose a minor from the list of recommended minors available in the Geography Department. The upper division credits within the department should be selected from the following:

• GEOG 310-310L - Soil Geography and Land Use Interpretation and Lab ** (G) Credits: 3
• GEOG 337 - Atmospheric Sciences Credits: 3
• GEOG 339 - Geomorphology Credits: 3
• GEOG 343 - Environmental Disasters and Human Hazards Credits: 3
• GEOG 351 - Economic Geography Credits: 3
• GEOG 365 - Land Use Planning Credits: 3
• GEOG 383-383L - Cartography and Lab Credits: 3
• GEOG 425 - Population Geography Credits: 3
• GEOG 484-484L - Remote Sensing and Lab Credits: 3
• GEOG 488-588 - Geographic Information Systems II Credits: 3
• GEOG 489-589 - Geographic Information Systems III Credits: 3

Greater Emphasis

For those students wishing to pursue a greater emphasis in planning, the upper division hours should be selected from the following courses:

• GEOG 365 - Land Use Planning Credits: 3
• GEOG 461 - Urban Geography Credits: 3
• GEOG 464 - Local and Regional Planning Credits: 3
• GEOG 483-483L - Air Photo Interpretation and Lab Credits: 3
• GEOG 484-484L - Remote Sensing and Lab Credits: 3
• GEOG 488-588 - Geographic Information Systems II Credits: 3
• GEOG 489-589 - Geographic Information Systems III Credits: 3