CURRICULUM
[ How to Complete Geography Major ]

The Geography major (40 semester credits total) provides students with a strong liberal arts degree that combines the human, physical, and technical aspects of the discipline. The major prepares students for graduate work in geography. The major also trains for employment in government and businesses that require knowledge of geography or the use of geographic techniques. Geography offers career opportunities in environmental assessment, public and private sector planning, travel and tourism, cartography, locational analysis, business and industrial research, teaching, and a variety of other activities that require geographic expertise.

The study of a foreign language is recommended for all geography students but especially for students interested in cultural geography or considering graduate work. The department faculty recommends that majors take coursework in computer science (CS 1131, 1135, 1511, 1521), geology (Geol 1110, 2210, 2410), and research methods or statistics (Soc 3151, 3152 and/ or Stat 1411, 3611). Prospective majors are strongly urged to consult their advisers at the earliest possible date to plan their programs and select supporting courses from related fields.

Majors are required to complete a student-initiated senior project. The senior research project, developing ideas generated in courses such as Geog 5612 and 5803, is carried out with the guidance of an individual faculty member under the course Geog 5999 Senior Project in Geography for 3 or 4 credits, with the project presented orally at a department seminar.

The UMD Bachelor of Arts degree consists of a major, minor, or double major, and the liberal education program, which equals a minimum of 120 degree credits. Students successfully completing 15 credits a semester during four years at UMD and following the requirements for the B.A. degree, should graduate in four years. Geography majors should follow the fairly flexible schedule below in order to graduate within four years:

• LOWER DIVISION (13)
• Geog 1304--Human Geography (3) * {LibEd 6} Geog 1414--Physical Geography (4) * {LibEd 4} Geog 2552--Introduction to Maps and Cartographic Methods(3) {LibEd 2} One course from the following:
• Geog 1201--World Regional Geography (3) ** {LibEd 8}
• Geog 1305--Environmental Conservation (3) {LibEd 8}
• Geog 2313--Economic Geography (3) {LibEd 6}



• UPPER DIVISION (14)
• Comp 3xxx--Advanced Writing Requirement (3)
• Geog 3532--Map Design (4)
• Geog 5612--Field Techniques (4)
• Geog 5803--Geographic Thought (3)
• Geog 5999--Senior Project in Geography (3)


• Electives (13) selected from at least two of the following concentrations
• Economic/Political: Geog 3334, 3342, 3362, 4393, 4394
• Environmental/Physical: Geog 3401, 3422, 3461, 3481, 4451, 5446
• Spatial/Analytical: Geog 4563, 4564, 4580, 5543, 5571
• Regional: Geog 3702, 3707, 3712, 3732

Key: {LibEd 5} = Liberal Education Requirement for Category 5
* = Cultural Diversity Requirement
** = International Perspective Requirement