Geography
College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Geosciences
907-474-7565
www.uaf.edu/cnsm/
Minimum Requirements for Degrees: 120 credits
Geography is a broad, holistic study of the interactions among various natural/environmental, political, cultural and economic systems, and how those interactions create the world we see today at both local and global scales. Geography takes a synthesizing and inherently interdisciplinary approach to develop an integrated understanding of climate change, resource development, energy use and conservation, geopolitics, sustainable development, assessment of natural and human-caused environmental hazards, land-use change, regional conflicts, and economic and political developments all over the world. Geography also provides the framework for the integration of existing and emerging technologies such as GIS, remote sensing and geo-visualization into a broad range of academic and professional fields.
The geography B.A. and B.S. degrees are built upon a group of required courses that gives students a firm grounding in the fundamental components of the discipline, including global geographic perspectives, geography of the earth's natural systems, geography of human systems, geospatial sciences (GIS, remote sensing, geo-visualization), and the synthesis of these core perspectives through an integrating capstone experience.
Our students find work in such fields as mapping technology (GIS/cartography), regional planning, international relations, state and federal resource management, transportation planning, environmental impact assessment, tourism, and teaching. Many of our students go on to graduate study in geography, natural resources, environmental science or planning.
The geography B.A. degree gives students a broad understanding of the interactions among the physical environments, economics, political events, and cultures of various regions of the world, and equips students with the ability to interpret contemporary geopolitical and environmental issues. The B.A. prepares students for careers in management, policy, teaching, field-based research, regional planning, and a variety of private sector careers. The B.A. also provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in a wide range of academic disciplines.
B.A. students are encouraged to coordinate minors, electives and internships to develop further expertise within a chosen region or topic, to take advantage of the considerable topical and regional expertise found throughout the UAF community, and also to underscore the important role other disciplines play within the field of geography.
Three specialized concentrations are available to students pursuing the B.S. degree: environmental studies; landscape analysis and climate change studies; and geospatial sciences.
The environmental studies concentration provides the foundation for understanding interactions between natural and human systems, analysis of environmental issues from an interdisciplinary geographic perspective, a diverse technical and scientific approach to environmental issues, and the ability to design balanced solutions to environmental problems.
The landscape analysis and climate change studies concentration integrates and synthesizes courses in geography, climate, geologic and biological sciences, as well as geospatial sciences. Students gain a sound and interdisciplinary understanding of how environmental change influences landscape patterns and human activity and welfare on both spatial and temporal scales. Senior capstone and internship courses offer integrating capstone experiences, enabling students to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.
The geospatial sciences concentration emphasizes skills and practices in geographic information systems, remote sensing, geovisualization and analysis of spatial patterns. Courses in GIS, remote sensing, GPS, map design, spatial statistics and computer programming are integrated with the geography foundation curriculum and courses in the natural sciences.
- Complete the general university requirements.
- Complete the B.A. degree requirements.
- As part of the baccalaureate core requirements, complete NRM F303X.*
- Complete the following:*
GEOG F101--Expedition Earth: Introduction to Geography--3 credits
GEOG F111X--Earth and Environment: Elements of Physical Geography--4 credits
GEOG F312--People, Places, and Environment: Principles of Human Geography--3 credits
GEOG F490W,O--Geography Seminar--3 credits
NRM F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits - Complete the following program (major) requirements. Students will tailor their program through course selection from the categories below in consultation with their advisor to focus on a subspecialty in the circumpolar North and/or the Pacific Rim.*
- Regional geography: Complete two of the following:
GEOG F302--Geography of Alaska--3 credits
GEOG F303--Geography of United States and Canada--3 credits
GEOG F305W--Geography of Europe--3 credits
GEOG F306--Geography of Russia--3 credits
GEOG F311W--Geography of Asia--3 credits
GEOG F410--Geography of the Pacific Rim--3 credits
GEOG F427--Polar Geography--3 credits - Physical geography: Complete one of the following:
GEOG F307--Weather and Climate--3 credits
GEOG F339--Maps and Landscape Analysis--4 credits
GEOG F412--Geography of Climate and Environmental Change--3 credits
GEOG F418--Biogeography--3 credits - Human geography: Complete one of the following:
GEOG F405--Political Geography--3 credits
GEOG F420--Geopolitics of Energy--3 credits
NRM F403W/O--Environmental Decision Making--3 credits - Techniques: Complete one of the following:
GEOG F309--Digital Cartography and Geo-Visualization--4 credits
GEOG F430--Google Earth and Neogeography--3 credits
GEOG F483W--Research Design, Writing, and Presentation Methods--3 credits
GEOS F422--Geoscience Applications of Remote Sensing--3 credits
GEOS F458--Geoscience Applications of GPS and GIS--3 credits
NRM F366--Survey Research in Natural Resource Management--3 credits
NRM F435--GIS Analysis--4 credits - Geography electives: Complete two courses from any of the above categories, or other courses appropriate to the student's chosen program of study. Both courses must be at F300 level or higher and approved by the student's advisor.
- Regional geography: Complete two of the following:
- Minimum credits required--120 credits
* Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.
Note: Geography majors are encouraged to reinforce their program focus with a minor in one of the following areas: Alaska Native Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Economics, Environmental Politics, Foreign Languages, Geology, Geophysics, Global Studies, History, Journalism, Natural Resource Management, Northern Studies, Political Science, Rural Development, Russian Studies.
Note: Students and faculty advisors should carefully review prerequisites for courses outlined in each required and/or optional area. In some instances courses, either in geography or other fields, require successful completion of 1-3 prerequisite courses. Therefore, students and faculty should note minimum degree credit hours are 120, but the actual number of required course credits may exceed that number.
- Complete the general university requirements.
- Complete the B.S. degree requirements. As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete MATH F232X or MATH F251X.*
- As part of the baccalaureate core requirements, complete NRM F303X; STAT F200X.*
- Complete the following:*
GEOG F101--Expedition Earth: Introduction to Geography--3 credits
GEOG F111X--Earth and Environment: Elements of Physical Geography--4 credits
GEOG F312--People, Places and Environment: Principles of Human Geography--3 credits
GEOG F490W/O--Geography Seminar--3 credits
NRM F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits - Complete one of the following concentrations:*
Environmental Studies- As part of the baccalaureate core requirements, complete CHEM F105X.*
- As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete BIOL F115X; BIOL F116X;
- Complete the following:
GEOG F207--Research Methods and Statistics in Geography--3 credits
GEOG F307--Weather and Climate--3 credits
GEOG F339--Maps and Landscape Analysis--4 credits
GEOG F483W--Research Design, Writing and Presentation Methods--3 credits - Complete two courses from the following environmental studies electives:
GEOG F412--Geography of Climate and Environmental Change--3 credits
GEOG F488--Geographic Assessment and Prediction of Natural Hazards--3 credits
NRM F403W/O--Environmental Decision Making--3 credits
NRM F407--Environmental Law--3 credits - Complete three courses from the following environmental system electives:
ANTH F428--Ecological Anthropology and Regional Sustainability--3 credits
BIOL F371--Principles of Ecology--4 credits
BIOL/NRM F277--Introduction to Conservation Biology--3 credits
GEOG F418--Biogeography--3 credits
GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits
NRM F375--Natural Resource Ecology--3 credits
NRM F380W--Soils and the Environment--3 credits - Complete one of the following environmental management electives:
NRM F365--Principles of Outdoor Recreation Management--3 credits
NRM F370--Introduction to Watershed Management--3 credits
NRM F430--Resource Management Planning--3 credits
NRM F464--Wilderness Management--3 credits
NRM F480--Soil Management for Quality and Conservation--3 credits - Complete one of the following techniques electives:
GEOG F309--Digital Cartography and Geo-Visualization--4 credits
GEOS F422--Geoscience Applications of Remote Sensing--3 credits
GEOS F458--Geoscience Applications of GPS and GIS--3 credits
NRM F366--Survey Research in Natural Resource Management--3 credits
GEOG F435--GIS Analysis--4 credits
- As part of the baccalaureate core requirements, complete CHEM F105X*.
- As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete BIOL F115X; BIOL F116X.
- Complete the following processes requirements (geomorphology, climate, ecology, systems):
BIOL F371--Principles of Ecology--4 credits
GEOG F307--Weather and Climate --3 credits
GEOG F412--Geography of Climate and Environmental Change--3 credits
GEOG F418--Biogeography--3 credits
GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits - Complete one of the following processes electives:
NRM F370--Watershed Management--3 credits
NRM F380W--Soils and the Environment--3 credits
or a processes-oriented content course approved by a geography faculty advisor. - Complete the following patterns requirements (field methods, GIS/remote sensing tools):
GEOG F309--Digital Cartography and Geo-Visualization--4 credits
GEOG F339--Maps and Landscape Analysis--4 credits
NRM F435--GIS Analysis (4)
or GEOS F458--Geoscience Application GPS and GIS (3)--3-4 credits - Complete at least one of the following patterns electives:
GE F471--Remote Sensing for Engineering--3 credits
GEOS F422--Geoscience Applications of Remote Sensing--3 credits
NRM F641--Remote Sensing Applications in Natural Resources--4 credits - Complete the following capstone requirement (program synthesis):
GEOG F483W--Research Design, Writing, and Presentation Methods--3 credits
- Complete the following:
CS F103--Introduction to Computer Programming--3 credits
GEOG F300--Internship in Geography (in GIS)--3 credits
GEOG F339--Maps and Landscape Analysis--3-4 credits
NRM F435--GIS Analysis--4 credits - Complete at least two remote sensing electives:
GE F471--Remote Sensing for Engineering--3 credits
GEOS F422--Geoscience Applications of Remote Sensing--3 credits
NRM F641--Remote Sensing Applications in Natural Resources--4 credits - Complete at least two GIS electives:
GE F376--GIS in Geological and Environmental Engineering--3 credits
GEOG F309--Digital Cartography and Geo-Visualization--4 credits
GEOS F458--Geoscience Applications of GPS and GIS--3 credits
NRM F638--GIS Programming**--3 credits - Complete at least two landscape electives:
BIOL F469O--Landscape Ecology and Wildlife Habitat--3 credits
GEOS F304--Geomorphology--3 credits
GEOS F408--Photogeology--2 credits
GEOS F430--Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology--3 credits
- Minimum credits required--120 credits
* Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Graduate level credit used to complete this undergraduate degree program may NOT be applied towards future graduate degree programs.
Note: Students and faculty advisors should carefully review prerequisites for courses outlined in each required and/or optional area. In some instances, courses, either in geography or other fields, require successful completion of from 1-3 prerequisite courses. Therefore, students and faculty should note minimum degree credit hours are 120, but the actual number of required course credits may exceed that number.
Geography
- Complete the following:
GEOG F101--Expedition Earth: Introduction to Geography--3 credits
GEOG F111X--Earth and Environment: Elements of Physical Geography--4 credits
GEOG electives--9 credits - Minimum credits required--16 credits
* Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.
Geographic Information Systems
- Complete the following:*
GEOG F111X--Earth and Environment: Elements of Physical Geography--4 credits
GEOG F309--Digital Cartography and Geo-Visualization--4 credits
GEOS F458--Geoscience Applications of GPS and GIS--3 credits
NRM F338--Introduction to Geographic Information Systems--3 credits - Complete one of the following:*
GEOG F300--Internship in Geography (in GIS) (3)
or any GIS-related course approved by advisor (3)--3 credits
GEOG F430--Google Earth and Neogeography--3 credits
NRM F369--GIS and Remote Sensing for Natural Resources--3 credits
NRM F435--GIS Analysis--4 credits - Minimum credits required--17 credits
* Students must earn a C grade or better in each course.