Geography, Bachelor of Science
To obtain a B.S. with a major in Geography, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. Minimum hour requirements follow:
46 hours of University General Education courses
12 hours college breadth requirement
39 hours of major courses
Elective hours as required to total 120 hours.
TOTAL HOURS: 120
The BS degree with a major in Geography requires a minimum of 39 credits, 22 of which must be taken at the 3000 level or higher. All 3000 level or higher courses taken in the Geography Fundamentals and Geography Diversity Requirements count toward this requirement.
Students who wish more concentrated applications in geography may choose an optional concentration of either Geographic Information Systems or Travel and Tourism. The specific course requirements for these concentrations may also be used to satisfy the major requirements where the overlap of course options occurs.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Geography Fundamentals Requirements | ||
| GEOG 1000 | WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 1030 | OUR DYNAMIC PLANET: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| GEOG 1050 | HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| GEOG 3530 | CARTOGRAPHY AND DATA VISUALIZATION | 4 |
| GEOG 4620 | GEOGRAPHICAL FIELD STUDIES 1 | 3 |
| STAT 1530 | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | 3 |
| Geography Diversity Requirements | ||
| Select a minimum of one course from each of the groups of Geography Diversity courses (see below). | 15-16 | |
| Total Credits | 39-40 | |
- 1
Optional method of completing GEOG 4620.
Geographical Field Studies Requirement
Students who have completed a study abroad or military service for more than six months outside the USA can complete the course without going on a multiple-day field trip. Contact the department for the details regarding this alternative method. GEOG 4620 can also apply to the upper-level Global or North American category, depending on the field study destination.
Geography Diversity Groups
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Geography | ||
| GEOG 3440 | NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGMENT | 3 |
| GEOG 3510 | METEOROLOGY | 3 |
| With or without the following laboratory: | 0-1 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO METEOROLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| GEOG 4010 | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| GEOG/GEOL 4040 | GEOARCHAEOLOGY | 3 |
| GEOG/BIOL/GEOL 4100 | BIOGEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 4260 | PROCESS GEOMORPHOLOGY | 4 |
| GEOG 4320 | CLIMATOLOGY | 3 |
| GEOG 4330 | SOIL GENESIS, MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | 4 |
| GEOG 4340 | WATER RESOURCES | 3 |
| GEOG 4350 | GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE | 3 |
| GEOG/ENVN/GEOL/BIOL 4610 | ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| GEOG 4640 | CRITICAL ZONE SCIENCE | 4 |
| Human Geography | ||
| GEOG/ECON 3130 | ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 3440 | NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGMENT | 3 |
| GEOG 3930 | POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 4010 | CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES | 3 |
| GEOG 4120 | URBAN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG/WGST 4150 | GEOGRAPHY, GENDER AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| GEOG 4160 | URBAN SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
| GEOG 4170 | ADVANCED CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 4550 | GEOGRAPHY OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION | 3 |
| GEOG/PA/BIOL/ENVN 4820 | INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & REGULATIONS | 3 |
| Global Perspectives | ||
| GEOG 3000 | TRAVEL STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 3030 | GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA | 3 |
| GEOG 3050 | GEOGRAPHY IN FILM | 3 |
| GEOG 3070 | GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| GEOG 3080 | EAST & SOUTHEAST ASIA | 3 |
| GEOG 3230 | GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE | 3 |
| GEOG 3240 | GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS | 3 |
| North American Perspectives | ||
| GEOG 3330 | UNITED STATES & CANADA | 3 |
| GEOG 4230 | GREAT PLAINS & NEBRASKA | 3 |
| GEOG 4530 | HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| Geospatial Science | ||
| GEOG 2620 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION | 3 |
| GEOG 4020 | SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| GEOG 4030 | COMPUTER MAPPING AND VISUALIZATION | 3 |
| GEOG 4050 | GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I | 4 |
| GEOG 4630 | ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING | 4 |
| GEOG 4660 | GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II | 4 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BS DEGREE COGNATE REQUIREMENT | ||
| Select 6 credit hours of approved computer science coursework or in the case of those opting to add the GIS concentration, other complementary coursework, as determined by major advisor. | 6 | |
| Select 9 credit hours of coursework complementary to the major and chosen in consultation with a departmental adviser. | 9 | |
Optional Concentrations
Geography majors have the option to declare a concentration, if they wish. Concentrations are at least 15 credits, and are allowed to overlap with the major requirements, but not BS cognate coursework, where applicable.
Geographic Information Science and Technology Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of computer science coursework in consultation with an adviser. (May not overlap with BS cognate coursework) | 9 | |
| Additional Required Courses | 3-7 | |
| Both: | ||
| PRE-CALCULUS ALGEBRA (3 cr) | ||
or MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | |
| TRIGONOMETRY (3 cr) | ||
| Or one of the following options: | ||
| ALGEBRA AND TRIGONOMETRY FOR CALCULUS (5 cr) | ||
| CALCULUS FOR THE MANAGERIAL, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 cr) | ||
| CALCULUS I (5 cr) | ||
| In addition, select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN GEOGRAPHY (3 cr) | ||
| COMPUTER MAPPING AND VISUALIZATION (3 cr) | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I (4 cr) | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II (4 cr) | ||
| Total Credits | 15-20 | |
Travel and Tourism Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| GEOG 3000 | TRAVEL STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY (3 cr) | ||
| GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE (3 cr) | ||
| GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA AND ITS NEIGHBORS (3 cr) | ||
| UNITED STATES & CANADA (3 cr) | ||
| GREAT PLAINS & NEBRASKA (3 cr) | ||
| GEOGRAPHICAL FIELD STUDIES (3 cr) | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Physical Geography Concentration (BS)
Complete all BS Geography Degree requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course: | ||
| GEOL 1170 | INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOLOGY | 4 |
| Additional math requirement. Select one: | 3-5 | |
| CALCULUS FOR THE MANAGERIAL, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| CALCULUS I | ||
| Two Additional Physical Geography courses: | 6-8 | |
| NEBRASKA NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGMENT | ||
| METEOROLOGY | ||
| CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
| BIOGEOGRAPHY | ||
| PROCESS GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
| CLIMATOLOGY | ||
| SOIL GENESIS, MORPHOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION | ||
| WATER RESOURCES | ||
| GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT | ||
| CRITICAL ZONE SCIENCE | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & REGULATIONS | ||
| Only one course may count toward additional majors. | ||
| Recommended minors: Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Emergency Management & Disaster Science | ||
| Total Credits | 13-17 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GEOG 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (*) | 3 |
| GEOG 1030 | OUR DYNAMIC PLANET: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I (**) | 3 |
| Humanity & Fine Arts Course | 3 | |
| MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 4 |
*GEOG 1020 is a social science and global diversity in addition to being a major course. | ||
**ENGL 1150: Requires appropriate placement. | ||
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 1000 | WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY (*) | 3 |
| GEOG 1050 | HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II (**) | 3 |
| CMST 1110 or CMST 2120 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE | 3 |
| STAT 1530 | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS (***) | 3 |
*GEOG 1000 is a social science and global diversity as well as a major course. | ||
***STAT 1530: Requires appropriate placement. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Humanities/Fine Arts/US Diversity Course | 3 | |
| Natural/Physical Science Course* | 3 | |
| CSCI 1200 or CIST 1300 | COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (**) or INTRODUCTION TO WEB DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| BS COGNATE COURSE*** | 3 | |
*Must not be Geography | ||
***COGNATE COURSE: Multiple options exist, depending on whether a concentration is chosen. Please see catalog and refer to your advisor for options. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 3530 | CARTOGRAPHY AND DATA VISUALIZATION (*) | 4 |
| CIST 1400 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I (**) | 3 |
| HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course*** | 3 | |
| Social Science^ | 3 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts course# | 3 | |
***CAS College Requirement Option | ||
^Social Science must not be Geography | ||
#HFA must come from 2nd discipline | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST 1010 or Minor/2nd Major Course* | 3 | |
| Physical Geography Elective | 3-4 | |
| Global Perspectives Geography Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective** | ||
*CAS College Requirement | ||
**Students need a minimum of 27 upper level credits throughout the entire degree, with at least 22 credits of upper level Geography credits taken within the major. | ||
| Credits | 12-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Human Geography Elective | 3 | |
| Humanity/Fine Arts course for A&S or Minor/ 2nd Major Course* | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| ENGL 3050 or ENGL 3980 | WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE (**) or TECHNICAL WRITING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
*CAS College Requirement Option. HFA must come from 3rd discipline. | ||
Note: Students need a minimum of 27 upper level credits throughout the entire degree, with at least 22 credits of upper level Geography coursework taken within the major | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| North American Perspectives Geography Course | 3 | |
| Geospatial Science Course* | 3-4 | |
| Social Science for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course** | 3 | |
| Cognate Course or Elective | 3 | |
| Elective*** | 3 | |
| *Geospatial: This list includes a lower-level course among upper-level options. Minimum upper-level Geography credits within the major must total 22. | ||
**CAS College Requirement Option. Social Science must be from a 3rd discipline. | ||
***Students need a minimum of 27 upper level credits throughout the entire degree, with at least 22 credits of upper level Geography coursework taken within the major. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 4620 | GEOGRAPHICAL FIELD STUDIES (*) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
*GEOG 4620: Requires instructor permission. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121-123 | |
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.
Placement Exams: For Math, English, Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements: 2.0