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Geography, BA

The Geography, BA program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of geography, including its principles, methods, and applications. The program aims to equip students with exceptional abilities, both intellectual and technological, to analyze data about space, place, and people, and how they relate to each other.

Overview

Geography is a broad field that bridges the physical and human world, using both scientific and humanistic methods to explain, predict, and interpret people's impact on the planet and the planet's impact on people. The program covers a wide range of topics, including climate change, land use patterns, environmental justice, racial segregation, migration and refugees, natural hazards, and animal migration.

Requirements

To complete the Geography, BA program, students must complete 120 credits, including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level courses. Students must also complete the University General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.

University General Education Requirements

The University General Education Requirements include:

• Oral and Written Communication: ENGLISH 102, College Writing and Research (or equivalent)
• Quantitative Literacy: MATH 102, Mathematical Literacy for College Students II (or equivalent)
• Arts: Select 3 credits
• Humanities: Select 6 credits
• Social Sciences: Select 6 credits
• Natural Sciences: Select 6 credits (at least two courses, including one lab)
• UWM Foreign Language Requirement: Complete Foreign Language Requirement through two years of a single foreign language (high school) or two semesters of a single foreign language (college)
• UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement: One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement

College of Letters & Science Requirements

The College of Letters & Science requires that students complete:

• The International requirement: successfully complete some three-course combination of language other than English at the 3rd semester level or above, or non-language courses with L&S approved international content
• The Breadth requirement: 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth
• The Research requirement: build critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in the major
• The Language other than English requirement: fulfill the language other than English requirement by either successfully completing the fourth semester of university work or equivalent in one language other than English, or by successfully completing the second semester of university work or equivalent in two languages other than English

Geography Major Requirements

Students must meet with the department's undergraduate advisor to declare geography as a major. The major requires:

• At least 30 credits in geography, 18 of which must be at or above the 300 level, with at least 15 of those taken in residence at UWM
• A 2.0 GPA in all geography credits attempted at UWM, as well as in any transfer work counting toward the Geography major
• Completion of the core curriculum, including one course in human geography and one course in physical or environmental geography
• Completion of required courses, including GEOG 215, Introduction to Geographic Information Science; GEOG 247, Quantitative Analysis in Geography; and GEOG 600, Perspectives on Geography
• Completion of an upper-level experiential learning course
• Completion of 12 credits in geography electives at the 300-level or above

Cross-listed Course

The following course offered by the Department of Geosciences may be used to fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate major or minor in geography:

• GEO SCI 409, Process Geomorphology

Geography BA/BS Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Geography Bachelor's programs will be able to:

1. Identify and explain patterns and processes of human and physical geography
2. Demonstrate competency in comprehending, constructing, and processing spatial information
3. Evaluate and interpret contemporary problems contextually at local, regional, and global scales
4. Design and complete a guided research project in their area of concentration
5. Clearly and effectively communicate geographic knowledge and research
6. Understand and position themselves within the range of careers or professional work that employ geographic skills

Letters & Science Advising

Students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. College advisors advise across the entire degree program, while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.

Honors in the Major

Geography majors who have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in all courses taken for the major are awarded the distinction 'Honors in the Major' when they graduate.

High Honors in the Major

Geography majors who have met the minimum stated above and achieved a 3.75 or higher GPA in all courses taken for the major are awarded the distinction 'High Honors in the Major' when they graduate.

College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List

Students with a GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester, are included on the Dean's Honor List.

Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction

Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors.

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.