OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23
[Archived Catalog]
Geography - Environmental Geography Major (B.S.) |
Major code BS4232
College of Arts and Sciences
Geography Department
Clippinger Laboratories 122
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1140
www.ohio.edu/cas/geography
Edna Wangui, Chair
wangui@ohio.edu
Brad Jokisch, contact person
jokisch@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Geographers are interested in the spatial patterns observed on earth. Bridging the natural and social sciences, Geography is the interdisciplinary study of environments and how people interact with the environment. It is important to study geography because many of the world’s problems require understanding the interdependence between human activities and the environment. Geography is therefore a beneficial major for students because its theories and methods provide them with analytical skills relevant to occupations focused on solving social and environmental problems. The Department of Geography offers eight majors that help students tailor their focus of study.
The Environmental Geography major is ideal for students interested in environmental studies or environmental science, providing concentrated study of the Earth’s physical systems and human interactions with the environment. Students completing this interdisciplinary program will develop competencies in a broad array of subjects spanning the natural and social sciences, as well as complementary analytical techniques.
Our department is committed to excellence in both teaching and advising. Several of our faculty members have received teaching awards, and we are known across campus for the quality of our advising. As a geography major, you will meet one-on-one with your faculty advisor every semester during advising week, and you are always welcome to talk with your advisor at any time throughout the semester whenever questions may arise. In addition to advising our students about their academic programs, we provide timely information about internships, nationally competitive awards, and other opportunities as they arise. Many of our students complete internships and several of our students over the last few years have received nationally competitive awards.
For more information about our program, please view this video , visit our website , or reach out to the program contact person, whose information is listed above.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
No selective or limited admission requirements.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
A degree in Environmental Geography prepares students for careers in a variety of settings, including environmental and sustainability planning, resource management, natural areas preservation, and outdoor and environmental education, as well as in environmental assessment, monitoring, and restoration. In addition, graduates can seek careers in private and public firms and agencies that employ geographic information systems; education (public and private K-12 schools and higher education); local, state, or federal governments; city and regional planning agencies; non-profit organizations; etc.
Browse through dozens of internship opportunities and full-time job postings for Ohio University students and alumni on Handshake , OHIO’s key resource for researching jobs, employers, workshops, and professional development events.
Requirements
Universitywide Graduation Requirements
To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements .
Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement
View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .
Environmental Geography Major
The major requirement for the B.S. degree in Geography-Environmental Geography is a minimum of 45 hours of geography. Take some of the supporting courses to satisfy the University General Education requirement and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
Geography Foundations
Complete the following geography foundation courses with at least the minimum grade indicated for each course. Ideally GEOG 2680 and 2710 should be taken before your junior year.
- GEOG 1100 - Physical Geography Credit Hours: 4
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(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 1200 - Human Geography Credit Hours: 3
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(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4
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(C or better grade required)
- GEOG 2710 - Introduction to Statistics in Geography Credit Hours: 3
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(C- or better grade required)
- GEOG 4799 - Foundations for Capstone Research in Geography Credit Hours: 1
- GEOG 4800 - Capstone Experience in Geography Credit Hours: 3
Geography Regional Course
Complete one regional course from the following:
- GEOG 3300 - Geography of Europe Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3310 - Geography of Africa Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3330 - Appalachia: Land and People Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3340 - Historical Geography of the United States Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3350 - Geography of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3380 - Geography of Asia Credit Hours: 3
Geography Technique/Method Courses
Complete two courses from the following:
- GEOG 3600 - Cartography I Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3610 - Cartography II Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3650 - Air Photo Interpretation Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4670 - Advanced Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4710 - Quantitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4712 - Field Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4730 - Principles of GIS Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4740 - GIS Design and Application Development Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4750 - GIS and Landscape Analysis Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 4760 - Advanced Spatial Analysis and GIS Applications Credit Hours: 4
Core Courses
Complete the following two required courses:
- GEOG 2400 - Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3430 - Global Issues in Environment Credit Hours: 3
Core Electives
Complete four of the following courses:
- GEOG 3010 - Meteorology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3020 - Climatology Credit Hours: 4
- GEOG 3150 - Landforms and Landscapes Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3160 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3210 - Population Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3250 - Political Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3290 - World Economic Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3410 - Geography of Hunger and Food Security Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3440 - Agricultural Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3450 - Access to Water in a Changing World Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3460 - Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3500 - Land Use Planning Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 3580 - Environmental Hazards Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4110 - Advanced Physical Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4130 - Arid Lands Physical Geography Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4170 - Landscape Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4450 - Gender, Environment, and Development Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4470 - Natural Resource Conservation Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4520 - Environmental and Sustainability Planning Credit Hours: 3
- GEOG 4560 - The Just and Sustainable City Credit Hours: 3
Chemistry Option 1:
- CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
- CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
Chemistry Option 2:
- CHEM 1510 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I Credit Hours: 4
- CHEM 1520 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II Credit Hours: 4
Natural Sciences
Complete a minumum of 6 hours either in Biological Sciences (BIOS) Environmental and Plant Biology (PBIO) or in Geological Sciences (GEOL). Not from BIOS 1100, 1110X
Social Sciences
Complete one course from the following:
- ANTH 3780 - Human Ecology Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3130 - Economics of the Environment Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3140 - Natural Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 3060 - American Environmental History Credit Hours: 3
- HIST 3330 - Oil, the Persian Gulf, and World Power Credit Hours: 3
- POLS 4250 - Environmental and Climate Change Politics and Policy Credit Hours: 3
- POLS 4260 - Politics of the Contemporary Environmental Movement Credit Hours: 3
- POLS 4880 - Environmental and Public Policy Dispute Resolution Credit Hours: 3