Nov 24, 2024

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [NOTE!!!! THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. FOR THE CURRENT CATALOG, GO TO CATALOG.NIU.EDU]

Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

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Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The major in geography offers the opportunity to develop greater understanding of a specific aspect of geography by choosing electives from one of three areas of study: human geography, geographic information science (GIS), or natural environmental systems. With the proper selection set of electives, the student can meet federal civil service qualification standards as a soil scientist or hydrologist.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http:/www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Geography (B.A. or B.S.)

Requirements in Department (35-36)

Two of the following (7-8)
GEOG 101 - Introduction to Environmental Geography Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
This is a nature and technology general education course for the Global Connections Pathway.
AND GEOG 102 - Introduction to Environmental Geography Laboratory Credits: 1
GEOG 105 - Weather, Climate, and You Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
AND GEOG 106 - Weather and Climate Laboratory Credits: 1
GEOG 253 - Environment and Society Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
This is a nature and technology general education course for the Social Justice and Diversity Pathway.
Two of the following (6)
GEOG 201 - Introduction to Human Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 202 - World Regional Geography Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
GEOG 202 also fulfills the Human Diversity Requirement.
This is a society and culture general education course for the Origins and Influences Pathway.
GEOG 204 - Geography of Economic Activities Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
This is a society and culture general education course for the Global Connections Pathway.
GEOG 256 - Maps and Mapping Credits: 3
GEOG 300 - Proseminar Credits: 1
GEOG 359 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 361 - Geographic Measurement and Quantitative Analysis Credits: 3
GEOG 361 is a writing infused course.

Electives chosen from one of the following four course groupings or any combination.

Electives chosen from one of the following four course groupings or any combination for 12 semester hours.
Both GEOG 391 and GEOG 491 may be included in these 12 hours for no more than 3 semester hours of credit in each.

Geographic Information Science

Course work from the following

GEOG 360 - Earth from Space: Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 J. Methods and Techniques
Students must take GEOG 391J for 1-3 semester hours.
- GEOG 391 - Internship: Credits: 1-3: K. Mapping/Geovisualization
GEOG 403 - Soils and Environmental Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 407 - Technological Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 432 - GIS for Public and Environmental Health Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 458 - Geovisualization Credits: 3
GEOG 459 - Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 460 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Credits: 3
GEOG 464 - Location Analysis Credits: 3
GEOG 465 - Geographic Field Work Credits: 3-8
Students must take 3 semester hours in this course.
GEOG 467 - Workshop in Cartography Credits: 3
GEOG 468 - Workshop in GIS Credits: 3
GEOG 470 - Web Mapping Credits: 3
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 493 - Computer Programming for the Geosciences Credits: 3
Students must take 3 semester hours in this course.
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 J. Methods and Techniques
GEOG 498 - Seminar: Credits: 3: K. Mapping/Geovisualization

Human Geography

Course work from the following

GEOG 201 - Introduction to Human Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 304 - Transportation Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 324X - Women in Science Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
GEOG 324X also fulfills the Human Diversity Requirement.
This is a society and culture general education course for the Social Justice and Diversity Pathway.
GEOG 336 - Geography of Africa Credits: 3
GEOG 362 - Geography of Urban Systems Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 G. Urban/Economic Geography
Students take 1-3 semester hours in this course.
GEOG 403 - Soils and Environmental Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 407 - Technological Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 425 - Geography of Food and Agriculture Credits: 3
GEOG 430 - Population Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 451 - Political Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 453 - Environmental Management Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 461 - Applied Statistics in Geographic Research Credits: 3
GEOG 463 - Urban Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 464 - Location Analysis Credits: 3
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 G. Urban/Economic Geography

Natural Environmental Systems

Students will be better prepared for this area by fulfilling the B.S. degree requirements.

Course work from the following

GEOG 302 - Soil Science Credits: 3
GEOG 303 - Water Resources and the Environment Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
GEOG 306 - Severe and Hazardous Weather Credits: 3
GEOG 322 - Geography of World Plant Communities Credits: 3
GEOG 324X - Women in Science Credits: 3
GEOG 324X fulfills the Human Diversity Requirement.
Available for general education credit.
This is a society and culture general education course for the Social Justice and Diversity Pathway.
GEOG 360 - Earth from Space: Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
GEOG 368 - Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Mitigation Credits: 3
GEOG 370 - Regional Climatology Credits: 3
GEOG 391 - Internship Credits: 1-6 A. Physical Geography
Students must take GEOG 391A for 1-3 semester hours.
- GEOG 391 - Internship: Credits 1-3: B. Environmental Management
GEOG 402 - Pedology Credits: 4
GEOG 403 - Soils and Environmental Land Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 404 - Soil Description and Interpretation Credits: 2
GEOG 406 - Natural Hazards and Environmental Risk Credits: 3
GEOG 407 - Technological Hazards Credits: 3
GEOG 413 - Forest Ecology and Management Credits: 3
GEOG 422 - Plant-Soil Interactions Credits: 4
GEOG 425 - Geography of Food and Agriculture Credits: 3
GEOG 442X - Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEOG 453 - Environmental Management Credits: 3
GEOG 455 - Land-Use Planning Credits: 3
GEOG 461 - Applied Statistics in Geographic Research Credits: 3
GEOG 465 - Geographic Field Work Credits: 3-8
Students must take GEOG 465 for 3 semester hours.
GEOG 490 - Community Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 491 - Undergraduate Research in Geography Credits: 1-3
GEOG 492 - Hydrology Credits: 3
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems Credits: 3 A. Physical Geography
GEOG 498 - Seminar in Current Problems: Credits: 3 B. Environmental Management

Requirements outside Department (B.A., 7-20; B.S., 10-15)

MATH 210 - Finite Mathematics Credits: 3
Available for general education credit.
OR MATH 211 - Calculus for Business and Social Science Credits: 4
Available for general education credit.
OR MATH 229 - Calculus I Credits: 4
Available for general education credit.
STAT 200 - Elementary Statistics Credits: 4

For the B.A. degree

Fulfillment of foreign language requirement (0-12)
(See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.)

For the B.S. degree

Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (10-15)
See “College Requirements for the B.S. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
Students should consult the undergraduate adviser for the appropriate sequence for their course of study.

Total Hours for Geography: 42-56 (B.A.) OR 45-51 (B.S.)

Recommendations

Students interested in environmental studies are strongly advised to complete at least two, one-year sequences of courses in a laboratory science. Students should contact the undergraduate adviser for career goal advisement early in their course of study.