Overview
Students who graduate with a BS in Geography and Sustainable Development are trained in methods of geographic inquiry and geospatial technology, and work to propose solutions that advance sustainable development worldwide.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| Precalculus Mathematics II (or higher fulfilled through Math Sequence) | ||
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Language Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement | 15 | |
| Math Sequence | 6 | |
| Advanced Writing and Communication Skills Requirement 1 | 12 | |
| Study Abroad (optional) | 15 | |
| Major Requirements 2,3 | ||
| GEG 110 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| GEG 120 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEG 306 | Geographic Research Methods | 3 |
| GEG 310 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEG 321 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 3 |
| GEG 331 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| GEG 410 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| GEG 501 | Capstone Research Seminar | 3 |
| GEG Elective | 9 | |
| Additional electives required for graduation | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
To satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences writing requirement in the discipline, students majoring in Geography and Sustainable Development must take at least one writing eligible course in Geography. GEG 501 satisfies this requirement for most students.
- 2
Students must complete at least 33 credit hours in Geography and Sustainable Development with a grade of C- or higher.
- 3
The overall GPA in courses counted toward the major must be 2.00 or higher.
Suggested Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| UMX 100 | The University of Miami Experience | 0 |
| GEG 110 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| GEG 120 | Physical Geography | 3 |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| WRS 106 or ENG 106 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| GEG Elective | 3 | |
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| BIO, CHM, GEL, or PHY Course | 3 | |
| GEG 331 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEG 306 | Geographic Research Methods | 3 |
| GEG 241 | Health and Medical Geography | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| GEG 310 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEG 321 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 3 |
| GEG 410 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| 300 Level GEG Elective | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| GEG Elective - Advanced Techniques | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| 300 Level GEG Elective | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEG 501 | Capstone Research Seminar | 3 |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| General or GEG Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122 | |
Mission
The mission of the Department of Geography and Sustainable Development (GEG) is to transform lives through education, research and innovation, and service. Through education, we transform the lives of our students, helping them to become professionals and global citizens with outstanding analytical and communication skills, creative abilities, and a sense of civic responsibility needed in an increasingly complex society. Through research and innovation, we advance the frontiers of geographic knowledge while pursuing solutions to some of society's most pressing challenges. Finally, through service, we support organizations and agencies (from local to global) that adopt principles of sustainable development as a way to ensure long-term human prosperity without undermining the integrity and stability of natural and social systems.
Goals
The BS in Geography and Sustainable Development program aims to graduate students who use methods of geographic inquiry and geospatial technology to propose solutions that advance sustainable development worldwide. We prepare students for positions in government, business, urban and regional planning, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), resource management, environmental analysis, and teaching. We offer courses that provide students with marketable skills for today's job market, such as medical geography, sustainable cities, sustainable development, sustainable food, GIS, digital cartography, satellite remote sensing, land use and land cover analysis, and spatial statistics. During their studies, our students develop global citizenship, which prepares them to examine and find solutions for global problems by using different analytical lenses and methods, as well as develop skills to work effectively in multi-cultural environments and collaborative settings.
Student Learning Outcomes
-
Foundational Knowledge (SLO1): Students will understand the most fundamental concepts and theories in geography and sustainable development, including the spatial patterns and processes of human and physical phenomena, the interactions between people and nature, and the challenges to conciliate human prosperity and environmental conservation worldwide.
Scientific Inquiry and Communication Skills (SLO2): Students will apply various theoretical and methodological approaches in geography and be able to develop research questions, critically analyze both qualitative and quantitative data to answer those questions, and effectively communicate their findings in oral and written formats.
Knowledge Translation Skills (SLO3): Students will be able to synthesize geographic knowledge and develop collaborative solutions to problems in sustainable development within the local community, region, and world by demonstrating strong ethical behavior and high levels of responsibility and integrity.
Geospatial Technology Skills (SLO4): Students will create individual portfolios of projects that demonstrate their capacity to integrate and apply geospatial technologies (Global Positioning Systems, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Information Systems) to data analysis and problem solving.
