2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Geography-Teacher Certification Minor
Expertise in geography is important to all elementary and secondary education students. This minor provides education students with a foundation in human and physical geography, a strong understanding of concepts and principles of global and regional geography, a deep content understanding of regions of the world, and a basic competency in the use of geographic techniques.
Requirements for a Minor in Geography - Teacher Certification
Students seeking certification to teach geography at the secondary level are required to complete:
- Three core courses
- Four regional studies courses
- One methods course from the list of electives
Those students pursuing a GPY teachable minor must complete:
Core Courses
- GPY 100 - Physical and Environmental Geography (3 credits)
- GPY 220 - Cultural Geography (3 credits)
- SST 310 - Teaching Social Studies: Secondary (3 credits)
Regional Studies Courses
Required courses include:
- GPY 235 - Geography for a Changing World (3 credits)
- GPY 353 - Geography of the United States and Canada (3 credits)
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area (3 credits)
AND one course from the following:
- 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 354 - Geography and Globalization of Asia (3 credits)
- GPY 356 - The Geography, Culture and Land Use Management of Europe (3 credits)
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World (3 credits)
Methods Courses
Choose one:
- GPY 200 - Computer Cartography (3 credits)
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
- GPY 209 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning (3 credits)
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
- NRM 250 - Natural Resource Measurements and Mapping (3 credits)