2009-10 Undergraduate Catalog
Majors
A degree in geography provides skills in high demand in today's job market. Techniques such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography (map-making), air photo interpretation, data base handling, and computer-based cartography are used intensively in map production, regional planning and environmental assessment.
Geography majors learn about the Earth's physical environment, understand social, cultural and economic concepts from a spatial perspective, and can integrate information about relationships between environment and society. These skills and the geographic perspective also open doors to employment in government agencies and private firms that deal with urban and regional planning, water management, environmental and market analysis, foreign service and education.
Majors should take STA 2023 to fulfill part of the General Education math requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major. The same course cannot be used for credit in two different categories. Credit will not be given toward the degree for a graduate and undergraduate section of the same course.
In addition to satisfying college and university requirements, geography majors are required to follow one of the following courses of study:
Bachelor of Arts: GEO 2200, 2200L, 2410 (or 2420 or 2500), 3162C, GIS 4001C or GIS 3043, GIS 4021C (GEO 4167C, GIS 4037 or GIS 5127) and GIS 4930.
Four courses from: GEO 2201 or 2242 or 2426, 3250, 3280, 3315, 3352, 3372, 3424, 3427, 3430, 3502, 3602, 3611, 3803, 3930, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4554, 4612, 4620, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.
Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.
Bachelor of Science: GEO 2200, 2200L, 3162C, GIS 4001C or 3043, GIS 4021C
(GEO 4167C or GIS 4037), CHM 1030, GEO 4930, GLY 2010, MET 1010, PHY 2004, 2004L, 2005, 2005L, SWS 3022, 3022L.
One from: GEO 2410, 2420 or 2500.
Three from: GEO 3250, 3280, 3315, 3372, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.
Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.
The department participates in an exchange program with the University of Utrecht. A course on the geography of Europe (GEA 3500) is regularly offered each summer in the Netherlands.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.
| Geography |
| College: Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science |
| Hours for the Degree: 120 |
| Minor: Yes |
| Combined-Degree Program: Yes |
| Website: www.geog.ufl.edu/undergrad/overview.html |
A degree in geography provides skills in high demand in today's job market. Techniques such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography (map-making), air photo interpretation, data base handling, and computer-based cartography are used intensively in map production, regional planning and environmental assessment.
Geography majors learn about the Earth's physical environment, understand social, cultural and economic concepts from a spatial perspective, and can integrate information about relationships between environment and society. These skills and the geographic perspective also open doors to employment in government agencies and private firms that deal with urban and regional planning, water management, environmental and market analysis, foreign service and education.
Majors should take STA 2023 to fulfill part of the General Education math requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework to count toward the major. The same course cannot be used for credit in two different categories. Credit will not be given toward the degree for a graduate and undergraduate section of the same course.
In addition to satisfying college and university requirements, geography majors are required to follow one of the following courses of study:
Bachelor of Arts: GEO 2200, 2200L, 2410 (or 2420 or 2500), 3162C, GIS 4001C or GIS 3043, GIS 4021C (GEO 4167C, GIS 4037 or GIS 5127) and GIS 4930.
Four courses from: GEO 2201 or 2242 or 2426, 3250, 3280, 3315, 3352, 3372, 3424, 3427, 3430, 3502, 3602, 3611, 3803, 3930, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4554, 4612, 4620, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.
Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.
Bachelor of Science: GEO 2200, 2200L, 3162C, GIS 4001C or 3043, GIS 4021C
(GEO 4167C or GIS 4037), CHM 1030, GEO 4930, GLY 2010, MET 1010, PHY 2004, 2004L, 2005, 2005L, SWS 3022, 3022L.
One from: GEO 2410, 2420 or 2500.
Three from: GEO 3250, 3280, 3315, 3372, 4167C, 4221, 4281, 4285, 4970, 4938, GIS 3043, 4021C, 4037, MET 3503, 4532.
Select one regional geography course from: GEA 2210, 2270, 3223, 3405, 3410, 3500, 3600, 4465.
Overseas Study
The department participates in an exchange program with the University of Utrecht. A course on the geography of Europe (GEA 3500) is regularly offered each summer in the Netherlands.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
Semester 2:
- Maintain 2.0 UF GPA
Semester 3:
- Complete 1 geography course
Semester 4:
- Complete 1 additional geography course (1 of the 2 must be GEO 2200) or complete STA 2023 or equivalent with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5:
- Complete 2 geography courses and STA 2023 or equivalent with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements — Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| GEO 2200 and 2200L Physical Geography and Laboratory (GE-P) | 4 |
| MET 1010 Introduction to Weather and Climate (GE-P) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Total | 14-15 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts and Applications, Part 1 (GE-P) | 3 |
| GEO 2410 Social Geography or GEO 2420 Introduction to Human Geography (GE-S, D) or GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies (GE-S) | 3 |
| GLY 2010C Physical Geology (GE-P) | 4 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Total | 13-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| GEO/GIS 3000 level or above (Systematic) | 3 |
| PHY 2004 and 2004L Applied Physics 1 and Laboratory (GE-P) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| GEO/GIS 3000-level (Systematic) | 3 |
| PHY 2005 Applied Physics 2 (GE-P) | 3 |
| PHY 2005L Applied Physics 2 Laboratory (GE-P) | 1 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| GEA 2000-4000 level (Regional) | 3 |
| GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P) | 4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| GEO 3000-5000 level (Technique) | 3-4 |
| GIS 4001C Maps and Graphs (4) or GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 16-17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| GEO 4930 Senior Seminar | 1 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) (GE-P) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Elective * | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Electives * | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S, if needed) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| GEO 2410 Social Geography or GEO 2420 Introduction to Human Geography (GE-S, D) or GEO 2500 Global and Regional Economies (GE-S) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4-5 |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| GEO 2200 Physical Geography (3) (GE-P) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 13-15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| GEO/GIS 3000 level (Systematic) | 3 |
| GEO 3162C Introduction to Quantitative Analysis for Geographers (GE-P) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective (or foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| GEO/GIS 3000-/4000 level (Systematic) | 3 |
| GIS 4001C Maps and Graphs or GIS 3043 Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| GEA 2000-4000 level (Regional) | 3 |
| GEO/GIS 3000-5000 level (Technique) | 3-4 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| GEO 3000-/4000 level (Systematic) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| GEO/GIS 4000 level (Systematic) * | 3 |
| GEO 4930 Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 |
| Electives* | 13 |
| Total | 16 |
* Electives to reach the 120-hour total will vary depending on students selecting minimum or maximum credit course options.