UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR IN GEOGRAPHY
Contact Dr. Tom Perreault, Director of Undergraduate Studies, 529 Eggers Hall, 315-443-9467

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.  

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:

(1) Environmental Systems and Landscape Dynamics:
GEO 300 Tropical Environments
GEO 315 Global Environmental Change
GEO 316 River Environments
GEO 317 Mountain Environments
GEO 319 Cold Environments
GEO 314 Hazardous Environments
GEO 326 Weather and Climate
GEO 555 Biogeography
GEO 583 Environmental GIS
GEO 593 Environmental Monitoring
+ Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)

(2) Nature, Society, Sustainability;
GEO 203 Society and the Politics of Nature
GEO 300 Tropical Environments
GEO 303 Food and Famine
GEO 15 Global Environmental Change
GEO 316 River Environments
GEO 317 Mountain Environments
GEO 318 Tropical Environments
GEO 319 Cold Environments
GEO 353 Environmental Justice
GEO 356 Environmental Thought
GEO 384 American Environmental History and Geography
GEO 558 Development and Sustainability
+ Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)

(3) Globalization, Development and Citizenship;
GEO 105 World Geography                               
GEO 272 World Cultures                                   
GEO 273 World Political Economy                      
GEO 303 Food and Famine                                
GEO 305 Population Change                             
GEO 322 Globalization and Env. In L.A                
GEO 323 Latino USA                                        
GEO 325 Colonialism in L.A.                              
GEO 331 European Union                                                  
GEO 361Global Economic Geog.                       
GEO 367 Gender in a Globalizing World   
GEO 372 Political Geography   
GEO 388 Geo Info & Society   
GEO 500 Geographies of Space and Sexuality
GEO 558 Development and Sustainability 
GEO 563 The Urban Condition
GEO 564 Urban Historical Geog.
GEO 573 Geog. of Capital
GEO 595 Geog. of Internet
+ Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)

(4) Culture, Justice and Urban Space; or
GEO 105 World Geog.                                        
GEO 219 Am. Div. & Unity (honors)
GEO 272 World Cultures                                    
GEO 273 World Political Econ.                          
GEO 311 New North Americas                          
GEO 313 United States                                       
GEO 353 Environmental Justice                        
GEO 362 The European City                              
GEO 363 Cites of N. America                                              
GEO 372 Political Geography 
GEO 500 Borders in Syracuse   
GEO 500 Geog. of Memory 
GEO 500 Geographies of Space and Sexuality   
GEO 558 Sustainable Development  
GEO 563 Urban Condition    
GEO 564. Urban Hist. Geo  
GEO 572 Landscape Interp.   
GEO 573 Geog. of Capital   
GEO 576 Gender, Space, Place                        
+ Appropriate Topics Courses (GEO 200, 300, 400, 500)

(5) Geographic Information Science: Analysis, Modeling and Applications.
GEO ** 200-level course (to be proposed)     
GEO 381 Cartograhic Design                             
GEO 383 GIS                                                         
GEO 386 Spatial Statistics                                  
GEO 388 Geo Info & Society
GEO 500 GIS and Hydro Modeling
GEO 583 Environmental GIS
GEO 593 Environ. Modeling  
GEO 595 Geog. of Internet       
+ 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. 

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).