Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2013-2014 Catalog Program: Geography, BA Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Geography, BA

Department of Environmental Studies, Huxley College of the Environment

121-130 credits: Phase I, Phase II, and Major

Introduction/What is the Study of Geography?

Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the Earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment. Geography links the social sciences and natural sciences together, studying the relationships between human activity and natural systems.

As a geographer, you can make a difference — from teaching to planning, from working for sustainable development to working with geospatial technologies, and more. Graduates of this major have assumed positions in State and National Parks, the Forest Service, college and universities, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. If you are interested in teaching Geography in public schools, see the B.A. Geography/Social Studies or B.A.Ed. Geography/Elementary Education information sheet. Western also offers a Masters in Science in Geography.

Prospective Geography majors are strongly advised to take additional preparatory course work that provides a strong background in several of: chemistry, biology, geology, physics, mathematics, statistics, political science, anthropology, and/or history. The preparatory courses listed for the major, where approved as GUR courses in the catalog, may be used to fulfill both Huxley College and GUR requirements. Students wishing to complete the Geography major in four years should complete all GUR requirements in the first two years. A minor in Geographic Information Systems, Geology or an additional language are commonly completed by Geography students. All preparatory courses required for admission should be completed on a lettered or numeric grading scale, not P/NP, and must be completed with a grade of C- or better. 

Why Consider a Geography Major? 

Are you curious about the world, and its physical and human dimensions? Do you love maps? Are you comfortable with spatial problem solving? If so, then Geography is the major for you.

 Contact Information

Geography Advisor
Michael Medler
Arntzen Hall 210
360-650-3173
Michael.Medler@wwu.edu

Huxley College
Admissions Advisor

Kathryn Patrick
Environmental Studies 539
360-650-3520
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu

Faculty Advisor
Aquila Flower
Arntzen Hall 209
Aquila.Flower@wwu.edu

 

Faculty Advisor
Debnath Mookherjee
Arntzen Hall 228
Debnath.Mookherjee@
wwu.edu

Faculty Advisor
Andrew Bach
Arntzen Hall 226
Andy.Bach@wwu.edu

Faculty Advisor
David Rossiter
Arntzen Hall 232
David.Rossiter@
wwu.edu

Faculty Advisor
Patrick Buckley
Arntzen Hall 222
Patrick.Buckley@wwu.edu

 Sample Careers

Cartographer | Resource Manager | GIS Database Manager | Water Resource Manager | Park Ranger | Forest Service Employee | College or University Instructor

 Major/Career Resources

http://www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

You can declare yourself as an Environmental Studies (ENVS) major at any time, and there are several advantages to declaring during your freshman or sophomore year. Once you are declared as a phase I major you are assigned a Huxley faculty advisor based on your interests at the time of declaration. You can then meet with your faculty advisor to discuss which courses to take and when, how to prepare for graduate school or a future career, or simply to get assistance navigating through the Huxley curriculum. Your email is added to an email distribution list for Huxley majors so you will begin to receive notifications and general announcements, as well as information about jobs, internships, or research opportunities.

Some important information about the ENVS major:

1. Most students begin the ENVS major in Phase I, while completing the preparatory classes for ENVS Phase II admission (BIOL 101 or 204, PLSC 250, ECON 206, Math 114 or equivalent, CHEM 121, as well as ENVS 201, 202, and 203). You can declare an ENVS Phase I major at any time by going to the central Huxley College office in Environmental Studies Building 539 and filling out a major declaration card. 

2. Admission to Phase II is a competitive process and requires completion of the coursework above with a grade of B- or better in ENVS 201, ENVS 202, and ENVS 203, as well as a satisfactory GPA in all other coursework. You must then submit an application that includes a 1-2 page essay describing your reasons for wanting to enter into one of the five ENVS majors (Environmental Education, Environmental Studies, Geography, Urban Planning, or Policy) as well as a plan of study created with the Huxley admissions advisor and signed by a faculty advisor. Entry into the Urban Planning major also requires a portfolio, and entry into the Environmental Studies major requires the signature of a second departmental faculty member on the plan of study. ENVS Phase II applications are accepted at central Huxley College office in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. 

3. Changes to your major, plan of study, or requests for a change of advisor during Phase II require completing a new declaration card.

If you have any questions, please contact an undergraduate advisor at the central Huxley College office in Environmental Studies Building 539, or by phone (360-650-2817), or (360-650- 3748).

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Requirements

PHASE I

Required Courses (33 credits):

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed

One course from:

    BIOL 101 - Introduction to Biology
    BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity
 CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
 ECON 206 - Introduction to Microeconomics
 ENVS 201 - Understanding Environmental Data and Information
 ENVS 202 - Introduction to Environmental Studies and Sustainability
 ENVS 203 - Physical Geography
 MATH 114 - Precalculus I or equivalent or higher.
 PLSC 250 - The American Political System

PHASE II

ENVS CORE

Required Courses (17-20 credits):

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed

❑ One course from:

    ENVS 303 - Human Ecology and Sustainability
    ENVS 304 - Environment and Resource Policy
 ENVS 305 - Environmental History and Ethics

❑ One course from:

    ENVS 343 - Urbanization: Processes and Patterns
    ENVS 361 - Introduction to Planning

❑ One course from:

    ESCI 302 - Environmental Pollution
    ESCI 310 - Environmental Systems
    ESCI 325 - Fundamentals of Ecology
    ESCI 392 - Introduction to Global Change

❑ One course from:

    ESCI 321 - Oceanography
    ESCI 330 - Natural History of the Pacific Northwest
    ESCI 333 - Introduction to Environmental Toxicology
    ESCI 361 - Water Quality
    ESCI 463 - Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment

Geography Major

Required Courses (71-77 credits):

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
 ENVS 204 - Human Geography
 ENVS 319 - Research and Writing
 ENVS 320 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

❑ One course from:

    ENVS 220 - Map Reading and Analysis
    ENVS 321 - Computer Cartography

❑ Human Geography - One course from:

    ENVS 340 - Developing World
    ENVS 341 - Population and Resources
    ENVS 342 - Geography of the World Economy
    ENVS 343 - Urbanization: Processes and Patterns

❑ Regional Geography - One course from:

    ENVS 330 - The United States: Society and Environment
    ENVS 331 - Canada: Society and Environment
    ENVS 332 - The Pacific Northwest: Society and Environment
    ENVS 333 - East Asia: Society and Environment
    ENVS 334 - South Asia: Society and Environment
    ENVS 335 - The Middle East: Society and Environment

❑ Physical Geography - One course from:

    ENVS 325 - Geography of Landforms
    ENVS 326 - Climatology
    ENVS 327 - The Soil Environment
    ENVS 372 - Natural Hazards Planning

❑ At least five courses (minimum three courses 400-level) from:

    ENVS 322 - Analysis of Spatial Data

    ENVS 325 - Geography of Landforms

    ENVS 326 - Climatology  

    ENVS 327 - The Soil Environment

    ENVS 330 - The United States: Society and Environment

    ENVS 331 - Canada: Society and Environment 

    ENVS 332 - The Pacific Northwest: Society and Environment 

    ENVS 333 - East Asia: Society and Environment 

    ENVS 334 - South Asia: Society and Environment

    ENVS 335 - The Middle East: Society and Environment 

    ENVS 340 - Developing World 

    ENVS 341 - Population and Resources 

    ENVS 342 - Geography of the World Economy 

    ENVS 343 - Urbanization: Processes and Patterns 

    ENVS 372 - Natural Hazards Planning 

    ENVS 420 - Intermediate Geographic Information Systems
    ENVS 421 - GIS Databases
    ENVS 422 - Advanced GIS
    ENVS 426 - Water Resources
    ENVS 427 - Soil Landscapes
    ENVS 428 - Biogeography
    ENVS 430 - Borderlands
    ENVS 431 - Pacific Rim
    ENVS 441 - Society, Space, and Natural Resources
    ENVS 442 - Regional Environmental and Economic Resource Modeling
    ENVS 443 - The Urban Environment
    ENVS 444 - Colonial Landscapes in the Pacific Northwest

❑ ENVS Capstone - One course from:

    ENVS 410 - Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture

    ENVS 430 - Borderlands 

    ENVS 466 - Greening Business Applications
    ENVS 474 - Planning for Sustainable Communities
    ENVS 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment
    ENVS 496 - Environmental Stewardship
    ESCI 470 - Ecological Restoration
    ESCI 490 - Environmental Risk Assessment

    ESCI 491 - Oceanography of Puget Sound 

    ESCI 493 - Environmental Impact Assessment

❑ One course from: (minimum 10 credits)

    ENVS 498A - Senior Thesis
    ENVS 498B - Internship
    ENVS 498C - Senior Project
    ENVS 498D - International Study

❑ 16-17 Elective credits (300-400 level) under advisement

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements (GURS) 
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement

Notes: