General Geography Major

Geography in Action

General Geography Major

Are you interested in an exciting education that integrates the study of human activity and the natural environment? Do you want to change the world? If so, Geography may be for you!Ìý

There are many opportunities for field trips and other forms of hands-on learning including internships and participating in faculty research. Our curriculum spans perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities while providing rigorous training in important skills.

In addition to a standard degree in Geography, the department offers transcripted concentration tracks in environment-society geography, geographic information science, human geography, and physical geography.

The Department of Geography offers courses in:

  • human geography including political, cultural, development, feminist, population, and urban geography;
  • environment and society geography including political ecology, natural hazards, and conservation practice;
  • physical geography including climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeography;
  • geographic information science including spatial analysis using GIS, remote sensing, and cartography.

The Department also offers regionally focused courses on mountain geography and geographies of China, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia.Ìý To complement its curriculum, the Department also offers internship opportunities and encourages study abroad for geography majors.

Students must complete at least 37 and no more than 45 credit hours in Geography with grades of C- or better (23 hours must be upper division). No pass/fail grades are allowed in the major. Transfer students majoring in Geography must complete at least 12 hours of upper-division Geography courses at CU-Boulder. No course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement for the major.

Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours (all concentrations)

Ìý
Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation4
Our Changing Planet: Landscapes and Water4
Statistics and Geographic Data4
Ìý
Select one of the following human geography courses:3
Geographies of Global ChangeÌý
Sustainable Futures, Environment and SocietyÌý
Global Geographies: Societies, Places, ConnectionsÌý
Human GeographiesÌý
Advanced Introduction to Human GeographyÌý
Ìý
Select one of the following mapping courses:3-4
Mapping Our WorldÌý
orÌý
Geographic Information Science: Mapping
Ìý
Select at least one of the following methods courses:3-4
Advanced Quantitative Methods for Spatial DataÌý
Advanced Geovisualization and Web MappingÌý
Remote Sensing of the EnvironmentÌý
Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics 1Ìý
Research SeminarÌý
Earth Analytics Data Science BootcampÌý
Earth AnalyticsÌý
Field Methods in Human GeographyÌý
Ìý
GEOG Electives to complete the major16-14
Ìý

Total Credit Hours

37

1Does not count as a methods course for students pursuing the GIS concentration.