Undergraduate Program Description
Geography is the study of the spatial distributions and spatial relations
within the human-environment system. Attention is focused on historic and
contemporary human activities within the context of the physical-biotic
and cultural environment, and on humanity as one of the major agents of
change of the earth's surface. A curriculum in Geography helps students
understand the world's landscape and how it has been transformed or altered
by either the earth's natural processes or human modifications.
At Cal State East Bay, students can choose between a Bachelor of Science
(B.S.) degree and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in Geography.
A B.S. degree major is appropriately suited for students with career objectives
in the professional field of Geography. It is also highly recommended for
those planning to enter a graduate school program in Geography. Obtaining
a Bachelors of Arts degree major provides for a liberal education, and prepares
students for positions in business, government, foreign service, and especially
teaching. Combining geography with coursework in other social sciences or
with other science fields is excellent preparation for teachers in secondary
education. Both majors require 61 units, 16 lower division and 45 upper
division.
Features
With the arrangement of a faculty advisor, students in the Bachelor of Science
program can select from the following fields of concentration: biogeography,
cartography, cultural geography, economic geography, historical geography,
history and philosophy of geography, physical geography, regional geography.
The department also offers a Certificate Program in Cartography and G.I.S.
for those wanting to learn skills and methods in data collection, interpretation,
and analysis as well as the design, compilation, production, and reproduction
of maps.
Geographic internships are available. Individual students may be assigned
to public, private, or volunteer agencies.
Scholarship Richard and Evelyn Thoman Scholarship in Geography and Environmental
Studies
One $500 scholarship awarded for the academic year for full-time undergraduate
or graduate studies. Awards are limited to students with upper division
or graduate standing. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required,
and demonstrated scholastic and creative ability in the field of Geography
or Environmental Studies.
Major Requirements (B.A.)
The major consists of 61 units in geography; the B.A. degree requires a
total of 186 units.
I.
Lower
Division (16 units)
GEOG 2100 Physical
Geography (4)
GEOG 2300 Cultural Geography (4)
GEOG 2310 Economic and Resource Geography (4)
GEOG 2410 Introduction to Maps (4)
II.
Upper
Division (45 units)
GEOG 3400 Field
Geography of the S. F. Bay Region (4)
GEOG 3450
Literature and Research Aids (5)
GEOG 4800 Growth of Geographic Thought (4)
One Physical Course (4 units):
GEOG 3115 Physical Landscape Analysis
One Cultural Course (4 units) selected from:
GEOG 3300 Historical Cultural Geography
GEOG 3330 Urban Geography
One Resource Course (4 units) selected from:
GEOG 3000 Resource Management
GEOG 3320 Geography of World Agriculture
GEOG 4320 Energy Resources and Management
GEOG 4350 Water Resources and Management
One Regional Course (4 units) selected from 3500 series, except
GEOG 3525
Plus 12 units of electives in geography, including not more
than 4 additional units in the 3500 series, and to include at least
4 units of the 4000-level series
Note:
The following courses or their equivalents have to be completed if
a student in the B.A. program in Geography desires to enter the M.A.
degree program in Geography:
GEOG 3410 Air-Photo
Interpretation
GEOG 3420 Field Instruments and Observation, or a departmental examination
of competence in field observation and report writing
GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles
III.
Proficiency
Requirements
Proficiency
in reading a foreign language, at the first-year level, must be demonstrated
by successful completion of a departmental examination; or proficiency
in statistics, at the level of a 3000-series course, must be demonstrated
by passing an examination set by the Statistics Department; or proficiency
in Mathematics, at the level of Calculus III, must be certified by
the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. These examinations
will be given once each quarter during the first week of instruction.
Appropriate coursework will be recommended to students who do not
pass an examination.
Major Requirements (B.S.)
The major consists of 61 units in Geography; the B.S. requires a total of
186 units.
I.
Lower
Division (16 units)
GEOG 2100 Physical
Geography (4)
GEOG 2300 Cultural Geography (4)
GEOG 2310 Economic and Resource Geography (4)
GEOG 2410 Introduction to Maps (4)
II.
Upper
Division (45 units)
GEOG 3410 Air-Photo
Interpretation (4)
GEOG 3420 Field Instruments and Observation (4)
GEOG 3450
Literature and Research Aids (5)
GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles (4)
GEOG 4800 Growth of Geographic Thought (4)
One Physical Course (4 units):
GEOG 3115 Physical Landscape Analysis
One Cultural Course (4 units) selected from the group comprising
the 3300 series
One Field Course (4 units) selected from:
GEOG 4125 Field Course in Physical-Biotic Geography
GEOG 4325 Field Course in Cultural-Urban Geography
Two Regional Courses (8 units) selected from the 3500 series,
except GEOG 3525
Plus 4 units of electives in Geography, in the 4000 series
III.
Proficiency
Requirements
Proficiency
in reading a modern language, at the first-year level, must be demonstrated
by successful completion of a departmental examination; or proficiency
in statistics, at the level of a 3000 series course, must be demonstrated
by passing an examination set by the Statistics Department; or proficiency
in Mathematics, at the level of Calculus III, must be certified by
the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. These examinations
will be given once each quarter during the first week of instruction.
Appropriate coursework will be recommended to students who do not
pass an examination.
Other Degree Requirements
In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the
University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate
Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include
the General Education-Breadth requirements; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution,
and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing
Skills requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.
Minor Requirements
The minor consists
of 36 units.
GEOG 2100, 2300,
3410 (12 units)
Two regional courses (3500 series) from different instructors
(8 units)
Four courses from one of the following groups (16 units):
A.
Human Geography
Option: GEOG 2310, 3300, 3320, 3330, 3360
Certificate in Cartography and GIS
The Cartography
and GIS Certificate Program consists of 20 units. It is designed to
prepare students in methods of data collection, interpretation, and
analysis as well as the design, compilation, production, and reproduction
of maps, thus enabling students to be current in the field of cartography.
Select at
least 20 units from the following:
GEOG 3410 Air-Photo
Interpretation (4)
GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles and Graphic Communication (4)
GEOG 3605 Computer Cartography (5)
GEOG 4425 Remote Sensing of Earth Environments (4)
GEOG 4600 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (5)
GEOG 4605 Environmental Applications of GIS (4)
Geography Option: Liberal Studies
Area I (8
units)
Two of the following:
GEOG 2100 Physical
Geography (4), 2300 Cultural Geography (4), 2310 Economic and Resource
Geography (4)
Area VII,
Credential Track, or Area VI, General Track (24 units)
GEOG 2410 Map
Reading and Interpretation (4)
GEOG 3400 Field Geography of the San Francisco Bay Region (4)
Either GEOG 3500 Geography of the United States and Canada (4) or
GEOG 3505 Geography of California (4)
One of the following (4 units):
GEOG 3115 Physical
Landscape Analysis (4), 4125 Field Course in Physical-Biotic Geography
(4)
One of the
following (4 units):
GEOG 3300 Historical
Cultural Geography (4), 3320 Geography of World Agriculture (4), 3330
Urban Geography (4), 3340 Urban Planning (4), 3360 Historical Geography
of the United States (4), 4325 Field Course in Cultural-Urban Geography
(4)
One of the
following (4 units):
GEOG 3000 Resource
Management (4), 4320 Energy Resources and Management (4), 4350 Water
Resources and Management (4)
