Geography Major: Humans and the Environment Emphasis - Bachelor of Science (BS)

(All colleges)

38 credits (42 total credits including STAT requirement)

Core
GEO 101Earth Environments4
GEO 110World Cultural Regions3
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments3
GEO 305Geographic Information Systems and Science I3
GEO 401Focus on Geography: A Capstone Course1
GEO 405Geographic Information System and Science II3
Humans and the environment
Select three courses from the following:9
Power, Space, and Global Change
Cities: Past, Present, and Future
Transportation Equity and Sustainable Communities
The Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean
Sustainable Development and Conservation
Islamic Asia: Cradle of Civilizations, Geographies of Conflict
Polar Environments
Sustainable Water Resource Management
Geospatial techniques
Select one course from the following:3
Geospatial Field Methods
Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems
Remote Sensing of the Environment I
Map Design and Geovisualization
Remote Sensing of the Environment II
Web Mapping
Scripting in GIS
Geographic Information System and Science III
Earth's environmental systems
Select one course from the following:3
Global Climate Change
Weather and Climate
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Meteorology
Biogeography
Past Environmental Change
River Systems
Environmental Hazards
Elective credits
Select two additional courses from the categories listed above and/or the following. One of the courses must be at the 300/400-level.6
Maps and Society
Contemporary Global Issues
Internship in Geography and Earth Science 1
Special Topics in Geography/Earth Science 2
Independent Study 3
Seminar in Geography/Earth Science 4
Undergraduate Research 5
Total Credits38
1

A maximum of three credits of GEO 450 may apply to the major.

2

A maximum of three credits of GEO 470 may apply to the major.

3

A maximum of three credits of GEO 490 may apply to the major.

4

A maximum of three credits of GEO 495 may apply to the major.

5

A maximum of three credits of GEO 499 may apply to the major.

Required general education course

STAT 145Elementary Statistics4

Exit survey requirement

During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required in order to graduate.  

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.  

College of Science and Health (CSH) Bachelor of Science core requirements

B.S. and B.A. students graduating from the College of Science and Health are required to take two natural laboratory science courses selected from the general education laboratory science category (GE 05) and/or from BIO 203, BIO 304, BIO 210, CHM 104, GEO 221, GEO 222, PHY 104 or PHY 204, and they either must take two mathematics courses or one math course and one computer science course from the math/logical systems category of the general education requirements (GE 02). One of the two science courses must be from a department outside of the student’s major department.

Note: Math courses can be pairs, i.e. 150 and 151; MTH/CS majors can use two science courses from same department.

For the Bachelor of Science degree, in addition to all other College of Science and Health core requirements, students from non-exempted programs1 must complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with students’ academic advisor.

  1. Complete a second major; or

  2. Complete a minor outside the major; or

  3. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits

    1. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department.

    2. The remaining six credits should come from

      1. 100 level or higher courses outside the major (General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.); or

      2. 300/400 level courses inside major not being used to fulfill major requirements.

    3. Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.

1

The list of exempted CSH programs is below.

 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with 15 or fewer credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 101 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science))4GEO 2003
GEO 110 (Gen Ed Global Studies))3CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3
ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3
Gen Ed World History3STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems)4
Gen Ed Arts2-3Gen Ed Health & Well Being3
 15 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 202 (Geography Elective)3Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3
GEO 3053Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems3-4
University Elective3Gen Ed Natural Lab Science (not GEO/ESC)4
Gen Ed Minority Cultures3University Elective4
Gen Ed Self & Society3 
 15 14
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 4053Humans and the Environment (see list)3
Geospatial Techniques (see list) 3CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor3
Humans and the Environment (see list) (Writing Emphasis)3CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor3
Gen Ed Arts2-3300/400 University Elective3
University Elective3University Elective3
 14 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GEO 4011300/400 Humans and the Environment (see list)3
300/400 Geography Elective (see list)3Earth's Environmental Systems (see list) (Writing Emphasis) 3-4
CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor3CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor3
300/400 University Elective3300/400 University Elective3
CSH Core or Minor13CSH Core or Minor13
University Elective3Exit Survey Requirement2 
 16 15
Total Credits: 120
1

See CSH BS Core Requirements for information on completing the individualized option. 300/400 requirements for graduation may be impacted.

2

During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required in order to graduate.