Geography, Major
Geography, Major, B.A. & B.S., 2-Yr
The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core. LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work. Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.
Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | ||
| Conclude with approximately 30 Credits and progress toward College, University, and Liberal Education Requirements. | ||
| TOTAL | 30 | |
| SECOND YEAR | ||
| Conclude with approximately 60 credits and fundamental progress toward College, University, Liberal Education and Minor Program Requirements | 30 | |
| THIRD YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 178 | Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (LE-K1, LE-I1) | 3 |
| GEOG 200 | Foundations of Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 104 | Planet Earth: The Physical Environment (LE-K1 + Lab) | 4 |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 335 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG 111 | Planet Earth: Human Geography (LE-K2, LE-I1) | 3 |
| GEOG Advanced Approach: Human-Environment Geography a | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 31 | |
| FOURTH YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 368 | Geography Field Seminar (Advanced Approach) | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG Advanced Approach: Human Geography | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 401 | Capstone Seminar (LE-S3) | 3 |
| GEOG Advanced Approach: Geography Techniques | 3 | |
| GEOG Advanced Approach: Human-Environment Geography | ||
| Elective - Upper Level b | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 30 | |
| Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits | ||
- a
Geography majors must take 5 courses from any 3 of the 5 advanced geography approaches. One of these must be GEOG 368. See catalog.
- b
Electives need to be carefully selected to ensure that a student’s degree comprises at least 39 credits of upper division courses (300-400 level). While students are encouraged to take additional courses in geography, electives can be selected from any discipline as long as the student meets the course prerequisites.
Note: All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
Course Information
-
GEOG 200 is recommended prior to enrollment in GEOG 335 and GEOG 370.
-
GEOG 104 , GEOG 111, GEOG 178, and GEOG 200 are expected as prerequisites for GEOG 368.
-
One year before graduation, Geography majors must complete a form to certify their selected courses from the Advanced Geography Approaches. They must complete this form a second time one semester before graduation.
-
Students must complete the requirements for a second program – this can be either a minor or an approved certificate.
-
Required Geography courses plus Geography electives must equal at least 36 credits.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPTIONAL HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Geography, Major, B.A.
The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core. LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work. Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.
Students in this major have the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The degrees are distinguished by foreign language competency for the B.A. and a higher level of mathematics competency for the B.S.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 178 | Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment (LE- K1, I1) | 3 |
| WRIT 114 | Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1) | 5 |
| OR | ||
| Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1) | ||
| LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities | 3 | |
| Foreign Language- 101-Level (LE-S1) | 4 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 104 | Planet Earth: The Physical Environment (LE-K1L) | 4 |
| GEOG 111 | Planet Earth: Human Geography (LE-K2, I1) | 3 |
| LE Option: Knowledge 2 (LE-K2) Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign Language- 102-Level (LE-S1) | 4 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| SECOND YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 200 | Foundations of Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 335 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts | 3 | |
| LE Option: Responsibility 2 (LE-R2) Global Perspectives | 3 | |
| Seond Program | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG Advanced Approach- Human Geography (LE-K2) a | 3 | |
| LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity | 3 | |
| LE Option: Skills 2 (LE-S2) Mathematics | 4 | |
| LE Option: Responsibility 3 (LE-R3) Civic and Environmental Issues | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| THIRD YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG Advanced Approach-Human-Environment Geography | 3 | |
| LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 368 | Geography Field Seminar (Advanced Approach) | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| Elective-Upper Level b | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Seond Program | 3 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| FOURTH YEAR | ||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG 401 | Capstone Seminar (LE-S3) | 3 |
| GEOG Advanced Approach- Geography Techniques | 3 | |
| Elective-Upper Level | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||
| GEOG Advance Approach-Human Geography | 3 | |
| GEOG Advanced Approach-Geography Techniques | 3 | |
| Elective-Upper Level | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Second Program | 3 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits | ||
- a
Geography majors must take 5 courses from any 3 of the 5 advanced geography approaches. One of these must be GEOG 368. See catalog.
- b
Electives need to be carefully selected to ensure that a student’s degree comprises at least 39 credits of upper division courses (300-400 level). While students are encouraged to take additional courses in geography, electives can be selected from any discipline as long as the student meets the course prerequisites.
Note: All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
Course Information
- GEOG 200 is recommended prior to enrollment in GEOG 335 and GEOG 370.
- GEOG 335 is a prerequisite for GEOG 370.
- GEOG 104, GEOG 111, GEOG 178, and GEOG 200 are expected as prerequisites for GEOG 368.
- One year before graduation, Geography majors must complete a form to certify their selected courses from the Advanced Geography Approaches. They must complete this form a second time one semester before graduation.
- Students must complete the requirements for a second program – this can be either a minor or an approved certificate.
- Required Geography courses plus Geography electives must equal at least 36 credits.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPTIONAL HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Required HIPs: GEOG 368
: Geography Field Seminar and GEOG 401
: Geography Capstone
Optional HIPs: Faculty-led International Immersions (FLIIs), Student-Faculty Collaborative Research
Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance
Liberal Education Core (LE Core)
The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core.
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K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
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K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
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K3 – Humanities; two experiences.
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K4 – Fine Arts; one experience.
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S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement).
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S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement).
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S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major).
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R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement).
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R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience.
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R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience.
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I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major).
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SL—Service Learning; 30 hours
Additional LE Core Information
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Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3).
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Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)).
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S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience.
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S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience.
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S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience.
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S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience.
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S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience.
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I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.