Bachelor of Science, Major in Geography, Geo-spatial Information Sciences

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Bachelor of Science, Major in Geography, Geo-spatial Information Sciences
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 28
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 3,43
Component Area V (Creative Arts)3
Component Area VI (U.S. History)6
Component Area VII (Political Science/Government)6
Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences)3
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
8 hours (two courses) of Life and Physical Sciences (beyond the Core Curriculum)8
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics 13
or STAT 3379 Statistical Methds in Practice
Major: Foundation
GEOG 1401Weather and Climate 24
GEOG 3301Environmental Geography3
GEOG 3350Cultural Geography3
Introductory Geography (choose one of the following) 53
People, Place and the Envrnmt 3
World Reg Geo-Eur Asia Aust 4
Reg Geo-Lat Am Africa So Asia 4
Introductory Physical Geography (choose one of the following) 53
Physical Geography
Sustainability & Environment
Physical Geology
Geologic & Environmental Hazards
Major: Required
GEOG 2464Intro to Geographic Info Sys4
GEOG 3363Computer Cartography3
GEOG 4361Geographic Information Systems for Public Health3
GEOG 4365Applied Geographic Info Systms3
GEOG 4367GIS Programming3
GEOG 4468Remote Sensing4
Applied Cognate (Choose three of the following)9
Sustainable Development
Tourism Geography
Hydrology and Water Resources
Conservation of Natural Res
Field Studies
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Population Geography
Transportation Geography
Geomorphology
Major: Prescribed Electives
GEOG Advanced Electives 64
Minor: Required 7
Minor (Must include at least 9 hours of advanced credit)18
Total Hours120
1

MATH 1342 or STAT 3379 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).

2

GEOG 1401 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) OR the Degree Specific requirement for Life and Physical Science. Students who choose to apply this course towards the Geography major may also need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill the 120 credit-hour requirement.  

3

GEOG 1300 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV.  Students who choose to apply this course towards the Geography major may also need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill the 120 credit-hour requirement.

4

GEOG 2355 and/or GEOG 2356 fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture. Students who choose to apply either of these course towards the Geography major may need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill the 120 credit-hour requirement for graduation.

5

INTRODUCTORY GEOG courses: GEOG 1300, GEOG 1401, GEOG 2355, GEOG 2356. GEOG 1401 also satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical sciences). GEOG 1300 also satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences), while GEOG 2355 and GEOG 2356 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture. Students who choose to also apply these courses towards the Geography major may need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill the 120 credit-hour requirement for graduation.

6

GEOG Advanced Electives should be used to meet the 120 SCH and 42 Advanced hour requirements

7

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Geo-spatial Science. 

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area II3ENGL 130213
Component Area IX4GEOG 1300, 2355, or 235623
ENGL 130113HIST 130133
GEOG 140124MATH 1342 or STAT 337943
 POLS 230553
 14 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4Component Area III 4
GEOG 24644Component Area V3
GEOG 3320, 2341, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 14033GEOG 43613
HIST 130233GEOG 43653
POLS 230653Minor63
 17 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IV3GEOG 33013
GEOG 33503GEOG 33633
GEOG 43673Life & Physical Sciences74
Life & Physical Sciences74Minor Advanced 66
Minor63 
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area VIII3GEOG Advanced Electives94
GEOG Applied Cognate 83GEOG Applied Cognate 86
GEOG 44684Minor Advanced 63
Minor Advanced 63 
 13 13
Total Hours: 120
1

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).

2

INTRODUCTORY GEOG courses: GEOG 1300, GEOG 1401, GEOG 2355, GEOG 2356. GEOG 1401 also satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical sciences). GEOG 1300 also satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences), while GEOG 2355 and GEOG 2356 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture. Students who choose to also apply these courses towards the Geography major may need to complete additional coursework in order to fulfill the 120 credit-hour requirement for graduation.

3

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).

4

MATH 1342 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).

5

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).

6

The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Geo-spatial Sciences.

7

Life & Physical Science course beyond Core. 

8

See, Geography Applied Cognate course listing below. 

9

GEOG Advanced Electives should be used to meet the120 SCH and 42 advanced hours.

Geography Applied Cognate 8
GEOG 3310Sustainable Development3
GEOG 3352Tourism Geography3
GEOG 4330Hydrology and Water Resources3
GEOG 4331Conservation of Natural Res3
GEOG 4333Field Studies3
GEOG 4351Economic Geography3
GEOG 4356Urban Geography3
GEOG 4357Population Geography3
GEOG 4359Transportation Geography3
GEOG 4432Geomorphology4

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The BS in in Geography, Geo-spatial Information Sciences is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • GIS programming.
  • Ability to understand, identify, and synthesize environmental & population data and produce it into map form.
  • GIS & map design and analysis.
  • Ability to produce and interpret remotely sensed data.
  • Technical writing & statistical analysis.