نظرة عامة على البرنامج

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

The Geography Department was established in 1977, and it continually changes its curriculum to meet the ever-changing market demands. Its foci of research activities include, but are not exclusive to the geography of UAE and the Arab world, urbanization and transportation, population growth, globalization, global climate change, resource management, water resources, agricultural and manufacturing activities, the geography of crime and health services, spatial and analytical techniques necessary to understand them and using the new tools of geography, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems.

Program Objectives

• To provide students with the theoretical and practical foundation (knowledge) in physical and human geography, geospatial science (Cartography, GIS, Remote Sensing), and urban planning.
• To equip students with critical thinking and geospatial technical skills.
• To prepare students for conducting quantitative and qualitative researches and embedding ethics in social and environmental problems.
• To produce multidisciplinary graduates who can contribute to the development of UAE in particular and the world in general.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Discuss physical Geography and human aspects and the interaction between them.
• Demonstrate competence in using Geography and urban planning software tools.
• Evaluate human impact on the natural environment.
• Effectively communicate geographical ideas orally and in writing.
• Conduct research addressing local urban planning and global environmental issues.
• Demonstrate ethical reasoning in relation to Geography and Urban Planning issues.
• Develop organizational, team work and leadership skills.

Degree Requirements

Required Credit Hours: minimum 120 hours

General Education (Req. CH: 21)

• Theme 1: UAE National Identity (3 hours)
  • GEEM110: Contemporary Emirati Studies (3)
• Theme 2: Academic Language Proficiency (3 hours)
  • GEAE101: Academic English for Humanities and STEM (3)
• Theme 3: Innovation (3 hours)
  • GEIT113: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
• Theme 4: Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
  • GEIE222: Fundamentals of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (3)
• Theme 5: Sustainability (3 hours)
  • GESU121: Sustainability (3)

Students shall register 6 CH from the 6 following themes (a maximum of 3 CH from each theme, except theme 11, where all 6 CHs should be taken for a particular language)

• Theme 6: Quantitative Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3 hours)
  • PHI180: Critical Thinking (3)
  • MATH120: Contemporary Applications of Math (3)
  • STAT101: Statistics in the Modern World (3)
  • ECON110: Principles of Economics (3)
• Theme 7: Humanities (3 hours)
  • GEIS100: Islamic Culture (3)
  • GEIS101: Biography of the Prophet "Sira" (3)
  • HSR120: Introduction to Heritage & Culture (3)
  • HSR130: Introduction to Language & Communication (3)
  • MSC200: Introduction to Mass Media (3)
  • PHI101: Introduction to Philosophy (3)
  • TRS200: Introduction to Translation (3)
• Theme 8: Behavioral and Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • CURR103: Early Childhood Development & Learning (3)
  • GEBS280: Future Workforce Skills (3)
  • HSR140: Introduction to Society & Behavior (3)
  • HSR150: Introduction to Government Policy & Urban Structures (3)
  • PHI226: Human Rights Theory (3)
  • PHIL120: Principles of Professional Ethics (3)
  • PSYC100: Introduction to Psychology (3)
• Theme 9: Natural Sciences (3 hours)
  • ARAG205: Introduction to Fish and Animal Science (3)
  • ARAG220: Natural Resources (3)
  • CHEM181: Chemistry in the Modern World (3)
  • GEOL110: Planet Earth (3)
  • PHYS100: Astronomy (3)
  • PHYS101: Conceptual Physics (3)
• Theme 10: Health and Wellness (3 hours)
  • FDSC250: Contemporary Food Science & Nutrition (3)
  • GEHP111: Happiness and Wellbeing (3)
  • NUTR100: Nutrition and Well-being (3)
  • PHED201: Physical Fitness and Wellness (3)
  • PHED211: Health and Movement (3)
  • SLP101: Language Development and Impairment (3)
  • SPED101: Education of Exceptional Children (3)
• Theme 11: Cultural Diversity (6 hours)
  • CHIN101: Chinese 1 for Beginners (3)
  • FCH101: French 1 for Beginners (3)
  • GER101: German 1 for Beginners (3)
  • KOR101: Korean 1 for Beginners (3)
  • CHIN102: Chinese 2 for Beginners (3)
  • FCH102: French 2 for Beginners (3)
  • KOR102: Korean 2 for Beginners (3)
  • SPN102: Spanish 2 for Beginners (3)

College Requirements

• Required Courses (6 hours)
  • HSSR101: Fundamentals of Humanities and Social Sciences (3)
  • HSSR103: People, Places, and Society (3)

Geography Major (Req. CH:24)

• Required Courses (24 hours)
  • GEO200: World Regional Geography (3)
  • GEO201: Physical Geography (3)
  • GEO210: Human Geography (3)
  • GEO211: Remote Sensing (3)
  • GEO220: Principles of Cartography (3)
  • GEO221: Geographic Information Systems I (3)
  • GEO334: Spatial Analysis (3)
  • GEO336: Urban and Environmental Sustainability (3)

Concentration Requirements (Req. CH:57)

Students should take one of the following concentrations: (57 hours)

Concentration 1: Environmental Geography (Req. Ch: 57)

• Required Courses (27 hours)
  • GEO396: Environmental Systems (3)
  • GEO397: Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity (3)
  • GEO410: Research Seminar in Geography (3)
  • GEO422: Geographic Information Systems II (3)
  • GEO452: Climatology (3)
  • GEO470: GIS for Environment (3)
  • GEO495: Sustainable Development: Geographic Perspectives (3)
  • GEO496: Field Survey (3)
  • GEO497: Analysis of Geographic Data (3)
• Environmental Geography Internship
  • Required Course (6 hours)
    • GEO482: Environmental Geography Internship 1 (6)
• Environmental Geography Supporting Courses
  • Student Should take two courses from the list below: (6 hours)
    • BIOC100: Basic Biology I (3)
    • BIOC250: Basic Ecology (3)
    • GEBS220: Sustainability, Social Responsibility and Business Ethics (3)
    • ARAG304: Range and Pasture Management (3)
• Environmental Geography Elective Courses
  • Students Should take only 6 courses from the list below: (18 hours)
    • GEO231: Economic Geography (3)
    • GEO335: Programming for GIS (3)
    • GEO341: Geography of Population (3)
    • GEO395: Environmental Policies (3)
    • GEO402: Land Use (3)
    • GEO413: Geomorphology (3)
    • GEO432: Geography of the UAE (3)
    • GEO450: GIS for Coastal Management (3)
    • GEO460: GIS for Petroleum (3)
    • GEO462: Current Environmental Issues (3)

Concentration 2: Geoinformatics (Req. Ch:57)

• Required Courses (27 hours)
  • GEO330: Geodatabase Design (3)
  • GEO335: Programming for GIS (3)
  • GEO350: Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) (3)
  • GEO351: Computer Maps (3)
  • GEO410: Research Seminar in Geography (3)
  • GEO420: Cartography II (3)
  • GEO422: Geographic Information Systems II (3)
  • GEO451: Digital Imaging Analysis (3)
  • GEO480: GIS for Project Management (3)
• Geoinformatics Internship
  • Required Course (6 hours)
    • GEO483: GIS Internship 2 (6)
• Geoinformatics Supporting Courses
  • Student Should take two courses from the list below: (6 hours)
    • TOR101: Introduction to Tourism (3)
    • TOR263: Tourism Resources in the UAE (3)
    • TOR350: Tourism and the Environment (3)
    • HIS312: Historical Preservation (3)
• Geoinformatics Elective Courses
  • Students should take 6 courses from the list below: (18 hours)
    • GEO341: Geography of Population (3)
    • GEO430: GIS for Transportation (3)
    • GEO432: Geography of the UAE (3)
    • GEO440: GIS for Urban & Regional Planning (3)
    • GEO450: GIS for Coastal Management (3)
    • GEO460: GIS for Petroleum (3)
    • GEO462: Current Environmental Issues (3)
    • GEO470: GIS for Environment (3)
    • GEO490: SIS for Planetary Surfaces (3)
    • GEO497: Analysis of Geographic Data (3)

Concentration 3: Urban Planning (Req. Ch:57)

• Required Courses (27 hours)
  • GEO232: Urban Economics (3)
  • GEO307: Urban Geography (3)
  • GEO345: Urban Demography (3)
  • GEO372: Planning Theory and Practice (3)
  • GEO402: Land Use (3)
  • GEO418: Planning and Urban Design Lab (3)
  • GEO438: Regional and Urban Planning (3)
  • GEO440: GIS for Urban & Regional Planning (3)
  • GEO443: Geography of Transportation and Mobility (3)
• Urban Planning Internship
  • Required Course (6 hours)
    • GEO481: Urban Planning Internship 3 (6)
• Urban Planning Supporting Courses
  • Student Should take two courses from the list below: (6 hours)
    • TOR101: Introduction to Tourism (3)
    • HIS381: UAE Architectural Heritage (3)
    • SOC301: Sociology of Sustainable Development & Globalization (3)
    • SOC327: Survey Research and Questionnaire Design (3)
• Urban Planning Elective Courses
  • Students Should take only 6 courses from the list below: (18 hours)
    • GEO340: Introduction to Real Estate Development (3)
    • GEO341: Geography of Population (3)
    • GEO370: Transit Oriented Development (TOD) (3)
    • GEO430: GIS for Transportation (3)
    • GEO432: Geography of the UAE (3)
    • GEO450: GIS for Coastal Management (3)
    • GEO460: GIS for Petroleum (3)
    • GEO462: Current Environmental Issues (3)
    • GEO470: GIS for Environment (3)
    • GEO495: Sustainable Development: Geographic Perspectives (3)

Free Electives (Req. CH: 12)

• Free Electives (12 hours)