Geography B.A.
The general geography B.A. degree (without concentration) is very flexible. In addition to meeting the core requirements for all geography majors, students may take a wide range of electives in geography (minimum 11, maximum 35 elective credits). Electives may be chosen from the fields of regional geography, geographic methods and techniques, or systematic geography (physical geography, human-environment interaction, or geography and society).
Bachelor of Arts - Geography
College Humanities & Sciences
Degree Specific Credits: 36
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.5
Catalog Year: 2017-2018
General Education Requirements
Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Geography | 7 | |
| Regional Geography Course | 3 | |
| Geographic Methods | 6 | |
| Upper Division Systematic Geography | 9 | |
Physical Geography | ||
Geography and Society | ||
Human Environment Interaction | ||
| Degree Electives | 10 | |
| Capstone | 1 | |
| Upper Division Writing | 3 | |
| General Ed Statistics | 3-10 | |
| Total Hours | 42-49 | |
Introduction to Geography
Rule: Must complete all of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3 | |
GPHY 141S | Geography of World Regions | |
GPHY 144 | Glacier National Park in Winter | |
GPHY 241 | Montana | |
GPHY 245X | 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
Rule: Must complete all of the following courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GPHY 284 | Intro to GIS and Cartography | 3 |
| GPHY 385 | Field Techniques | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Upper Division Systematic Geography
Rule: Must complete the following subcategories of courses
Minimum Required Grade: C-
9 Total Credits Required
Physical Geography
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3 | |
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-
Geography and Society
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3 | |
GPHY 323S | Economic Geography of Rural Areas | |
GPHY 421 | Sustainable Cities | |
GPHY 434 | Food and Famine | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Human Environment Interaction
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least one of the following: | 3 | |
GPHY 335 | Water Policy | |
GPHY 338 | Mountains and Society | |
GPHY 432 | Human Role Environmental Change | |
GPHY 433 | Cultural Ecology | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Degree Electives
Rule: Must complete 10 credits of GPHY electives to fulfill the 36 degree credit total
Note: Students must fulfill the degree credit total of 36 credits plus the university requirement for 39 upper division credits.
Minimum Required Grade: C-
10 Total Credits Required
Capstone
Rule: Seniors must complete the following course
Note: Seniors must enroll in GPHY 400 in fall, attend GPHY 500
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GPHY 400 | Geography Capstone | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Upper Division Writing
Rule: Must complete 1 of the following courses
Note: GPHY 335 or GPHY 433 will also count toward the upper division core requirements GPHY 499
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
GPHY 335 | Water Policy | |
GPHY 433 | Cultural Ecology | |
GPHY 499 | senior thesis / capstone | |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
General Ed Modern and Classical Language
Rule: Must complete either 1 year of a foreign language or STAT 216
Note: Gen Ed credits do not count towards degree credits.
Minimum Required Grade: C-
3-10 Total Credits Required
Teaching Geography Track
Individuals interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete a degree in the content area they want to teach plus the teacher preparation program through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Individuals must complete the teaching major/teaching track within that degree program, which may contain different course requirements than the academic major since the sequence of courses is designed to meet state standards. Upon completion of the degree program with the teaching track and the secondary licensure program, one will be eligible for a standard Montana teaching license in this content area.
Students who want to be licensed to teach geography at the middle and high school level must complete the B.A. degree requirements in geography (general geography, no option required). They also must complete a teaching major or minor in a second field of their choice and the professional licensure program in the College of Education. Students may also earn a teaching minor in geography. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for information about admission to the Teacher Education Program and completion of the licensure program.
To sign up for this option, you need to contact the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Do not fill out a major/minor form for graduation or the major/minor/concentration section of the major change form. Approvals for this option must come from the Curriculum and Instruction Department.
Tracks will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publication and are used for advising purposes only. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
Teaching Licensure Requirements
Note: Students must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program and complete all of the professional education licensure requirements. See the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education and Human Sciences for more information. A major GPA of 2.75 is required to be eligible for student teaching. This major does not qualify as a single field endorsement. Individuals must complete a second teaching major or minor in another content area.
Teaching Track
Rule: Must complete the following course
Note: The EDU 497 course number is used for multiple courses. Students should register for EDU 497
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 497 | Teaching and Assessing | 4 |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-