Geography and Earth Science

• Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
  • Geography, B.A.
  • Geography, B.S.
  • Minor in Geography
  • Earth Systems Science, B.S.
  • Concentration in Geology
  • Concentration in Geographic Analysis
  • Concentration in Earth Science Education
  • Geology, B.A.
  • Minor in Geology
• Graduate Programs
  • Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, M.S.
• Home Page - http://geog.gmu.edu/
  
  

Faculty

Professors: Diecchio (chair), Haack, K. Haynes (School of Public Policy), Hazen (Robinson Professor), Stough (School of Public Policy), Wood (vice provost)

Associate professors: Beach, Wong

Assistant professors: Crampton, Drennon, Harlan, McBride

Visiting assistant professor: Nord

Visiting instructors: Dillon, Neuendorf

Adjuncts: L. Blair, Cronin, DeCola, Dorrigan, E. Doyle, Dowsett, L. Edwards, Gorenflo, M. Herzog, Hirsch, Hunter, Lindemann, P. Mobley, D. Rallis, Rowland, S. Verado, W. Wallace, Wheeler, P. Young, Zinn, Zlatic

Affiliates: McDonald-Jampoler, S. Murray, Perlin, D. Verardo

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated GEOG and GEOL in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Geography, B.A.

1. Twenty-eight credits in geography, including
   1. 16 credits of GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415; and
   2. 12 credits of systematic or regional courses at the 300 level or above.
2. An approved double major, disciplinary minor, interdisciplinary minor, or certificate; or any other coherent 18-credit (or greater) package of courses approved by an advisor and the department chair. No more than seven credits used to meet the requirement in A may be used to meet the requirement in B.

Examples: Minor in biology, earth science, history, or sociology; interdisciplinary minor in global systems, urban and suburban studies, or women's studies; certificate in environmental management.

Geography, B.S.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.S. degree, candidates must complete the following:

1. Twenty-eight credits in geography, including
   1. 16 credits of GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415; and
   2. 12 credits of systematic or regional courses at the 300 level or above.
2. Minimum 18-credit sequence of geographical applications courses, including GEOG 311, 411, 412, 416 or 579, and 6 additional credits of electives, which may include an internship (GEOG 480), approved by the program advisor before enrollment.
3. Up to 25 credits of required science, mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses, including

1. GEOL 101, 102, and 317, or BIOL 103, 104, and 377 (11);
2. MATH 113 and 114 (8);
3. STAT 250 (3); and
4. CS 103 (3).

Other recommended courses: GEOG 203; MATH 203; STAT 350; CS 112, 211; USE 210, 300

Minor in Geography

The minor in geography consists of 18 credits in geography, including

1. GEOG 101 or 103 and GEOG 102; and
2. Four upper-level courses, including one systematic course (such as GEOG 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, or 309) and one regional course (such as GEOG 315, 316, 320, 325, 330, or 380).

Earth Systems Science, B.S.

Students pursuing a degree in earth systems science receive broad training in physical science and the natural science of earth's systems. Students must select a concentration to which they apply this science background.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.S. degree, candidates are required to submit the following:

1. Core science including MATH 113, 114; CHEM 211, 212; PHYS 160, 260, 261 or PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246; GEOL 101, 102; BIOL 103, 104 or BIOL 213, 303, 304; BIOL/GEOL 309; GEOG 203, 309
2. One of the following required concentrations

Concentration in Geology

Concentration in Geographic Analysis

Concentration in Earth Science Education

Optional Teacher Licensure Component
(in addition to the requirements for the earth science education concentration)

EDUC 529, 539; EDCI 673, 790; EDIT 504; EDRD 614

Optional Master of Education Component
(in addition to the requirements for the earth science education concentration)

EDUC 529, 539; EDCI 673, 790; EDIT 504; EDRD 614

* A grade of C or better in GEOL 302 is required before taking GEOL 304 or 308.

* A grade of C or better in GEOL 302 is required before taking GEOL 304 or 308.

Minimum Requirements for B.S.in Earth Systems Science	Credits
Core science (see above)	49-53
Concentration (see above)	24-30
ENGL 101, 302	6
Literature (at the 200-400 level)	6
Electives outside natural science and math	6**
Special electives from anthropology, economics, geography, government, history, linguistics, psychology, and sociology	6**
General electives	13-23
TOTAL CREDITS	120

** Students in the earth science education concentration must take ANTH 114, HIST 121, and six additional credits of social science.

Geology, B.A.

In addition to the general requirements for the B.A., candidates are required to submit the following:

1. Thirty-four credits including GEOG 203, GEOL 101, 102, 302, 304*, 308*, 312, 317, 401, 404. (Field camp is recommended and may be substituted for GEOG 203 and 404.)
2. MATH 110, 111, or 113.
3. CHEM 211 and 212.
4. GEOL 316 or a computer science course.
5. Concentration: nine credits of degree-related course work in a coherent program designed in coordination with an advisor and approved by the department chair.

* A grade of C or better in GEOL 302 is required before taking GEOL 304 or 308.

Minimum Requirements for the B.A. in Geology	CREDITS
Geology/geography	38
Concentration	9
MATH 110, 111, or 113	3
CHEM 211 and 212	8
GEOL 316 or computer science	3
ENGL 101, 302	6
COMM 100, 101, 102	3
Foreign language	0-12
Humanities	12
Social science	12
Non-Western culture	6
General electives	8-20
TOTAL	120

Minor in Geology

* A grade of C or better in GEOL 302 is required before taking GEOL 304 or 308.

Minor in Earth Science

Students may not receive both minors.

Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in geography fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GEOG 415. Students majoring in geology or earth systems science fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GEOL 308. Students who do not take GEOL 308 must arrange with their advisors for a suitable alternative writing-intensive course.

Teacher Licensure (Certification)

Students interested in becoming elementary or secondary school teachers should consult the appropriate concentrations in the earth systems science degree program and the requirements for teacher licensure (certification) listed in the "Graduate School of Education" chapter.

Graduate Program

Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, M.S.

Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study, students should have a bachelor's degree in geography, cartography, or equivalent. An applicant without an undergraduate degree in geography or cartography may be required to take one course in each of the following: physical geography, human geography, regional geography, and cartography. All applicants must have a course in statistics. The program also requires GRE aptitude scores, three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all college course work, and a statement of interest in geography.

Degree Requirements

In general, students must complete a program consisting of four required core courses and a number of optional electives that are selected in consultation with an advisor. The required core courses are as follows:

• GEOG 553 Geographic Information Systems
• GEOG 579 Remote Sensing
• GEOG 585 Quantitative Methods
• GEOG 680 Seminar in Thought and Methodology

In addition to these core courses, students select from a number of GEOG courses to complete their programs. With departmental approval, up to nine credits from closely related disciplines may also be applied to the degree.

A thesis is optional. Students may complete a 30-credit program that includes 3 to 6 credits of thesis, or they may complete a 36-credit program without a thesis. If the nonthesis option is selected, students are required to pass a comprehensive exam.