Geography B.S. - Physical Geography

Bachelor of Science - Geography; Physical Geography Concentration

W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Degree Specific Credits: 46-48

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.5

Catalog Year: 2021-22

Note: Depending on the courses selected the degree requirements vary from 43 to 48 credits.

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.

Summary

Introduction to Geography		7
Regional Geography Course		3
Geographic Methods		6
Upper-Division Geography		6
Physical Geography		6
Capstone		1
Upper-Division Writing		3
Science Electives		6-8
Biology
Chemistry
College Chemistry
College Physics
Physics with Calculus
Math Requirement		4
Advanced Math Requirement		4
Total Hours		46-48

Introduction to Geography

Code	Title	Hours
Complete all of the following courses:
GPHY 111N	Intro to Physical Geography	3
GPHY 112N	Intro to Phys Geography Lab	1
GPHY 121S	Human Geography	3
Total Hours		7

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Regional Geography Course

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following courses:		3
GPHY 141S	Geography of World Regions
GPHY 144	Glacier National Park in Winter
GPHY 241	Montana
GPHY 245	The Middle East
GPHY 342	North America
GPHY 344	Crown of the Continent
GPHY 347	Regional Geography (Multiple Regions)
GPHY 348	Field Studies in Geography
GPHY 444	High Asia
Total Hours		3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Geographic Methods

Code	Title	Hours
Complete all of the following courses:
GPHY 284	Intro to GIS and Cartography	3
GPHY 385	Field Techniques	3
Total Hours		6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper-Division Geography

Note: GPHY 335 and GPHY 433 also satisfy the upper-division writing requirement.

Code	Title	Hours
Complete two of the following courses:		6
GPHY 323S	Economic Geography of Rural Areas
GPHY 335	Water Policy
GPHY 338	Mountains and Society
GPHY 421	Sustainable Cities
GPHY 432	Human Role Environmental Change
GPHY 433	Community Resilience
GPHY 434	Food and Famine
GPHY 438	Mountain Field Study
Total Hours		6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physical Geography

Code	Title	Hours
Complete two of the following courses:		6
ERTH 303N	Weather and Climate
GPHY 311N	Biogeography
GPHY 314	Global Mountain Environments
GPHY 317	Geomorphology
GPHY 438	Mountain Field Study
GPHY 525	Advanced Physical Geography
Total Hours		3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Capstone

Note: Seniors must enroll in GPHY 400 in fall, attend GPHY 500 in fall, and complete course requirements in spring.

Code	Title	Hours
Complete the following course:
GPHY 400	Geography Capstone	1
Total Hours		1

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Upper-Division Writing

Note:

GPHY 335 and GPHY 433 will also count toward the upper division requirement.
GPHY 499 will also count toward upper division elective credits.
Other science-based writing courses (e.g. GEO 320, GEO 499, BIOO 470, BIOO 475) may be approved by the advisor.

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following courses:		3
GPHY 335	Water Policy
GPHY 433	Community Resilience
GPHY 499	Senior Thesis
Total Hours		3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Science Electives

Rule: Must complete 1 of the following science categories. 6-8 total credits required.

Biology

Code	Title	Hours
BIOE 172N	Introductory Ecology	3
BIOO 105N	Introduction to Botany	3
Total Hours		6

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Chemistry

Code	Title	Hours
CHMY 121N	Introduction to General Chemistry	4
CHMY 123	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry	4
Total Hours		8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

College Chemistry

Code	Title	Hours
CHMY 141N	College Chemistry I	4
CHMY 143N	College Chemistry II	4
Total Hours		8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

College Physics

Code	Title	Hours
PHSX 205N	College Physics I	4
PHSX 207N	College Physics II	4
Total Hours		8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physics with Calculus

Code	Title	Hours
PHSX 215N	Fund of Physics w/Calc I	4
PHSX 217N	Fund of Physics w/Calc II	4
Total Hours		8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Math Requirement

Code	Title	Hours
Complete one of the following courses:		3-4
M 162	Applied Calculus
M 171	Calculus I
M 172	Calculus II
STAT 451	Statistical Methods I
Total Hours		3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Advanced Math Requirement

Note: Example - if M 171 has been taken, M 172 is recommended.

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 1 additional Math or Statistics course in addition to the one chosen for the Math Requirement.		3-4
Total Hours		3-4

Minimum Required Grade: C-