Bachelor of Arts, Major in Geography (Environment, Culture, and Development)

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit. 

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Geography (Environment, Culture, and Development)
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) 33
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) 43
Component Area IX (Component Area Option)4
Degree Specific Requirements
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics 13
or STAT 3379 Statistical Methods in Practice
WOLC 1411
WOLC 1412
Beginning Foreign Language I
and Beginning Foreign Language II
8
WOLC 2311
WOLC 2312
Intermediate Foreign Language
and Intermediate Foreign Language II 3
6
Major: Foundation
GEOG 1401Weather and Climate 24
GEOG 2464Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (GIS Core)4
GEOG 3301Environmental Geography (Advanced Environment Core)3
GEOG 3350Cultural Geography (Advanced Human Core)3
Introduction of Regional Geography - Select one course from the following:3
People, Places, and the Environment 4
World Regional Geography: Europe, Asia, and Australia 3
World Regional Geography: Latin America, Africa, South Asia 3
Regional Geography: the United States and Canada (Can only be taken once)
Physical Geography - Select one course from the following:3-4
Physical Geography
Physical Geology 2
Geologic & Environmental Hazards 2
Environment, Culture, and Development Concentration
Human Geography - Select four courses from the following:12
Sustainable Development
Tourism Geography
Regional Geography: the United States and Canada (Can only be taken once)
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Population Geography
Cultural Field Study
Physical and Environmental Geography - Select four courses from the following:12-13
Sustainability & Environment
Meteorology
Climatology
Weather Forecasting (Weather Forecasting)
Tropical Climatology (Tropical Climatology)
Earth and Environment Seminar
Hydrology and Water Resources
Conservation of Natural Resources
Field Studies
Geomorphology
Advanced Geo-Spatial Technique - Select one course from the following:3-4
Computer Cartography
GIS in Law Enforcement
Geographic Information Systems for Public Health
Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS Programming
Spatial Analysis and Statistics
Remote Sensing
Major: Prescribed Electives
GEOG Electives 53
Minor: Required 6, 7
Minor6
Minor (Advanced)12
Total Hours120-123
1

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

2

GEOG 1401, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 1405 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science). 

3

GEOG 2355, GEOG 2356, WOLC 2311, or WOLC 2312 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). 

4

GEOG 1300 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). 

5

Additional GEOG Electives may be necessary depending on student course selection with Core Curriculum overlap. 

6

12 semester credit hours of the minor should be used to meet the 42 advanced hours requirement. 

7

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

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.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.  

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area II13Component Area III34
Component Area IX1ENGL 130223
ENGL 130123HSTY 130143
GEOG 140134Introduction of Regional Geography 53
WOLC 14114POLS 230563
 15 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area V3GEOG 2341, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 14053-4
HSTY 130243GEOG 33013
MATH 1342 or STAT 337913GEOG 33503
POLS 230663Minor7, 83
WOLC 14124WOLC 231193
 16 15-16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area VIII103Advanced Geo-Spatial Technique113-4
Component Area IX3Human Geography126
GEOG 24644Minor (Advanced)7, 83
Minor 7, 83Physical and Environmental Geography133
WOLC 231293 
 16 15-16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Human Geography123GEOG Electives143
Minor (Advanced)7, 86Human Geography123
Physical and Environmental Geography133Minor (Advanced)7, 83
 Physical and Environmental Geography136-7
 12 15-16
Total Hours: 120-123
1

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

2

Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communication).

3

GEOG 1401, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 1405 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

4

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

5

See Introduction of Regional Geography course list below. 

6

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

7

12 semester credit hours of the minor should be used to meet the 42 advanced hours requirement. 

8

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

9

GEOG 2355, GEOG 2356, WOLC 2311, or WOLC 2312 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). 

10

GEOG 1300 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). 

11

See Advanced Geo-Spatial Technique course list below.  

12

See Human Geography course list below. 

13

See Physical and Environmental Geography course list. 

14

Additional GEOG electives may be necessary depending on student course selection with Core Curriculum overlap. 

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.

Introduction of Regional Geography 5
Select one course from the following:3
People, Places, and the Environment 1
World Regional Geography: Europe, Asia, and Australia
World Regional Geography: Latin America, Africa, South Asia
Regional Geography: the United States and Canada
1

GEOG 1300 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

Advanced Geo-Spatial Technique 11
Select one course from the following:3-4
Computer Cartography
GIS in Law Enforcement
Geographic Information Systems for Public Health
Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS Programming
Spatial Analysis and Statistics
Remote Sensing
Human Geography 12
Select four courses from the following:12
Sustainable Development
Tourism Geography
Regional Geography: the United States and Canada
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Population Geography
Cultural Field Study
Physical and Environmental Geography 13
Select four courses from the following:12-13
Sustainability & Environment
Meteorology
Climatology
Weather Forecasting
Tropical Climatology
Earth and Environment Seminar
Hydrology and Water Resources
Conservation of Natural Resources
Field Studies
Geomorphology

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 BA in Geography (Environment, Culture, and Development) is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Use the scientific method to address environmental and human problems.
  • Think critically and problem solve.
  • Use statistics to evaluate hypotheses.
  • Communicate and engage with technical writing.
  • Gather, manage, analyze, and interpret spatially-referenced data.
  • Work with maps, spatially-referenced databases, and a range of geospatial technologies.
  • Apply knowledge and awareness of ecosystems and cultural environments in order to address a range of environmental and social issues.