Program Overview

Geography Program Overview

The Geography program at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses various aspects of geography, including Geographic Information Science (GIS), cartography, remote sensing, drones, and computer programming.

Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program in Geography provides students with a solid foundation in geographical concepts, theories, and methods. The program requires students to complete at least 37 and no more than 45 credit hours in Geography with grades of C- or better, with 23 hours being upper division. No pass/fail grades are allowed in the major.

Undergraduate Curriculum

The undergraduate curriculum includes:

• Geography Major & Minor
• Environment-Society Track
• Geographic Information Science Track
• Human Geography Track
• Physical Geography Track
• General Geography Major

Undergraduate Certificates

The program offers several undergraduate certificates, including:

• Arctic Studies Certificate
• GIS Certificate
• Hydrology Certificate

Geographic Information Science (GIS) Track

The GIS Track focuses on the acquisition, manipulation, and representation of spatial data. Students in this track must complete the following coursework:

• GEOG 4103: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics
• Select three of the following electives:
  • GEOG 4003: Topics in Geographic Skills
  • GEOG 4043: Advanced Geovisualization and Web Mapping
  • GEOG 4093: Remote Sensing of the Environment
  • GEOG 4173: Research Seminar
  • GEOG 4203: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling
  • GEOG 4303: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Programming
  • GEOG 4403: Geographic Information Science: Space Time Analytics
  • GEOG 4503: Geographic Information Science: Project Management
  • GEOG 3930: Internship
  • GEOG 4990: Senior Thesis
• Take one upper-division elective from the Human Geography, Environment and Society Geography, or Physical Geography list.

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Geography offers Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. The program provides students with advanced training in geographical concepts, theories, and methods, as well as specialized knowledge in their chosen area of concentration.

Graduate Curriculum

The graduate curriculum includes:

• Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Applicants - Domestic
• Graduate Applicants - International
• Graduate FAQs
• Graduate Degrees: Master of Arts Degree (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD)

Resources

The program provides various resources for graduate students, including:

• Graduate Alumni Theses & Dissertations
• Funding: Fellowships, Scholarships, TAs, RAs
• University Libraries Research Assistance

Research Areas

The Geography program at the University of Colorado Boulder encompasses a wide range of research areas, including biophysical, human, and environment/society relations. The program is closely tied to the fundamental areas of geography, and students have the opportunity to engage in research projects that explore the societal, political, and ethical implications of geographic information in policy and decision-making.