Major Requirements

The Geography major requires a minimum of 48 credits in geography (or specifically noted Environmental Studies, Math, Chemistry and Physics) courses. At least 9 courses (36 credits) must be taken in geography core subjects and at least three elective courses are required in a chosen geography track (12 credits). At least eight Geography courses must be taken for a letter grade. A grade of C- or better is required in each course, and a GPA of 2.25 or better is required in courses used for the major.

The information on this page is available in pdf format at: Geography Major Checklist

General Requirements for the B.A. or B.S. in Geography

Bachelor of Science

All Geography majors seeking a B.S. degree will be required to complete any math sequence that satisfies the University’s math requirement for a B.S. degree.  Math classes must be passed with a grade of at least C- or P. For the Environmental Geography Track we recommend either a statistics sequence or a calculus sequence.  For the Geographic Information Science Track, we recommend a computer programming sequence. For students interested in the Physical Geography Track, there are recommendations based on your more specific interests. For geomorphology we recommend a calculus emphasis; for biogeography we recommend a statistics emphasis; and for climatology we recommend a calculus or computer programming emphasis.

Bachelor of Arts

All Geography majors seeking a B.A. degree must demonstrate proficiency in a second language either by passing the third quarter of a second-year university language course with a grade of C- or better or by an examination indicating an equivalent level of proficiency.

If you are considering applying to graduate school in the future, we strongly recommended that you complete both the math and language requirements.

Group Requirements

All undergraduates must satisfy group requirements. For details see Group Requirements in the Registration and Academic Policies section of the UO Catalog. Geography majors should consult their advisers to determine which group-satisfying courses best support their major.

Specific Course Requirements and Geography Major Checklists

All Geography majors must complete two introductory courses, one regional or synthesis course, two techniques classes, two physical geography classes, two human geography classes, and three track classes, as listed below. Note that a single course may fulfill only one core requirement or track.

Introductory Geography -- 8 credits. Both introductory courses are required. The Natural Environment (GEOG 141) and Human Geography (GEOG 142).

Regional/Synthetic Geography -- 4 credits. Any one (1) course selected from World Regional Geography (GEOG 201), Geography of Europe (GEOG 202), Geography of Russia and Neighbors (GEOG 204), Geography of Pacific Asia (GEOG 205), Geography of Oregon (GEOG 206), Geography of the United States and Canada (GEOG 208), Geography of the Middle East and North Africa (GEOG 209), Geography of Latin America (GEOG 214), Watershed Science and Policy (GEOG 360), Advanced Geography of European-American Regions (GEOG 470), North American Historical Landscapes (GEOG 471), Advanced Geography of Non-European-American Regions (GEOG 475), Introduction to Environmental Studies: Social Sciences (ENVS 201).

Techniques for Geographers -- 8 credits. Two (2) courses, One (1) required course Cartographic Methods (GEOG 311) One (1) course from Geographic Field Studies (GEOG 313), Practicum (GEOG409) (with faculty advisor approval), Advanced Cartography (GEOG 411), Advanced Geographic Data Analysis (GEOG 414), Qualitative Methods in Geography (GEOG 415), Introductory Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 416), Fundamentals of Remote Sensing (GEOG 418), Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 472), Statistical Methods I (MATH 425).

Physical Geography -- 8 credits. Any two (2) courses selected from Climatology (GEOG 321), Geomorphology (GEOG 322), Biogeography (GEOG 323), Advanced Climatology (GEOG 421), Advanced Geomorphology (GEOG 422), Advanced Biogeography (GEOG 423), Hydrology and Water Resources (GEOG 425), Fluvial Geomorphology (GEOG 427), Long-Term Environmental Change (GEOG 430), Vegetation History and Ecosystem Dynamics (GEOG 431), Climatological Aspects of Global Change (GEOG 432), Fire and Natural Disturbance (GEOG 433).

Human Geography -- 8 credits. Any two (2) courses selected from Population and Environment (GEOG 341), Geography of Globalization (GEOG 342), Society, Culture, and Place (GEOG 343), Political Geography (GEOG 441), Urban Geography (GEOG 442), Culture, Ethnicity, and Nationalism (GEOG 445), Geography of Religion (GEOG 446), Environmental Alteration (GEOG 461), Historical and Contemporary Views of the Environment (GEOG 462), Geography, Law and Environment (GEOG 463), Forests and Human Experience (GEOG 464), Environment and Development (GEOG 465), North American Historical Landscapes (GEOG 471), Perspectives in Nature and Society, ENVS 420 (if taught by Peter Walker), Political Ecology, ENVS 450 (if taught by Peter Walker).

Track Electives -- 12 credits. Three (3) additional 400-level courses chosen within one of five tracks:

  • Physical Geography (B.S.): PHYS 101, 102 or 201, 202; CHEM 111 or 221 and any three of GEOG 421, 422, 423, 425, 427, 430, 431, 432, 433.
  • Environmental Geography (B.A. or B.S.): Any three of GEOG 414, 421, 422, 423, 425, 427, 430, 431, 432, 433, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465.
  • Culture, Politics and Place (B.A.): Any three of GEOG 441, 442, 445, 446, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 471.
  • Geographic Information Science (B.S.): Any three of GEOG 411, 415, 416, 417, 418, 472.
  • Geographic Education (B.S. with foreign language recommended; B.A. accepted): Any three of GEOG 409 (must be advisor-approved), **, 442, 445, 461, 462, 465, 470, 471, 475 or other upper division classes with advisor approval. (**441 approved for Geog Ed track only if major was declared by Fall 2006)

Note that GEOG 407 (Seminar) and 410 (Experimental Course) or other upper division classes with advisor's approval may also count towards any course category. Check with an advisor to see if a particular class qualifies. Note also that it is possible to create an independent track with the approval of a department advisor.