Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Geography

The Bachelor of Science in Geography is a program that focuses on the spatial organization of human and physical landscapes, interactions between human society and the physical environment, and ways in which human actions modify the environment. Students analyze and understand these phenomena through the application of geographic methodologies and technologies used to study these phenomena.

Program Overview

The B.S. in Geography includes three distinct pathways: Urban, Environmental, and Geospatial, with an additional focus on statistical and methodological approaches to geographic inquiry. The program consists of a suite of four lower-division (12 units; no prerequisites) and five upper-division (16 units) core courses. These are followed by specializations in one of the three pathways Urban, Environmental, and Geospatial. Each pathway includes unique curriculum with specific content and methods requirements designed for the subfield.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Geography consist of 120 units total.

Lower Division Core (12-13 units)

• Human: GEOG 100 (3) or GEOG 120 (3)
• Environment/Physical: GEOG 101 (3), OR GEOG 130 (4) OR GEOG 140 (3)
• Statistics: GEOG 200 (3)
• Geospatial: GEOG 280 (3)

Upper Division Core (16 units)

• Human: GEOG 360 (3)
• Environment/Physical: GEOG 340 (3)
• Geospatial: GEOG 380 (3)
• Methods: GEOG 300 (3) (New Course Proposed)
• Methods, Capstone: GEOG 402 (4), OR GEOG 486 (4), OR GEOG 487A (4) OR GEOG 487B (4)

Specializations Pathways

The program offers three specializations pathways: Urban, Environmental, and Geospatial.

Urban (18-20 units)

• Take all of the following courses:
  • GEOG 446 (3)
  • GEOG 467 (3)
  • GEOG 469 (3)
  • GEOG 471 (3)
• Take two courses from the following:
  • GEOG 464 (3)
  • GEOG 465 (3)
  • GEOG 482 (4)
  • GEOG 487B (4)
  • GEOG 488 (4)
  • GEOG 492 (Subject Appropriate Internship) (3)

Environmental (20-22 units)

• Take the following courses:
  • GEOG 330 (3)
  • GEOG 473 (4)
  • GEOG 481 (4)
• Take two courses from the following:
  • GEOG 440 (3)
  • GEOG 442 (3)
  • GEOG 444 (3)
  • GEOG 447 (3)
  • GEOG 448 (3)
  • GEOG 455 (3)
  • GEOG 458 (3)
• Take one course from the following (if not previously completed)
  • GEOG 400 (4)
  • GEOG 440 (3)
  • GEOG 442 (3)
  • GEOG 444 (3)
  • GEOG 447 (3)
  • GEOG 448 (3)
  • GEOG 455 (3)
  • GEOG 458 (3)
  • GEOG 475 (4)
  • GEOG 485 (4)
  • GEOG 487A (4)
  • GEOG 492 (Subject Appropriate Internship) (3)

Geospatial (23-24 units)

• Take the following courses:
  • GEOG 400 (4)
  • GEOG 473 (4)
  • GEOG 485 (4)
• Take three courses from the following:
  • GEOG 475 (4)
  • GEOG 482 (4)
  • GEOG 484 (4)
  • GEOG 487A (4)
  • GEOG 487B (4)
  • GEOG 488 (4)
  • GEOG 492 (Subject Appropriate Internship) (3)

Effective Date and Academic Plan Code

The Bachelor of Science in Geography program is effective Fall 2024, with an Academic Plan Code of GEOGBS01U1. The program is classified under the Career of Undergraduate, with a CIP code of 30.4401, and a CSU Code of 22062. The Concentration Code is 01, and the program is offered by the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Geography, in a hybrid delivery format. The program is STEM eligible.