BA in Geography (Physical Geography)
Units required for Major: 46
Total units required for BA: 120
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a concentration in Physical Geography focuses on earth systems and human impacts on them, including global climate change. Students interested in natural science and environmental management study weather and climate, plant and animal communities, landforms, and water resources, emphasizing the growing human role in influencing and managing these complex interrelated systems.
Note:
- Every candidate must complete all of the Geography Core and one Concentration.
- Courses cannot double count for the core and the concentration.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Core Courses (10 Units) | ||
| GEOG 1 | Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena 1 | 3 |
| GEOG 2 | Cultural Geography 1 | 3 |
| GEOG 3 | Introduction to Maps and Geographic Technologies | 3 |
| GEOG 11 | Laboratory in Physical Geography | 1 |
| Required Upper Division Core Courses (9 Units) | ||
| GEOG 102 | Ideas and Skills in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 118 | Earth Transformed | 3 |
| GEOG 190 | Senior Research Seminar in Geography 1 | 3 |
| Geography Core (12 Units) | ||
| Select one course from each of the following four areas: | 12 | |
| Geographic Techniques | ||
| Cartography | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Applied GIS | ||
| Programming for GIS | ||
| Programming for GIS II | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Field Geography: Urban-Metropolitan | ||
| Field Geography: Suburban-Rural | ||
| Field Geography: Physical | ||
| Human Geography | ||
| Geography of Economic Activity | ||
| Environmental Hazards and Society | ||
| Population Geography | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Urban and Regional Planning | ||
| Transportation Geography | ||
| Applied GIS | ||
| Physical Geography | ||
| Elements Of Meteorology | ||
| Climate | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Global Climate Change | ||
| Landforms | ||
| California's Water Resources | ||
| Regional Geography | ||
| United States and Canada | ||
GEOG 125 | ||
| Geography Of Africa | ||
| Geography Of Europe | ||
| Special Topics in Regional Geography A | ||
| Special Topics in Regional Geography B | ||
| Special Topics in Regional Geography C | ||
| California | ||
| Concentrations (15 Units) | ||
| Select a concentration from the following: | 15 | |
Geographic Information Systems and Analysis Concentration | ||
Human Geography Concentration | ||
Metropolitan Area Planning Concentration | ||
Physical Geography Concentration | ||
| Total Units | 46 | |
- 1
Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.
Concentration in Physical Geography (15 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select four additional physical geography courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Elements Of Meteorology 1 | ||
| Biogeography 1 | ||
| Global Climate Change 1 | ||
| Landforms | ||
| California's Water Resources | ||
| Field Geography: Physical 2 | ||
| Select one additional technique course from the following: | 3 | |
| Cartography | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Applied GIS | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Total Units | 15 | |
- 1
Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.
- 2
The technique cannot be a field course if a field course was taken for the core.
Note: GEOG 113 can be used to meet the physical geography breadth requirement in the core, but cannot be used in the concentration.
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (6-9 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science 2 | 0 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 2 | 0 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 3 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (6 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course 2 | 0 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 39-42 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies GE.
- 3
Students can complete Area B5 by taking GEOG 111, GEOG 115, or GEOG 116 in their Concentration Requirements.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) 2 | 0 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3 | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.
- 3
If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html