Geography Major: Geographic Information Science Concentration - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
(All colleges)
38 credits (42 total credits including STAT requirement)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GIS core | ||
| GEO 101 | Earth Environments | 4 |
| GEO 110 | World Cultural Regions | 3 |
| GEO 200 | Conservation of Global Environments | 3 |
| or GEO 202 | Contemporary Global Issues | |
| or GEO 211 | Global Climate Change | |
| GEO 305 | Geographic Information Systems and Science I | 3 |
| GEO 401 | Capstone Seminar in Geography and Environmental Science | 1 |
| GEO 405 | Geographic Information System and Science II | 3 |
| GEO 415 | Remote Sensing of the Environment I | 3 |
| GEO 418 | Map Design and Geovisualization | 3 |
| GEO 445 | Remote Sensing of the Environment II 1 | 3 |
| or GEO 455 | Web Mapping | |
| or GEO 465 | Geospatial Automation | |
| GEO 485 | Geographic Information System and Science III | 3 |
| Earth's environmental systems | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | ||
| Meteorology | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Past Environmental Change | ||
| River Systems | ||
| Environmental Hazards | ||
| Humans and the environment | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Power, Space, and Global Change | ||
| Cities: Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Transportation Equity and Sustainable Communities | ||
| The Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Energy, the Environment, and Sustainability | ||
| Sustainable Development and Conservation | ||
| Islamic Asia: Cradle of Civilizations, Geographies of Conflict | ||
| Polar Environments | ||
| Sustainable Water Resource Management | ||
| Additional electives | ||
| Select three credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Geospatial Field Methods | ||
| Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment II (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Internship in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 3 | ||
| Web Mapping (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Geospatial Automation (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Special Topics in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 4 | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Independent Study in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 5 | ||
| Seminar in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 6 | ||
| Research in Geography and Environmental Science 2,7 | ||
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Required general education course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 145 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
- 1
GEO 445, GEO 455, or GEO 465 may apply to additional electives category if not used in the core.
- 2
GEO 450, GEO 470, GEO 490, GEO 495, and GEO 499 must be GIS related.
- 3
A maximum of three credits of GEO 450 may apply to the major.
- 4
A maximum of three credits of GEO 470 may apply to the major.
- 5
A maximum of three credits of GEO 490 may apply to the major.
- 6
A maximum of three credits of GEO 495 may apply to the major.
- 7
A maximum of three credits of GEO 499 may apply to the major.
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 Arts 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 210, BIO 304, 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 Arts degree, students must complete a major from the college and proficiency in a world language at the 202 level or demonstrate English language proficiency for non-native speakers of English. Contact the CSH Dean's Office for eligibility and regulations.
Students must also complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with your advisor.
-
Complete a minor in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts; or
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Complete two certificates in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; or
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Complete an individualized option, consisting of 15 credits.
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These courses must be from the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities/School of Visual and Performing Arts.
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At least 9 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level.
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General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.
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Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.
-
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- 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.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- 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 less than 12 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 101 (Gen Ed Natural Lab Science) | 4 | GEO 200, 202, or 211 | 3 |
| GEO 110 (Gen Ed Global Studies) | 3 | CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 |
| ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 | FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | STAT 145 (Gen Ed Math/Logical Systems) | 4 |
| Gen Ed World History | 3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 305 | 3 | GEO 405 | 3 |
| Earth's Environmental Systems (see list) | 3-4 | Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 |
| Gen Ed Minority Cultures | 3 | 202-level Language (CSH BA Core) | 4 |
| Gen Ed Self & Society | 3 | Gen Ed Natural Lab Science (not GEO/ESC) | 4 |
| Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 | University Elective | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 415 (Writing Emphasis) | 3 | GEO 445, 455, or 465 | 3 |
| GEO 418 | 3 | GEO 485 | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math (CSH Core) | 3-4 | University 300/400 Elective | 3 |
| University Elective | 2 | University Elective | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 401 | 1 | Humans and the Environment (see list) (Writing Emphasis) | 3 |
| CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 | Geography Elective (see list) | 3 |
| CSH Core or CASSH Minor1 | 3 | CSH Core (300/400 CASSH elec) or CASSH Minor | 3 |
| University 300/400 Elective | 3 | CSH Core or CASSH Minor1 | 3 |
| University 300/400 Elective | 3 | University 300/400 Elective | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | Exit Survey Requirement2 | |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
See CSH BA 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.