Department of
Anthropology & Geography

Geography

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Geography studies Earth’s varied environments and the patterns and interrelationships resulting from human interaction with them. A major goal of the department is to provide students with meaningful knowledge of the world’s cultures in their different physical settings.

The Department strongly supports field and international educational experiences and encourages students to investigate opportunities for fieldwork and overseas study. Certain courses offered at CSU International Programs study centers abroad are equivalent to courses in the Department of Anthropology and Geography and may be used to fulfill requirements for degree options. Discuss the possibilities with a departmental adviser.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a concentration in Applied Geography

Liberal Studies degree concentration in Geography

Social Sciences degree concentration in Geography

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Requirements

1. Complete University General Education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree (51 units minimum).
2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major (6 units):
   1. GEOG 2010 Introduction to Physical Geography, 3 units
   2. Complete one of the following:
      GEOG 2020 Introduction to Cultural Geography, 3 units
      GEOG 2400 World Regional Geography I, 3 units
      GEOG 2410 World Regional Geography II, 3 units
3. Complete the major of not less than 36 upper-division units as approved by the major adviser. Four units of CR-graded coursework in courses graded exclusively CR/NC may apply toward the major
4. Completion of a minor is recommended but not required.

Note: Students are expected to take additional courses in supporting fields that relate to their career interests. See adviser for further information.

The Major (36 units minimum)

1. Complete 36 units of course work as follows:
   1. Topical Human Geography (10 units minimum):
      1. GEOG 3010 Cultural Geography or its equivalent, 3 units
         Note: If Cultural Geography is taken at the lower-division level, GEOG 3020 (Human Ecology) should be taken to fulfill 1. a.i.
      2. Complete two of the following courses:
         GEOG 3020 Human Ecology, 3 units
         GEOG 4070 Agricultural Geography, 4 units
         GEOG 4350 Urban Geography, 4 units
   2. Topical Physical Geography (6 units):
      Complete the following two courses:
      GEOG 3100 Climatology, 3 units
      GEOG 4120 Geomorphology, 3 units
   3. Regional Geography (6 units minimum):
      Complete two of the following courses:
      GEOG 3350 Geography of the Great Central Valley, 3 units
      GEOG 3510 Geography of North America, 3 units
      GEOG 3550 Geography of Europe, 3 units
      GEOG 3580 Cultural Ecology of Southeast Asian Peoples, 4 units
      GEOG 4250 The Ethnoecology of Southeast Asia, 4 units
      Note: With prior approval, certain other regional geography courses may be substituted for the courses listed above. See your adviser.
   4. Methodology (6 units minimum):
      Complete two of the following courses:
      GEOG 3700 Cartography, 3 units
      GEOG 4700 Geographical Processes in Arid Landscapes: Death Valley, 4 units
      GEOG 4710 Field Methods (WP), 3 units
      GEOG 4750 Geographic Information Systems, 3 units
      Note: In the event that GEOG 4700 or 4710 is not available, see your adviser regarding a senior thesis option.
   5. Upper-division Electives
      Select electives to complete a total of at least 36 units, including those upper-division units listed above.

Applied Geography Concentration
(36 units)

This concentration is designed to provide a core of geography courses which have a practical application in careers in computer mapping, city planning, public administration, or resource management.

1. Complete the prerequisites to the major (6 units)
2. Complete the following required methodology courses (12 units):
   GEOG 3700 Cartography, 3 units
   GEOG 3751 Introduction to Computer Applications in Geography, 3 units
   GEOG 4301 Permaculture Applications in Diverse Environments, 3 units
   GEOG 4710 Field Methods (WP), 3 units
3. Complete a minimum of 6 units from the following applied courses:
   GEOG 4700 Geographical Processes in Arid Landscapes: Death Valley, 4 units
   GEOG 4730 Computer Applications in Geography, 1-3 units
   GEOG 4750 Geographic Information Systems, 3 units
   GEOG 4930 Planning Issues, 1-2 units
4. Complete the following as per advisement (18 units):
   1. Six units of Physical Geography
   2. Three units of Regional Geography
   3. Six units of Human Geography
   4. Three units of upper-division Geography Electives

Minor in Geography

Requirements (18 units)
Complete 18 semester units approved by the minor adviser, including at least 15 units in upper-division courses. These upper-division units must include a minimum of one course from each of the following three categories:

1. Human Geography
2. Physical Geography
3. Regional Geography
   Note: See the department for further information.

Liberal Studies Concentration in Geography
Please refer to the Liberal Studies section of the catalog.

Teaching Credentials
Geography majors interested in a Single Subject Teaching Credential should review the Social Sciences Subject Matter Preparation Program in this catalog. Please refer to the Teacher Education section of the Graduate catalog for a description of other requirements to be completed for the Single Subject Credential.

Learning Objectives
Geography majors will:

• Demonstrate understanding of the interrelationships and interactions between society and the environment
• Demonstrate general awareness of the theories and philosophies underlying geographical inquiry.
• Demonstrate understanding of the natural and cultural processes that affect society and the environment in specific regions and locales.
• Acquire awareness of the diversity of peoples, places, and environments within a specific region or around the world.
• Acquire understanding of the causes of regional differences and of the policies developed to reduce these differences.
• Demonstrate knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies that may be applied to help our communities, monitor natural areas, plan sensible urban developments, and observe human trends.
• Acquire skills in geographic information science and understand the interpretive capacity of geospatial technologies, and their place in society.

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