Program Overview

Geography B.S.

The general Geography B.S. degree (without concentration) is very flexible. In addition to meeting the core requirements for all geography majors, students may choose electives in geography (minimum 9 elective credits) from the subfields of regional geography, geographic methods and techniques, or systematic geography (physical geography, human-environment interaction, or geography and society).

Bachelor of Science - Geography

W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

The Bachelor of Science in Geography requires 36 credits in GPHY courses.

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 Geography | 6
  • Degree Electives | 9
  • Capstone | 1
  • Advanced Writing | 3
  • Science Course | 3-4
  • Mathematics Requirement | 3-7
  • Total Hours | 41-46

Degree Specific Credits

• 41-46

Required Cumulative GPA

• 2.5

Introduction to Geography

• Complete all of the following courses:
  • GPHY 111N | Intro to Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, and Vegetation
  • GPHY 112N | Intro to Physical Geography Laboratory: Climate, Landforms, and Vegetation
  • GPHY 121S | Human Geography
  • Total Hours | 7
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Regional Geography Course

• Complete one of the following courses:
  • GPHY 141S | Geography of World Regions
  • GPHY 144 | Glacier National Park in Winter
  • GPHY 241 | Montana
  • GPHY 245 | 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

• Complete all of the following courses:
  • GPHY 284 | Intro to GIS and Cartography
  • GPHY 385 | Field Techniques
  • Total Hours | 6
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper-Division Geography

• Complete two upper division Geography courses one must be a Physical Geography Course or other course approved by Advisor.
• GPHY 385 and upper-division Regional courses are excluded.
• 6 total credits required.
• Complete one of the following courses:
  • ERTH 303N | Weather and Climate
  • GPHY 311N | Biogeography
  • GPHY 314 | Global Mountain Environments
  • GPHY 317 | Geomorphology
• Complete one additional 3-credit upper-division Geography Course (GPHY 385 and regional courses excluded)
• Total Hours | 6
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Degree Electives

• Complete 9 GPHY credits for a minimum of 32 GPHY credits for the degree.
• Total Hours | 9
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Capstone

• Seniors must enroll in GPHY 400 in fall, attend GPHY 500 in fall, and complete course requirements in spring.
• Complete the following course:
  • GPHY 400 | Geography Capstone
  • Total Hours | 1
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Advanced Writing

• These courses will also count toward the upper-division credit requirement.
• Other science-based writing courses (e.g., GEO 320, GEO 499, BIOO 470, BIOO 475) may be approved by the advisor.
• Complete one of the following courses:
  • GPHY 335 | Water and Sustainability
  • GPHY 433 | Community Resilience
  • GPHY 499 | Senior Thesis
  • Total Hours | 3
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Science Course

• Complete one of the following science courses.
• 3-4 total credits required.
• Science course must be approved by an advisor as appropriate to individual student's goals.
• Different science courses may be approved by the advisor.
• Complete one of the following courses:
  • BIOE 172N | Introductory Ecology
  • BIOO 105N | Introduction to Botany
  • CHMY 121N | Introduction to General Chemistry
  • CHMY 123 | Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
  • CHMY 141N | College Chemistry I
  • CHMY 143N | College Chemistry II
  • PHSX 205N | College Physics I
  • PHSX 207N | College Physics II
  • PHSX 215N | Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I
  • PHSX 217N | Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus II
  • Total Hours | 3-4
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics Requirement

• Must complete 1 of the following subcategories.
• 3-7 total credits required.
• Students may take M 115 and STAT 216, OR just one of M 162, M 171, or STAT 451.
• M 171 is recommended.

Math Fundamentals

• Complete all of the following courses:
  • M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics
  • STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics
  • Total Hours | 7
• Minimum Required Grade: C-

Advanced Math

• Complete one of the following courses:
  • M 162 | Applied Calculus
  • M 171 | Calculus I (recommended)
  • STAT 451 | Statistical Methods I
  • Total Hours | 3-4
• Minimum Required Grade: C-