Geography and Geographic Information Science
Department Office: 255 Computing Applications Building, 605 East Springfield, Champaign, IL 61820, (217) 333-1880
Students in geography must complete both the core courses in geography and one of the four concentrations in consultation with the Department's Undergraduate Advisor. This major is administered by the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
E-mail: geograph@illinois.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equates to 42-57 hours including at least 40 hours of Geography courses.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction. All students majoring in geography who have maintained a University grade point average of 3.25 and who satisfactorily complete an independent project (GEOG 391) in their senior year will be eligible to graduate with distinction in geography. Students should consult their advisers about distinction requirements as soon as they enter the major (no later than the end of their junior year).
Students must complete the core requirements listed below and select one concentration in consultation with an academic advisor.
Geography and Geographic Information Science Core
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3-4 | Select one of the following two courses1: |
ATMS 100–Introduction to Meteorology (same as GEOG 100) |
|
GEOG 103–Earth’s Physical Systems |
|
| 6-7 | Select two of the following five courses: |
GEOG 101–Geog of Developing Countries |
|
GEOG 104–Social and Cultural Geography |
|
GEOG 105–The Digital Earth |
|
GEOG 106–Geographies of Globalization |
|
GEOG 110–Geography of Intl Conflicts |
|
| 4 | GEOG 379 - Introduction to GI |
| 13-15 | Required total core hours |
1. Students in the Physical Geography Concentration may choose to complete both GEOG 100 and 103 and one of the five courses: GEOG 101, 104, 105, 106 and 110.
For all concentrations: Students are strongly encouraged to elect GEOG 473. Students are encouraged to elect techniques courses as part of their programs: GEOG 280, 371373, 379, 390, 470, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479 or 480.
General Geography Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 25-27 | Geography and Geographic Information Science courses, selected from 200- to 400-level courses, of which 6 hours must be at the 300 or 400 level |
| 12 | Supporting courses selected with the approval of the Department's undergraduate adviser |
NOTE: Students must have at least 40 hours in the major, including core courses.
Geographic Information Science Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | SOC 280- Intro to Social Statistics (same as GEOG 280) |
| 4 | GEOG 371 - Spatial Analysis |
| 4 | GEOG 473- Map Compilation and Construct |
| 3 | GEOG 477- Introduction to Remote Sensing |
| 3 | GEOG 479- Advanced Geog Info Systems |
| 9-11 | Select a minimum of three courses from the following: |
| GEOG 205- Business Location Decisions | |
| GEOG 412 - Geospatial Tech & Society | |
| PATH 439- Health Applications of GIS (same as GEOG 439) | |
| GEOG 460- Anal & Interp Aerial Photo | |
GEOG 468- Biological Modeling |
|
| GEOG 469- Spatial Ecosystem Modeling | |
| GEOG 476- Applied GIS to Environ Studies | |
| GEOG 478- Techniques of Remote Sensing | |
| GEOG 480 – Principles of GIS | |
| GEOG 489–Programming for GIS | |
| 12 | Supporting courses selected with the approval of the Department's undergraduate advisor. The Department recommends that electives among offerings in computer science and math be chosen in consultation with the advisor. |
Human Geography Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 25-27 | 200-to 400-level Geography and Geographic Information Science courses (of which at least 6 hours must be at the 300 or 400 level) selected from the following: |
GEOG 204 - Cities of the World |
|
GEOG 205 - Business Location Decisions |
|
GEOG 210 - Contemp Social & Env Problems |
|
GEOG 224 - Geog Patterns of Illinois |
|
GEOG 310–Political Geography |
|
ESE320–Water Planet, Water Crisis (same as GEOG 370) |
|
| GEOG 371 - Spatial Analysis | |
GEOG 373 - Spring Field Course |
|
GEOG 381–Environmental Perspectives |
|
GEOG 384 - Population Geography |
|
GEOG 390 - Individual Study |
|
GEOG 391 - Honors Individual Study |
|
GEOG 394 - Special Topics Social Geog |
|
GEOG 410 - Geography of Dev and Underdev |
|
| GEOG 412 - Geospatial Tech & Society | |
ATMS 421–Earth Systems Modeling (same as GEOG 421) |
|
LA 427–Amer Vernacular Cultural Land (same as GEOG 427) |
|
GEOG 438–Geography of Health Care |
|
PATH 439–Health Applications of GIS (same as GEOG 439) |
|
UP 446–Sustainable Planning Seminar (same as GEOG 446) |
|
GEOG 455 - Geog of Central & South Africa |
|
GEOG 465 - Transp and Sustainability |
|
GEOG 466-Environmental Policy |
|
GEOG 467 - Dynm Simul of Nat Res Problems |
|
GEOG 468 - Biological Modeling |
|
GEOG 469–Spatial Ecosystem Modeling |
|
GEOG 471 - Recent Trends in Geog Thought |
|
GEOG 473 - Map Compilation and Construct |
|
GEOG 476–Applied GIS to Environ Studies |
|
GEOG 477 - Introduction to Remote Sensing |
|
GEOG 478 - Techniques of Remote Sensing |
|
GEOG 479 - Advanced Geog Info Systems |
|
GEOG 481-Intl Environ Cooperation |
|
GEOG 483 - Urban Geography |
|
| 12 | Supporting courses selected with approval of the Department's Undergraduate Advisor |
Physical Geography Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 25-27 | 200- to 400-level Geography and Geographic Information Science courses (of which at least 6 hours must be at the 300 or 400 level) selected from the following: |
GEOG 210 - Contemp Social & Env Problems |
|
GEOG 222–Big Rivers of the World |
|
ESE 320–Water Planet, Water Crisis (same as GEOG 370) |
|
| GEOG 371 - Spatial Analysis | |
GEOG 373 - Spring Field Course |
|
GEOG 381–Environmental Perspectives |
|
GEOG 390 - Individual Study |
|
GEOG 391 - Honors Individual Study |
|
NRES 401–Watershed Hydrology (same as GEOG 401) |
|
GEOG 406 - Fluvial Geomorphology |
|
GEOG 408–Watershed Analysis |
|
| GEOG 412 - Geospatial Tech & Society | |
ATMS 421–Earth Systems Modeling (same as GEOG 421) |
|
GEOG 460–Anal & Interp Aerial Photo |
|
GEOG 467 - Dynm Simul of Nat Res Problems |
|
GEOG 468 - Biological Modeling |
|
GEOG 469–Spatial Ecosystem Modeling |
|
GEOG 471 - Recent Trends in Geog Thought |
|
GEOG 473 - Map Compilation and Construct |
|
GEOG 476–Applied GIS to Environ Studies |
|
GEOG 477 - Introduction to Remote Sensing |
|
GEOG 478 - Techniques of Remote Sensing |
|
GEOG 479 - Princ Geog Information Systems |
|
GEOG 480 – Principles of GIS |
|
GEOG 481–Intl Environ Cooperation |
|
| 12-14 | All students taking this concentration must take the following courses: |
| MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I | |
| Select one of the following: | |
PHYS 101 - College Physics: Mech & Heat |
|
| or | |
PHYS 211 - Univ Physics: Mechanics |
|
Select one of the following: |
|
| CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I and | |
| CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I | |
| or | |
| CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II and | |
| CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II |
For All Concentrations
Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.
Minor in Geography
The minor in Geography is designed to complement any major. Students must select 7-8 hours from specified courses drawn from the department's core program, plus another six hours at the 200 to 400 levels from each of the department's designated human and physical geography clusters. At least 6 of the latter 12 hours must be at the 300 or 400-level. The minor is designed to expose students to a comprehensive selection of courses embracing the widely recognized subdivision of geography into human and physical sub-disciplines. The full listing of courses and requirements is available in the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science.