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University Catalog

GEOGRAPHY

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Geography students at Sacramento State explore Earth’s natural and cultural landscapes using methods from the natural sciences and the social sciences.  Students study climate, weather, landforms, water resources, plants and animals, and at the same time, peoples, societies, economies, and cities.  Geography's approach to these phenomena emphasizes their interrelationships and spatial patterns, which overlap in intricate ways and give rise to distinctive places and regions.  Students work with quantitative and qualitative data from a variety of sources, including published censuses and maps, aerial imagery, field and lab work, and surveys and interviews.  They use a variety of tools, including Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and other computer applications to collect, display, and analyze spatial data.  Students of geography study and address complex issues, especially those with a human-environment interface, such as climate change, resource degradation, urban growth and design, globalization, immigration, and ethnic and territorial conflict.  Geographical understanding is applied at different scales, from the local to the global, and regional expertise is cultivated.

Lower division offerings in physical geography, cultural geography, and geographical techniques introduce students to the discipline. At the upper division level, students can choose among regional classes on many parts of the Earth, topical classes on subjects from meteorology to transportation, and technique classes that include GIS, map making, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and field work. Majors select a concentration in a geographic subfield.  Although not required, the department encourages students to take elective courses and/or pursue a minor complementary to their geographical interests.

Concentrations

  • BA: General Geography / Cartography, Geographic Information Systems and Planning / Human Geography / Physical Geography
  • Certificates: Metropolitan Planning / Resource Planning

Special Features

  • Numerous internships and jobs in the Sacramento area, including many with state and local government
  • Many opportunities for field work in a variety of settings
  • A senior project class in which each student conducts his/her own research
  • A small major allowing for lots of interaction with faculty and fellow students, including attendance at state and regional professional meetings

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 45
Minimum total units required for BA: 120

Courses in Parentheses are prerequisites.

Note: Every candidate must complete all of the Geography Core and one Concentration.

A. Required Lower Division Core Courses (10 units)

(3)

GEOG 1

Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena

(3)

GEOG 2

Cultural Geography

(3)

GEOG 3

Introduction to Maps and Geographic Technologies

(1)

GEOG 11

Laboratory in Physical Geography (GEOG 1;
may be taken concurrently)
B. Required Upper Division Core Courses (21 units)

(3)

GEOG 102

Ideas and Skills in Geography (GEOG 1, GEOG 2, GEOG 3, or GEOG 11)

(3)

GEOG 118

The Changing Earth's Ecosystems

(3)

GEOG 190

Senior Research Seminar in Geography (GEOG 1, GEOG 2, GEOG 3, GEOG 102; senior standing; passing score on WPE)

One course from each of the following four areas:
Geographic Techniques

GEOG 105

Computer Cartography

GEOG 107

Remote Sensing (GEOG 103; passing score on the ELM recommended)

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 110

Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109 or instructor permission)
 

GEOG 163

 Applied Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109)

GEOG 181

Spatial Analysis
 

GEOG 182

Internet Geographic Information Systems (GEOG 109, CSC 1; or instructor permission)

GEOG 193A

Field Geography: Urban-Metropolitan

GEOG 193B

Field Geography: Suburban-Rural (GEOG 1, GEOG 103 or GEOG 105; or instructor permission)

GEOG 193C

Field Geography: Physical (GEOG 1, GEOG 109, GEOG 117 or GEOG 103 or GEOG 105; or instructor permission )
Human Geography

GEOG 141

Geography of Economic Activity

GEOG 145

Population Geography

GEOG 147

Urban Geography
 

GEOG 148

Urban and Regional Planning (GEOG 147 or instructor permission)
  GEOG 149

Transportation Geography (GEOG 141 or GEOG 147 or instructor permission)

GEOG 163

Applied GIS (GEOG 109)
Physical Geography

GEOG 111

Elements of Meteorology (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 113

Climate (Knowledge of general world distribution of climatic elements as given in an introductory physical geography course.)

GEOG 115

Geography of Plants and Animals (GEOG 1)
 

GEOG 116

Global Climate Change (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 117

Landforms (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources
Regional Geography

GEOG 121

United States and Canada

GEOG 122B

South America

GEOG 125

Geography of East Asia

GEOG 128

Geography of Europe

GEOG 131

California

Additional Requirements for Concentrations

Note: Courses cannot double count for the core and the concentration.

General Geography ConcentrationTWO of the following - GEOG 105, GEOG 107, GEOG 109, GEOG 110, GEOG 163, GEOG 181, GEOG 182 - plus one additional course from each of the human, physical and regional course listings.

Students must take ONE of the following human geography courses in addition to the one chosen for their core: GEOG 141, GEOG 145, GEOG 147, GEOG 163.

Students must take ONE of the following physical geography courses in addition to the one chosen for their core: GEOG 111, GEOG 113, GEOG 115, GEOG 117, GEOG 161.

Students must take ONE of the following regional geography courses in addition to the one taken for their core: GEOG 121, GEOG 122B, GEOG 125, GEOG 128, GEOG 131.

Cartography, Geographic Information Systems and Planning Concentration
Students must take FIVE of the following - GEOG 105, GEOG 107, GEOG 109, GEOG 110, GEOG 148, GEOG 163, GEOG 181, GEOG 182 and the GEOG 193 series. Only one of these may be a field course (GEOG 193 series).

Human Geography Concentration
Students must take TWO additional courses from the human geography course listings - GEOG 141, GEOG 145, GEOG 147, GEOG 148, GEOG 149, and GEOG 163, - TWO additional courses from the regional course listings - GEOG 121, GEOG 122B, GEOG 125, GEOG 127, GEOG 128 and GEOG 131, and ONE additional technique course from among the following: - GEOG 105, GEOG 107, GEOG 109, GEOG 110, GEOG 163, GEOG 181, GEOG 182, and the GEOG 193 series. The technique cannot be a field course (GEOG 193A, GEOG 193B, GEOG 193C) if a field course was taken for the core.

Physical Geography Concentration
Students must take FOUR of the following - GEOG 111, GEOG 113, GEOG 115, GEOG 116, GEOG 117, GEOG 161 - plus ONE additional technique course chosen from the following - GEOG 105, GEOG 107, GEOG 109, GEOG 110, GEOG 163, GEOG 181, GEOG 182 and the GEOG 193 series. The technique cannot be a field course (GEOG 193A, GEOG 193B, GEOG 193C) if a field course was taken for the core.

Requirements - Minor

Total units required for Minor: 18

(6) Two of the following lower division courses:

 

GEOG 1

Physical Geography: The Distribution of Natural Phenomena

 

GEOG 2

Cultural Geography

 

GEOG 3

Introduction to Maps and Geographic Technologies

(9) A minimum of 9 units upper division Geography, excluding GEOG 194, GEOG 195, GEOG 198, and GEOG 199.

(3) Three additional units in Geography, either lower division or upper division.

Courses must be selected in consultation with and approved by a faculty advisor in geography. A minimum of 6 upper division units must be earned in residence.

Requirements - Certificate - Pre - Planning

The Pre-Planning program consists of 15-16 units in addition to the major and culminates in a certificate. Select either the Metropolitan or Resource Planning Concentration below. No more than two courses may be taken in any one department.
Metropolitan Planning Concentration

(15) Select five of the following:

ECON 104

Introduction to the U.S. Economy

ECON 120

Economics and Environmental Degradation

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 145

Population Geography

GEOG 147

Urban Geography
 

GEOG 148

Urban and Regional Planning (GEOG 147 or instructor permission)
 

GEOG 149

 Transportation Geography (GEOG 141 or GEOG 147 or instructor permission)

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources

GOVT 170

Public Policy Development (GOVT 1 or equivalent; passing score on the WPE)

GOVT 180

California State and Local Government

HIST 163

The City in U.S. History
Resource Planning Concentration

(15-16) Select five of the following:

ECON 120

Economics and Environmental Degradation

GEOG 109

Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 117

Landforms (GEOG 1 or instructor permission)

GEOG 161

California's Water Resources

GEOL 10

Physical Geology

GOVT 170

Public Policy Development (GOVT 1 or equivalent; passing score on the WPE )

GOVT 180

California State and Local Government

HROB 101

Management of Contemporary Organizations

Students must have an advisor and will not be allowed to proceed in the program without an advisor's signature. In some cases courses may be accepted that have already been completed. There can be no double counting from among courses used in the major.

Career Possibilities

Geographer · Cartographer · Climatologist · Environmental Scientist · Geographic Information System Specialist · Land Economist · Recreation Planner · Locational Analyst · Soil Conservationist · Urban Planner · Transportation Planner · Aerial Photo Interpreter · Remote Sensing Specialist · Community Development Specialist · Land Use Planner · Demographer · Teacher

Faculty

Robin Datel, Marsha Dillon, Bruce Gervais, Thomas Krabacher, Miles Roberts, Michael Schmandt, Mathew Schmidtlein, James Wanket

Contact Information

Thomas Krabacher, Department Chair
Laura Summers, Administrative Support Coordinator
Amador Hall 550
(916) 278-6109
www.csus.edu/geog



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