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

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) 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
Eight hours (two courses) of Life and Physical Sciences (beyond the Core Curriculum)8
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics 13
or STAT 3379 Statistical Methods in Practice
or GEOG 4374 Geostatistics
Major: Foundation
GEOG 1401Weather and Climate 24
GEOG 3301Environmental Geography3
GEOG 3350Cultural Geography3
Introductory Geography (Choose one from the following:) 53
People, Places, and the Environment 4
World Regional Geography: Europe, Asia, and Australia 3
World Regional Geography: Latin America, Africa, South Asia 3
Introductory Physical Geography (Choose one from the following:) 63
Physical Geography
Sustainability & Environment
Physical Geology
Geologic & Environmental Hazards
Major: Required
GEOG 2464Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)4
GEOG 3363Computer Cartography3
GEOG 4361Geographic Information Systems for Public Health3
GEOG 4365Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)3
GEOG 4367GIS Programming3
GEOG 4468Remote Sensing4
Applied Cognate (Choose three from the following:)9
Sustainable Development
Tourism Geography
Earth and Environment Seminar
Hydrology and Water Resources
Conservation of Natural Resources
Field Studies
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Population Geography
Transportation Geography
Geomorphology
Major: Prescribed Electives
GEOG Advanced Electives 74
Minor: Required 8
Minor (Must include at least 9 hours of advanced courses)18
Total Hours120
1

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

2

GEOG 1401 satisfies four credit hours of 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 2355 and/or GEOG 2356 satisfy 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.

4

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

5

Introductory Geography Courses: 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

Introductory Physical Geography Courses: GEOL 1403 and GEOL 1405 also satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science). 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.

7

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

8

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 235633
ENGL 130113HSTY 130143
GEOG 140124MATH 1342, STAT 3379, or GEOG 437453
 POLS 230563
 14 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area III4Component Area III4
GEOG 2341, 3320, GEOL 1403, or GEOL 140573Component Area V3
GEOG 24644GEOG 43613
HSTY 130243GEOG 43653
POLS 230663Minor83
 17 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area IV3GEOG 33013
GEOG 33503GEOG 33633
GEOG 43673Life and Physical Sciences94
Life and Physical Sciences94Minor/Minor Advanced 86
Minor83 
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Component Area VIII3GEOG Advanced Electives114
GEOG Applied Cognate 103GEOG Applied Cognate 106
GEOG 44684Minor Advanced 83
Minor Advanced 83 
 13 13
Total Hours: 120
1

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

2

Satisfies four hours of the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science).

3

Introductory Geography Courses: 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.

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

Introductory Physical Geography Courses: GEOL 1403 and GEOL 1405 also satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science). 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.

8

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

9

Life and Physical Sciences course beyond Core. 

10

See Geography Applied Cognate course listing below. 

11

GEOG Advanced Electives should be used to meet the 120 SCH and 42 advanced hours.

Geography Applied Cognate 10
Choose three from the following:
GEOG 3310Sustainable Development3
GEOG 3352Tourism Geography3
GEOG 4100Earth and Environment Seminar1
GEOG 4330Hydrology and Water Resources3
GEOG 4331Conservation of Natural Resources3
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 Geography, Geo-spatial Information Sciences is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

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