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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-