Undergraduate Program
Geographers are concerned with social, spatial and environmental processes in human and natural systems, with a focus on critical theory, practical application, analysis and interventions. Of central importance to the study of geography are relations between diverse social groups, as well as between people and their natural and human-built environments. Coursework spans the social and natural sciences, and includes cartography and other technologies for analyzing spatial information. Many geography students combine majors and minors in other fields to prepare themselves for careers in environmental analysis and resource management; urban and regional development; international relations; conflict resolution; public service and more.
Contact Dr. Jamie Winders, Director of Undergraduate Studies, jwinders@maxwell.syr.edu.
Check-list for the undergrad majors
Scholarships available that may be appropriate or of interest to potential students can be viewed here
Major Requirements
The program leading to a B.A. in Geography requires at least 33 credits in geography, 21 of which must be at the upper division (i.e. 300-level or above). All students must take GEO 103, 171, and 155, as well as a techniques requirement (GEO 381, 383, or 386) and a capstone senior seminar (GEO 491). Students are encouraged to concentrate the remainder of their credits in one of five tracks:
Course Requirements And Options
(Lower Division Requirements)
GEO 103 America and the Global Environment
GEO 155 The Natural Environment
GEO 171 Human Geographies
Upper Division Requirements
Techniques (at least one course)
GEO 381 Cartographic Design
GEO 383 Geographic Information Systems
GEO 386 Quantitative Geographic Analysis
GEO 482 Environmental Remote Sensing
Capstone Seminar (required of all majors)
GEO 491 Senior Seminar in Geography
Topical Specializations
1. Environmental Systems and Landscape Dynamics
GEO 215 Global Environmental Change
GEO 314 Hazardous Geographic Environments
GEO 316 River Environments
GEO 317 Mountain Environments
GEO 318 Tropical Environments
GEO 319 Cold Environments
GEO 326 Weather and Climate (additional course information)
GEO 327 Coastal Environments
GEO 400 Geography of the Anthropocene
GEO 400 Geography of Snow
GEO 555 Biogeography
GEO 583 Environmental GIS
plus, Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)
2. Nature, Society, Sustainability
GEO 203 Society and the Politics of Nature
GEO 215 Global Environmental Change
GEO 300 Animals and Society
GEO 314 Hazardous Geographic Environments
GEO 316 River Environments
GEO 317 Mountain Environments
GEO 318 Tropical Environments
GEO 319 Cold Environments
GEO 340 Geographies of Oil
GEO 353 Environmental Justice
GEO 354 American Environmental History and Geography
GEO 356 Environmental Ideas and Policy
GEO 374 Environment and Development in the Global South
GEO 400 Geographies of Water
GEO 400 Urban Environmental History
GEO 415 Food: A Critical Geography
GEO 430 Energy, History and Society
plus, Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)
3. Globalization, Development and Citizenship
GEO 105 World Regional Geography
GEO 272 World Cultures
GEO 273 World Political Economy
GEO 311 The New North Americas
GEO 321 Latin American Development: Spatial Aspects
GEO 325 Colonialism in Latin America
GEO 331 European Union
GEO 340 Geographies of Oil
GEO 361 Global Economic Geography
GEO 367 Gender in a Globalizing World
GEO 372 Political Geography
GEO 374 Environment and Development in the Global South
GEO 388 Geographic Information & Society
GEO 400 Geographies of Migration and Mobility
GEO 400 Geographies of Water
GEO 400 South Africa
GEO 430 Energy, History and Society
GEO 440 Race and Space
GEO 463 Geography of Homelessness
GEO 564 Urban Historical Geography
GEO 573 Geography of Capital
GEO 595 Geography of the Internet
plus, Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)
4. Culture, Justice and Urban Space
GEO 200 Cities
GEO 219 American Diversity & Unity (honors)
GEO 272 World Cultures
GEO 273 World Political Economy
GEO 300 Public Space and the City
GEO 311 New North Americas
GEO 313 United States
GEO 353 Environmental Justice
GEO 362 The European City
GEO 367 Gender in a Globalizing World
GEO 372 Political Geography
GEO 400 Community Geography
GEO 400 Urban Environmental History
GEO 415 Food: A Critical Geography
GEO 440 Race and Space
GEO 463 Geography of Homelessness
GEO 500 Geography of Memory
GEO 500 Urban and Regional Planning
GEO 564 Urban Historical Geography
GEO 572 Landscape Interpretation
GEO 573 Geography of Capital
GEO 576 Gender, Space, & Place
plus, Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)
5. Geographic Information Science: Analysis, Modeling and Applications
GEO 381 Cartographic Design
GEO 383 Geographic Information Systems
GEO 386 Quantitative Geographic Analysis
GEO 388 Geographic Information and Society
GEO 482 Environmental Remote Sensing
GEO 500 GIS and Hydrological Modeling
GEO 583 Environmental GIS
GEO 595 Geography of the Internet
plus, Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)
The Department provides students who meet certain academic requirements (including independent research and a senior thesis) the opportunity to graduate with Distinction. (Description of Undergraduate Program for Distinction in Geography)
Minor in Geography
To complete a minor in geography, students must complete 18 credits in geography courses, of which a minimum of 12 credits must be upper division (i.e. 300-level or above).