Geography, B.A. 1 GEOGRAPHY, B.A. Geography studies the interaction between people and their environments, including the ways in which people, environments, and their interactions vary from place to place across Earth. Because it is concerned with the character of people and their cultures on the one hand, and with the character of Earth's surface and its resources on the other, it is both a social and a natural science. Being broad and integrative, Geography provides an appropriate foundation for a liberal education. It also provides a base for employment in public or private agencies, both domestic and international, concerned with environmental management, locational analysis, or planning (urban, regional, land use), among other fields. HOW TO GET IN Exploring the field of geography at UW Madison is easy. Interested students are strongly encouraged to take introductory courses in the field. The Department of Geography offers four intro courses, each of which surveys one of the four major subareas that comprise the discipline: (1) human geography; (2) people environment geography; (3) physical geography; (4) and cartography and geographic information science. The four intro classes are: GEOG 101 Introduction to Human Geography; ENVIR ST 120 Introduction to the Earth System; ENVIR ST 139 Living in the Global : An Introduction to People- Geography; and GEOG 170 Our Digital Globe: An Overview of GIScience and its Technology (online). Students who intend to declare their major in geography must schedule an appointment with the geography undergraduate advisor, Joel Gruley, at jgruley@wisc.edu. REQUIREMENTS UNIVERSITY GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements (http://guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/ #requirementsforundergraduatestudytext) section of the Guide. General Education Breadth Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits Breadth Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits Breadth Social Studies: 3 credits Communication Part A & Part B * Ethnic Studies * Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B * * The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. COLLEGE OF LETTERS & SCIENCE BREADTH AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: BACHELOR OF ARTS (B.A.) Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum. View a comparison of the degree requirements here. (https://pubs.wisc.edu/home/archives/ug15/images/ babs2009.pdf) BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Mathematics Fulfilled with completion of University General Education requirements Quantitative Reasoning a (QR A) and Quantitative Reasoning b (QR B) coursework. Please note that some majors may require students to complete additional math coursework beyond the B.A. mathematics requirement. Foreign Language L&S Breadth Liberal Arts and Science Coursework Complete the fourth unit of a foreign language; OR Complete the third unit of a foreign language and the second unit of an additional foreign language Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work. Humanities, 12 credits: 6 of the 12 credits must be in literature Social Sciences, 12 credits Natural Sciences, 12 credits: must include one 3+ credit course in the biological sciences; must include one 3+ credit course in the physical sciences 108 credits Depth of 60 intermediate or advanced credits Intermediate/ Advanced work Major Total Credits UW-Madison Declare and complete at least one (1) major 120 credits 30 credits in residence, overall 30 credits in residence after the 90th credit
2 Geography, B.A. Minimum GPAs 2.000 in all coursework at UW Madison 2.000 in intermediate/advanced coursework at UW Madison NON L&S STUDENTS PURSUING AN L&S MAJOR Non L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements and do not need to complete the L&S breadth and degree requirements above. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR 30 CREDITS IN GEOG To include: Physical Geography one course: 3 ENVIR ST 120 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST 121 ENVIR ST 127 GEOSCI 320 GEOG 321 ENVIR ST 325 GEOSCI 326 GEOG 329 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST/ GEOSCI 335 ATM OCN/ GEOSCI 420 GEOSCI 523 GEOSCI 524 SOIL SCI 525 GEOSCI 527 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST 528 Introduction to the Earth System Atmospheric and Society Physical Systems of the Geomorphology Climatology Analysis of the Physical Landforms-Topics and Regions Landforms and s of North America Climatic s of the Past al Biogeography Glacial and Pleistocene Geology Quaternary Vegetation Dynamics Advanced Landform Geography Soil Geomorphology The Quaternary Period Past Climates and Climatic Change People Geography one course: 3 ENVIR ST 139 Living in the Global : An Introduction to People- Geography ENVIR ST/ SOIL SCI 230 ENVIR ST 309 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST 337 ENVIR ST 339 GEOG 359 C&E SOC/ ENVIR ST 434 ENVIR ST 439 ENVIR ST/ HISTORY 460 ENVIR ST/ GEOG 508 ENVIR ST 534 ENVIR ST 537 GEOG 538 ENVIR ST 557 Soil: Ecosystem and Resource People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems Nature, Power and Society al Conservation Australia: and Society People, Wildlife and s American al History and Settlement in the North American Past al Governance: Markets, States and Nature Culture and Human Geography one course: GEOG 101 GEOG 301 GEOG 302 URB R PL 305 GEOG 318 GEOG 349 GEOG 353 GEOG 358 The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development Introduction to Human Geography Geography of Social Organization Economic Geography: Locational Behavior Introduction to the City Introduction to Geopolitics Europe ENVIR ST/ GEOG 501 URB R PL 503 URB R PL 505 URB R PL 506 Russia and the NIS-Topical Analysis Human Geography of Southeast Asia Space and Place: A Geography of Researching the City: Qualitative Strategies Urban Spatial Patterns and Theories Historical Geography of European Urbanization
Geography, B.A. 3 GEOG 510 GEOG 518 Power, Place, Identity Area Studies & Global Systems one course: 3 HISTORY/ LCA/POLI SCI/ SOC 244 HISTORY/ LCA/POLI SCI/ SOC 252 HISTORY/ POLI SCI/ SLAVIC 253 AFROAMER/ ANTHRO/ C&E SOC/ HISTORY/LACIS/ POLI SCI/SOC/ SPANISH 260 AFRICAN/ AFROAMER/ ANTHRO/ HISTORY/ POLI SCI/ SOC 277 GEOG 342 ENVIR ST 557 Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines The Civilizations of India-Modern Period Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey Latin America: An Introduction Africa: An Introductory Survey Geography of Wisconsin Latin America Africa, South of the Sahara Skills, Techniques, and Methodology GEOG 360 GEOG 565 Development and in Southeast Asia Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis (offered only in spring) Colloquium for Undergraduate Majors (offered only in fall) and one course from: 3 GEOG 170 GEOG 370 CIV ENGR/ ENVIR ST 377 Our Digital Globe: An Overview of GIScience and its Technology Introduction to Cartography An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Electives 11 Total Credits 30 CONCENTRATION Complete three courses, of which one must be advanced level, in one concentration area: Physical Geography The locational arrangements of earth phenomena and their interaction as physical systems: ENVIR ST 120 ENVIR ST 127 Introduction to the Earth System Physical Systems of the 4 3 GEOSCI 320 ATM OCN 323 ENVIR ST 325 GEOSCI 326 GEOG 329 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST/ GEOSCI 335 ATM OCN/ GEOSCI 420 GEOSCI 523 SOIL SCI 525 GEOSCI 527 Geomorphology Science of Climate Change Analysis of the Physical Landforms-Topics and Regions Landforms and s of North America Climatic s of the Past al Biogeography Glacial and Pleistocene Geology Quaternary Vegetation Dynamics Soil Geomorphology The Quaternary Period People The human use, perception, and modification of environments: ENVIR ST 139 ENVIR ST/ SOIL SCI 230 ENVIR ST 309 ATM OCN/ ENVIR ST 337 ENVIR ST 339 C&E SOC/ ENVIR ST 434 ENVIR ST 439 ENVIR ST/ HISTORY 460 Living in the Global : An Introduction to People- Geography Soil: Ecosystem and Resource People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems Nature, Power and Society al Biogeography al Conservation People, Wildlife and s US al Policy and Regulation American al History
4 Geography, B.A. ENVIR ST/ ENVIR ST 534 ENVIR ST 537 GEOG 538 ENVIR ST 557 al Governance: Markets, States and Nature Culture and The Humid Tropics: Ecology, Subsistence, and Development Development and in Southeast Asia Human Geography The location and organization of human settlements and activities: GEOG 101 GEOG 301 URB R PL 305 GEOG 318 GEOG 349 GEOG 358 ENVIR ST/ GEOG 501 GEOG 510 GEOG 518 GEOG 566 Introduction to Human Geography Geography of Social Organization Introduction to the City Introduction to Geopolitics Latin America Europe Africa, South of the Sahara Human Geography of Southeast Asia Space and Place: A Geography of Economic Geography Power, Place, Identity History of Geographic Thought RESIDENCE & QUALITY OF WORK 2 2.000 GPA in GEOG and major courses 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level credits, taken in residence 2 15 credits in GEOG, taken on the UW Madison campus GEOG courses designated Intermediate/Advanced are upper level. HONORS IN THE MAJOR Students may declare Honors in the Geography Major in consultation with the Geography undergraduate advisor. HONORS IN THE GEOGRAPHY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS To earn a B.A. or B.S. with Honors in the Major in Geography students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements: Earn a 3.300 overall university GPA Earn a 3.300 GPA for all GEOG courses, and all courses accepted in the major Complete 21 intermediate- or advanced-level GEOG courses, to include: GEOG 766 Geographical Inquiry and Analysis: Techniques prior to enrollment in the Senior Honors Thesis; Honors students are not required to take GEOG 565 Colloquium for Undergraduate Majors) Two advanced-level courses in the student's area of concentration, and A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in GEOG 681 Senior Honors Thesis and GEOG 682 Senior Honors Thesis, for a total of 6 credits. UNIVERSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW Madison. "In residence" means on the UW Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. In residence credit also includes UW Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. A broad spectrum of geographical knowledge and skills, as well as a degree of expertise in a specific sub-field of the discipline (Human, People-, Physical, Cart/GIS); 2. Skills in developing and implementing research plans; 3. Critical reasoning and analytical skills; 4. Communication skills both written and oral. ADVISING AND CAREERS ADVISING Students with questions about the major, courses, and careers are encouraged to contact the geography undergraduate advisor, Joel Gruley, at jgruley@wisc.edu. CAREERS Geography is a remarkably interdisciplinary field that spans the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The types of careers that Geography can prepare students for thus reflect this diversity. Geographers work across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and typically work in the following fields: environmental policy, conservation, and management; geospatial analysis; urban and transportation planning; economic and community development; food security; historic
Geography, B.A. 5 preservation; environmental hazards management; demography and health; refugees and immigration; digital cartography; journalism; international conflict resolution; tourism. PEOPLE Professors Burt, Cadwallader, Cronon, Downey, Kaiser, Knox, Mason, Naughton, Olds, Ostergren, Turner, Williams, Zhu Associate Professors Alatout, Dennis Assistant Professors Baird, Gibbs, Marin-Spiotta, Ozdogan, Robertson, Roth, Schneider, Woodward, Young