Program Overview

Geography: Water, Environment and Society Emphasis

Overview

The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Geography with an emphasis in Water, Environment and Society explores the broad scope of water supply and demand, a critical planning issue in communities worldwide. Students examine key questions facing policymakers and train in methods decision-makers use to address these issues, including remote sensing, geographic information science (GIS), and field methods.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge of core principles of physical geography in climatology, biogeography, landscapes, and/or water resources
• Exhibit ability to develop research questions, critically understand data sources & bias, integrate scholarly literature, & conduct research using primary and/or secondary source material
• Demonstrate ability to create, refine, and interpret graphical data to compare/contrast spatial patterns & structures
• Recognize the key factors influencing global and regional climate in the past, present, and future
• Identify and utilize appropriate geography methods to provide a systematic framework for examining environmental and social problems and apprehend their roles, individual and collective
• Demonstrate ability to engage in independent high-order critical thinking and synthesize, process, & present geographic concepts, methodologies, & applications in oral, written, & visual forms

Program Details

Sample Courses

• GEOG 304: Water, Environment & Society
• GEOG 435: Plants Under Stress
• GEOG 469: Water Resource Assessment

Career Fields

• International aid
• Resource management
• Nature conservation
• Sustainability
• Journalism
• Academia

Level of Math

• Moderate Knowledge The M-strand is for students who require mathematical facility at the level of at least MATH 112 (College Algebra Concepts) or 108 (Modeling with Algebraic and Trigonometric Functions).

Level of Second Language

• 2nd Semester Proficiency Second-semester skill level in a second language is required.

Pre-major Required?

• No

This Major's College

• College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Degree

• Bachelor of Science

Sample Plans

4-Year Sample Plan

• First Year
  • 1st Semester
    • ENGL 101 First-Year Composition
    • Foundation Mathematics
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
    • Second Language
    • Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course)
  • 2nd Semester
    • ENGL 102 First-Year Composition
    • GEOG 222
    • Introduction to Human Geography
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
    • Second Language
• Second Year
  • 3rd Semester
    • GEOG 417 Geographic Info Systems
    • GEOG 220: Our Dynamic Biosphere
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
  • 4th Semester
    • Elective
    • GEOG 230: Our Changing Climate
    • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections
    • Minor
    • Major Methods
    • General Education Portfolio (Exit Course)
• Third Year
  • 5th Semester
    • GEOG 303 Field Studies
    • WES Coursework
    • Minor
    • General Education Portfolio (Exit Course)
    • Elective
  • 6th Semester
    • Major Methods
    • WES Coursework
    • Minor
    • Elective
    • Elective
• Fourth Year
  • 7th Semester
    • WES Coursework
    • Minor
    • Minor
    • Elective
    • Elective
  • 8th Semester
    • WES Coursework
    • Minor
    • Minor
    • Elective
    • Elective

Map Transfer Coursework

• Enter your coursework from Arizona universities or community colleges to see how they can map to this major.
• Connect with The University of Arizona Academic Advisors to validate how your coursework will transfer.

About the Transfer Mapping Categories

• Maps to One Requirement A transfer course with this designation matches a UAZ course that maps to one requirement for this major.
• Can Map in Multiple Ways A transfer course with this designation matches a UAZ course that maps to more than one requirement for this major.
• Ask an Advisor A transfer course with this designation matches a UAZ course that has not yet been mapped to a requirement for this major, or it means that the transfer course was input incorrectly.