Geography, Emphasis in Human Geography and Global Studies, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

(Major Code: 22061) (SIMS Code: 112917)

All candidates for a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements .” No more than 57 units in geography courses can apply to the degree for students with an Emphasis in Environment, Sustainability, and Policy, or the Emphasis in Geographic Information Science and Technology, or the Emphasis in Human Geography and Global Studies.

Graduation with Distinction. A student desiring to graduate with Distinction in Geography must meet the university requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements ” and be recommended by the Geography faculty.

Impacted Program

The Geography major and Emphases are impacted programs. To be admitted to the Geography major or an Emphasis, students must meet the following criteria:

Complete preparation for the major;
Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Emphasis in Human Geography and Global Studies

Students selecting this emphasis are not required to complete a minor in another department.

Preparation for the Major

(13 units)

GEOG 101 - Earth’s Physical Environment Units: 3
GEOG 101L - Earth’s Physical Environment Laboratory Units: 1
GEOG 102 - People, Places, and Environments Units: 3
or
GEOG 106 - World Regional Geography Units: 3 But not both.
GEOG 104 - Geographic Information Science and Spatial Reasoning Units: 3
GEOG 170 - Sustainable Places and Practices Units: 3

Language Requirement

Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one language other than English to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to section of catalog on “Graduation Requirements .”

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Complete one of the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
ECL 508W - The Writing of Criticism Units: 3
ECL 581W - Writing of Fiction Units: 3
ECL 584W - Writing Informal Essays Units: 3
RWS 305W - Writing in Various Settings Units: 3
RWS 500W - Advanced Writing Strategies Units: 3
RWS 503W - Professional Writing Units: 3

International Experience

Students in this emphasis are strongly encouraged to pursue an international experience to increase student awareness of cross-cultural and global issues, which are critical to their development as professional geographers and citizens in a complex and rapidly changing world. A variety of options, including short term and semester formats are available to meet the needs of different students, including those with family and work responsibilities. These options should be discussed with and preapproved by the undergraduate adviser.

Major

A minimum of 44 upper division units in geography to include:

Student Assessment

GEOG 395 - Introduction to the Major Units: 1 to be taken in the student’s first fall semester as a geography major
GEOG 495 - Geography Capstone Units: 1 to be taken during the spring semester of the calendar year in which the student expects to graduate

Core

Eighteen units, with at least three units from each of the following groups:

Emphasis

Twenty-four units from core courses listed above in the Regional and Human Geography groups, if not already taken. Internship, senior thesis, special study, special topics, or study abroad may be used to meet this requirement when appropriate and preapproved by the undergraduate adviser.