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Physical Geography

Brief Description:
The Physical Geography option is a 42-43 credit hour track for those wishing to pursue a rigorous training specializing in the earth science side of modern geography. .  Students are required to take 15-16 hours from the geography core courses: these are Geography 101 (Geography of Developing Countries), Geography 102 (Weather and Climate), Geography 103 (Earth’s Physical Systems), Geography 104 (Social and Cultural Geography), and Geography 271 (Spatial Analysis).  They may select any three from Geog 101, Geog 102, Geog 103, and Geog 104, but must take Geog 271 (Spatial Analysis); they are also strongly encouraged to take Geography 373 (Cartography).  Selection from these courses will ensure that students experience a broad-based introduction to the principal thematic issues in modern geography (including topics from the ‘other [human]’ side of the discipline), as well as providing them with instruction in contemporary methodological approaches within the discipline.  Thereafter, students must select a further 15 credit hours in geography drawn from the following courses (6 hours of which must be taken at the 300 level): Geography 210, 214, 273, 277, 290, 291, 303, 304, 305, 306, 315, 341, 367, 368, 370, 371, 373, 377, 378, 379.  In addition to courses in geography, students must select at least 12 hours in consultation with their advisor.  It is particularly important for students taking the Physical Geography option to note that they must take Mathematics 120, Physics 101 or Physics 111, and Chemistry 101 with Chemistry 105, or Chemistry 102 with Chemistry 106.

Core Requirements
HOURS	REQUIREMENTS
11-12	Students must select 3 of the following four courses:
	Geog 101 Geography of Developing Countries Geog 102 Weather and Climate Geog 103 Earth’s Physical Systems Geog 104 Social and Cultural Geography
	Students must take:
4	Geog 271 Spatial Analysis
	Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take Geog 373 – Map Compilation and Construction.  Students are encouraged to elect techniques courses as part of their programs. Technique courses include:
	Geog 185 Introduction to Social Statistics Geog 273 Spring Field Course Geog 277 Interpretation of Aerial Photographs Geog 290 Individual Study (Spatial Programming) Geog 370 Introduction to Quantitative Methods Geog 373 Map Compilation and Construction Geog 377 Introduction to Remote Sensing Geog 378 techniques of Remote Sensing Image Analysis Geog 379 Principles of Geographic Information Systems
³15	200 and 300 level geography courses (of which at least 6 hours must be at the 300 level) selected from the following:
	Geog 210 Contemporary Social and Environmental Problems Geog 214 Conservation of Natural Resources Geog 273 Spring Field Course Geog 277 Interpretation of Aerial Photographs Geog 290 Individual Study Geog 291 Honors Individual Study Geog 303 Advanced Physical Geography: Methodology and Applications of landform Studies Geog 304 Soil Geomorphology Geog 305 Zoogeography Geog 306 Fluvial Geomorphology Geog 315 Physical Climatology Geog 341 Regional Environmental Management Simulation Geog 367 Dynamic Simulation of Natural Resource Problems Geog 368 Biological Modeling Geog 370 Introducution to Quantitative Methods in Geography Geog 371 Recent Trends in Geographic Thought Geog 373 Map Compilation and Construction Geog 377 Introduction to Remote Sensing Geog 378 Techniques of Remote Sensing Image Analysis Geog 379 Principles of Geographic Information
³12	Supporting courses selected with approval of the Department of Geography Undergraduate Advisor
12-14	All students taking this option must take the following courses (* denotes choice)
	Math 120 Calculus and Analytic Geometry, I *Phys 101 General Physics (Mechanics, Heat, and Sound) *Phys 111 General Physics (Mechanics) *Chem 101 General Chemistry (with matching laboratory course) Chem 105 General Chemistry Laboratory *Chem 102 General Chemistry (Biological or Physical version) (with matching laboratory course) Chem 106 General Chemistry Laboratory (Biological or Physical version)