BA in Geography with Emphasis in Physical/Environmental
Degree Program Description
Geographers are interested in a wide range of topics and often work in interdisciplinary teams that analyze challenges like environmental change, resource use, and economic issues in an increasingly interdependent world. Physical and environmental geography emphasizes the complex interactions between the natural world and human behavior. Students learn to identify, delineate and manage a range of environmental problems facing society from climate and vegetation change to river management. Geography prepares students for a variety of professions including careers in environmental impact assessment, mapping, remote sensing, geographic information analysis, government service, military intelligence, as well as education. Geographers are interested in a wide range of topics and often work in interdisciplinary teams that analyze challenges like environmental change, resource use, and economic issues in an increasingly interdependent world. Geography majors receive marketable skills during their undergraduate experience. Recent graduates work for companies such as ESRI and Garmin. MU geography graduates have also found employment with government agencies, including the National Park Service, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Missouri Department of Transportation.
Major Program Requirements
Physical and environmental geography emphasizes the complex interactions between the natural world and human behavior. Students learn to identify, delineate, and manage a range of environmental problems facing society from climate and vegetation change to river management. Students are required to take three courses (normally nine hours) in the emphasis. Two additional courses (six additional hours) are selected from a secondary emphasis area.
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
| GEOG 3600 | Climates of the World | 3 |
| GEOG 3610 | Physical Geography of the United States | 3 |
| GEOG 3630 | Earth Surface Systems | 3 |
| GEOG 4620 | Biogeography: Global Patterns of Life | 3 |
| GEOG 4810 | Landscape Ecology and GIS Analysis I | 3 |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGLSH 1000* | 3 | MATH 1100* | 3 |
| GEOL 1100* | 4 | Second language II*1 | 4-6 |
| GEOG 1100 | 3 | GEOG 1200 | 3 |
| Second language I*1 | 4-6 | Elective/minor course | 3 |
| Elective/Minor Course | 1 | ||
| 15-17 | 13-15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Second language III* | 3 | Behavioral Science Course* | 3 |
| Social Science Course (MO State Law)* | 3 | Behavioral Science Course* | 3 |
| Elective/Minor Course | 3 | Writing Intensive Course* | 3 |
| 3000+ level Geog emphasis course | 3 | GEOG 3840 or 3040 | 3 |
| GEOG 1550 | 3 | GEOG 1800 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Biological/Physical Science Course*1 | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts Course* | 3 |
| 3000+ level Geog emphasis course | 3 | 3000+ level Geog emphasis course | 3 |
| 3000+ level Geog emphasis course | 3 | Social Science Course (2000+)* | 3 |
| Social Science Course* | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts Course (2000+)* | 3 |
| Social Science Course* | 3 | Biological/Physical Science Course with Lab | 3-5 |
| Elective/Minor Course (3000+) | |||
| 15 | 15-17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Course* | 3 | GEOG 4990 | 3 |
| 3000+ level Geog emphasis course | 3 | (3000+ level Geog emphasis course)1 | 3 |
| Elective/Minor Course (3000+) | 3 | Elective/Minor Course | 3 |
| Elective/Minor Course | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts Course (2000+)* | 3 |
| GEOG 2610 | 3 | Elective/Minor Course (3000+) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 118-124 | |||
Requires 120 credits for graduation.
- *
Denotes General Education and A&S Foundation Requirements
- 1
Denotes Degree Program Requirements
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.