Geography - Geology Emphasis Requirements (BA/BS)

Major Requirements: 1
GEOGRPY 100INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY1
GEOGRPY 230HUMAN GEOGRAPHY3
GEOGRPY 270GIS I: MAPPING OUR WORLD3
GEOGRPY 370GIS II: APPLICATIONS AND DATA3
GEOGRPY 400CAPSTONE IN GEOGRAPHY1
Select one of the following:4-5
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY
ELEMENTS OF GEOLOGY
Select one of the following:3
APPLIED GIS FOR SOCIAL AND BUSINESS RESEARCH
CITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY
TOPICS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GIS IN WATER RESOURCES
APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE GIS
FIELD COURSE
GEOGRAPHY THESIS
INTERNSHIP IN GEOLOGY
TRAVEL STUDY
FIELD STUDIES IN GEOLOGY
Select 3-4 courses from the following:10-14
EARTH AND LIFE HISTORY
EARTH'S ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
ROCKS AND MINERALS
PALEONTOLOGY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES AND FIELD METHODS
STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTATION
Select from the following list to bring the total units in the major to 34:
SOIL SCIENCE
GEOMORPHOLOGY (LANDFORMS)
WATER RESOURCES
BIOGEOGRAPHY
RIVERS AND FLOODS
Any 200 Level or Higher GEOLGY Course
Total Units34
Writing Requirement:3
ADVANCED COMPOSITION
WRITING IN THE SCIENCES
TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING
1

An approved minor is required for this major.

Four-Year Plans: These four-year plans outline a suggested curricular path for new students aiming to earn a degree within in four years. Please note that each plan represents just one of many paths to degree completion. 

Geography: Geology (BA) 

First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENGLISH 10113ENGLISH 1023
MATH 1393GEOGRPY 210, GEOLGY 100, or GEOLGY 1014-5
GEOGRPY 1001CORE 1403
GEOGRPY 2303Elective (SBS-E or SBS-S)3
CORE 1303PEGNRL 1921
INTRAUNV 1041 
 14 14-15
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
GEOLGY 204, 214, 310, 317, 318, or 3193-4GEOGRPY 2703
CORE 1103GEOLGY 214, 204, 310, 317, 318, or 3194
U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity Course (DV)3COMM 1103
BA World Language Course4BA World Language Course4
 Minor Course23
 13-14 17
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
GEOGRPY 3704Geology Elective3
GEOLGY 310, 204, 214, 317, 318, or 3194Geology Elective3
BA 300/400 Breadth Requirement Course3CORE 3903
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
 17 15
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Geography 400-Level Elective or Applied Course3GEOGRPY 4001
ENGLISH 370, PWP 371, or PWP 3723Minor Course3
BA 300/400 Breadth Requirement Course3Electives to total 120 (if needed)12
Minor Course3 
Minor Course3 
 15 16
Total Units: 121-123
1

The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on UW System placement exam scores or ACT/SAT subscores. This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to complete placement testing prior to attending Warhawks SOAR.  

2

This program requires a minor.  Students are encouraged to start thinking about selecting a minor in the second year.  

First Year: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with a Geography Major include: GeoEnvi, WeatherHawks, and Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE). 

Second Year: The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest. Completing a research project for credit (Geography 498R) can also count as an elective in the geography major. 

Career Information in Letters and Sciences (LSINDP 399) is a 1-credit course that focuses on transition to career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; and, developing a networking strategy.

Third Year: An internship provides students with hands-on experience in a potential career field, supervision and coaching from prospective employers, and the ability to learn professional norms and behaviors. In addition, completing an internship allows students to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. 

Fourth Year: All students must earn at least 120 credits and complete undergraduate degree requirements to graduate.

Graduation: Students should apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date.  

-

Geography: Geology (BS)

First Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
ENGLISH 10113ENGLISH 1023
MATH 139 or 1423-4GEOGRPY 210, GEOLGY 100, or GEOLGY 1014-5
GEOGRPY 1001CORE 1403
GEOGRPY 2303Elective (SBS-E or SBS-S)3
CORE 1303PEGNRL 1921
INTRAUNV 1041 
 14-15 14-15
Second Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
GEOLGY 204, 214, 310, 317, 318, or 3193-4GEOGRPY 2703
CORE 1103GEOLGY 214, 310, 317, 318, or 3194
U.S. Raciall/Ethnic Diversity Course3COMM 1103
BS Requirement Lab Science Course4-5BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course3
 Minor Course23
 13-15 16
Third Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
GEOGRPY 3704Geology Elective 3
GEOLGY 310, 204, 214, 317, 318, or 3194Geology Elective 3
BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course3CORE 3903
Minor Course3Minor Course3
Minor Course3Minor Course3
 17 15
Fourth Year
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Geography 400-Level Elective or Applied Course3GEOGRPY 4001
ENGLISH 370, PWP 371, or PWP 3723Minor Course 3
Minor Course3Electives to total 120 (if needed)12
Minor Course3 
Elective Course3 
 15 16
Total Units: 120-124
1

The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on UW System placement exam scores or ACT/SAT subscores. This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to complete placement testing prior to attending Warhawks SOAR.  

2

This program requires a minor.  Students are encouraged to start thinking about selecting a minor in the second year.  

First Year: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with a Geography Major include: GeoEnvi, WeatherHawks, and Students Allied for a Green Earth (SAGE). 

Second Year: The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest. Completing a research project for credit (Geography 498R) can also count as an elective in the geography major. 

Career Information in Letters and Sciences (LSINDP 399) is a 1-credit course that focuses on transition to career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; and, developing a networking strategy.

Third Year: An internship provides students with hands-on experience in a potential career field, supervision and coaching from prospective employers, and the ability to learn professional norms and behaviors. In addition, completing an internship allows students to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market. 

Fourth Year: All students must earn at least 120 credits and complete undergraduate degree requirements to graduate.

Graduation: Students should apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date. 

Updated Spring 2025