2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Geography
- Requirements for a Major in Geography
- B.A. or B.S. in General Geography Without an Emphasis
- B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resiliency Planning
- B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Environment and Global Development
- B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Geospatial Technology
- B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Geography
Requirements for a Major in Geography
Core Courses
All geography majors, regardless of the area of emphasis, are required to complete the following core courses (12 credit hours):
- GPY 100 - Physical and Environmental Geography (3 credits)
- GPY 200 - Computer Cartography (3 credits)
- GPY 220 - Cultural Geography (3 credits)
- GPY 495 - Senior Thesis (3 credits)
B.A. or B.S. in General Geography Without an Emphasis
Students pursuing the general geography degree, without an emphasis, are to select their elective courses in consultation with their academic advisors to acquire significant transdisciplinary breadth, including courses in geospatial technology, urban and regional planning, environmental geography, sustainability science, and regional and global human development.
This self-designed geography degree track includes at least six credit hours of the regional geography, selected from the following:
- GPY 235 - Geography for a Changing World (3 credits)
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area (3 credits)
- GPY 350 - Geopolitics, Energy and Environment of Russia and Central Eurasia (3 credits)
- GPY 351 - Geography of Africa (3 credits)
- GPY 352 - Geography of Latin America (3 credits)
- GPY 353 - Geography of the United States and Canada (3 credits)
- GPY 354 - Geography and Globalization of Asia (3 credits)
- GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe (3 credits)
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon (3 credits)
- GPY 381 - Study Abroad I (3 to 9 credits)
AND choose at least 15 credits from the following topical geography and planning courses:
- GPY 101 - Sustainability and Place (1 credit)
- GPY 209 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use and Planning Law (3 credits)
- GPY 316 - Introduction to Transportation Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 324 - Urbanization (3 credits)
- GPY 335 - Globalization and Development (3 credits)
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World (3 credits)
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use (3 credits)
- GPY 365 - GIS for Economic and Business Decision-Making (3 credits)
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
- GPY 380 - Special Topics in Geography (3 credits)
- GPY 385 - GIS in Urban and Regional Analysis (3 credits)
- GPY 399 - Independent Readings (1 to 3 credits)
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS (4 credits)
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure (3 credits)
- GPY 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 credits)
- GPY 470 - Digital Image Processing (3 credits)
- GPY 490 - Internship (1 to 9 credits)
- GPY 499 - Independent Research (1 to 3 credits)
No more than six hours of GPY 399 and GPY 499 combined may count toward the major.
B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resiliency Planning
In addition to the geography major core courses (12 credits), students pursuing climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency planning emphasis are required to take the following five courses pertaining to climate mitigation and adaptation planning:
- GPY 101 - Sustainability and Place (1 credit)
- GPY 209 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 412/ENS 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 credits)
- NRM 140 - The Climatic Factor (4 credits)
AND choose at least nine credits from the following elective courses:
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use and Planning Law (3 credits)
- GPY 316 - Introduction to Transportation Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon (3 credits)
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World (3 credits)
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use (3 credits)
- GPY 365 - GIS for Economic and Business Decision-Making (3 credits)
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
- GPY 381 - Study Abroad I (3 to 9 credits)
- GPY 385 - GIS in Urban and Regional Analysis (3 credits)
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS (4 credits)
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure (3 credits)
- GPY 470 - Digital Image Processing (3 credits)
B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Environment and Global Development
In addition to the geography major core courses (12 credits), as previously specified, students pursuing a B.A. or B.S. in geography with an emphasis in environment and global development are required to take the following fundamental courses on global development and environmental changes (9 credits):
- GPY 235 - Geography for a Changing World (3 credits)
- GPY 335 - Globalization and Development (3 credits)
- GPY 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 credits)
AND choose at least six credits of the following environmental courses on environmental sustainability:
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World (3 credits)
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use (3 credits)
AND choose at least four credits from the following courses on the regional patterns of environment and development:
- GPY 101 - Sustainability and Place (1 credit)
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area (3 credits)
- GPY 350 - Geopolitics, Energy and Environment of Russia and Central Eurasia (3 credits)
- GPY 351 - Geography of Africa (3 credits)
- GPY 352 - Geography of Latin America (3 credits)
- GPY 353 - Geography of the United States and Canada (3 credits)
- GPY 354 - Geography and Globalization of Asia (3 credits)
- GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe (3 credits)
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon (3 credits)
AND choose at least three nonduplicated credits of any upper-level (300- or 400-level) geography and sustainable planning courses. These may include independent studies, internships, and study abroad courses.
B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Geospatial Technology
In addition to the geography major core courses (12 credits), as previously specified, students pursuing a B.A. or B.S. in geography with an emphasis in geospatial technology are required to take the following GIS and remote sensing courses (13 credits):
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS (4 credits)
- GPY 470 - Digital Image Processing (3 credits)
AND choose one of the following GIS applications courses:
- GPY 365 - GIS for Economic and Business Decision-Making (3 credits)
- GPY 385 - GIS in Urban and Regional Analysis (3 credits)
AND choose at least six nonduplicated credits of any 300- or 400-level geography and sustainable planning courses. These may include independent studies, internships, and study abroad courses.
B.A. or B.S. in Geography with an Emphasis in Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning
In addition to the geography major core courses (12 credits), as previously specified, students pursuing a B.A. or B.S. in geography with an emphasis in urban and regional planning are required to take the following fundamental urban and regional planning courses (6 credits):
- GPY 111 - Cities, Towns, and Villages (3 credits)
- GPY 209 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 324 - Urbanization (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use Planning (3 credits)
And take at least six credits of the following planning courses:
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use and Planning Law (3 credits)
- GPY 316 - Introduction to Transportation Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 385 - GIS in Urban and Regional Analysis (3 credits)
And take at least four credits from the following courses related to sustainable planning:
- GPY 101 - Sustainability and Place (1 credit)
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area (3 credits)
- GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe (3 credits)
- GPY 381 - Study Abroad I (3 to 9 credits)
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure (3 credits)
And take at least three nonduplicated credits of any upper-level (300- or 400-level) geography and sustainable planning courses. These may include independent studies, internships, and study abroad courses.
General Education
Please note that all GVSU students must complete the university general education requirements. Some geography courses count for one or more general education categories (Foundations, Cultures, and Issues). Please see your advisor and GVSU General Education Program requirements if you have any questions about course overlaps.
All GVSU students are required to fulfill WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (or WRT 120 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch I and WRT 130 - Strategies in Writing - Stretch II) and two Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) classes with a grade not lower than C before graduation; GPY 495 - Senior Thesis is an SWS course.
B.A. or B.S. Degree Requirements
B.A. Degree Requirements
Students pursuing the B.A. degree requirements must satisfy the third semester proficiency (through the 201-level) in one of the classical or modern languages offered by the Classics Department or the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
B.S. Degree Requirements
Students pursuing the B.S. degree requirements must complete the following courses:
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
AND choose one of the following courses:
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS (4 credits)
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure (3 credits)
- GPY 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 credits)
- GPY 470 - Digital Image Processing (3 credits)
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Geography
Suggested sample curriculum for a major in geography (this is an example only, please see your advisor and follow the catalog to develop coursework appropriate for your interests and/or area of emphasis).
Year One
Fall Semester
- GPY 100 - Physical and Environmental Geography (3 credits)
- GPY 220 - Cultural Geography (3 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
- General education-Foundations
Winter Semester
- GPY 200 - Computer Cartography (3 credits)
- GPY 235 - Geography for a Changing World (3 credits)
- MTH 110 - Algebra (4 credits)
- General education-Foundations
Year Two
Fall Semester
- GPY 209 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning (3 credits)
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- General education SWS
- General education-Foundations
Winter Semester
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
- GPY 314 - Land Use Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 354 - Geography and Globalization of Asia (3 credits)
- General education-Cultures
Year Three
Fall Semester
- GPY 324 - Urbanization (3 credits)
- GPY 350 - Geopolitics, Energy and Environment of Russia and Central Eurasia (3 credits)
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
- General education-Issues
Winter Semester
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe (3 credits)
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS (4 credits)
- General education Issues (second course)
Year Four
Fall Semester
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area (3 credits)
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World (3 credits)
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use (3 credits)
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure (3 credits)
Winter Semester