B.A. in Geography

  The goals of the Bachelor of Arts degree program in geography are:
  • Teach students to think spatially and solve problems
  • Provide an intellectual focus for students seeking a broadly based liberal arts education
  • Acquaint students with past and present patterns of landscape development and instill concern for intelligent management of the earth’s biophysical resources
  • Expose students to contemporary issues of geopolitical and international significance and their own role in them
  • Provide the skills and expertise necessary to master the application of geographic information technologies and analysis of spatial data
  • Prepare motivated students for career development and graduate study

    • Five different emphasis areas allow students to further focus the undergraduate degree program around their own personal interests in geography:
  • Regional-cultural geography helps students develop a fuller sense of geographic analysis and better understanding of the human and physical characteristics of major regions of the world.
  • Physical-environmental systems emphasizes the complex interactions between biophysical systems and human behavior in the areas of geomorphology, biogeography and climate, as well as our role in managing applied environmental problems.
  • Urban/population systems involves the study of urban systems, the role of cities in regional development, and migration behavior.
  • Geographic information sciences addresses the variety of technologies revolutionizing geographic analysis such as GIS, GPS, remote sensing, computer assisted cartography and spatial statistics.
  • General geography is designed for the student with broad interests in geography that overlap with other emphasis areas.

    • Details on course requirements for the major and these emphasis areas may be found here.

    For students planning to end their formal education with the bachelor's degree, a geography major provides marketable skills and the broad perspectives on environment, society and international affairs that enable graduates to move beyond entry-level positions. Geography also provides a sound foundation for students who plan to enter graduate work in numerous disciplines, from geography to business, land use planning and law.
    Although positions are not often designated with the title of geographer, geography graduates’ employment has grown substantially in private enterprise and in all levels of government in recent years. Geographers are employed in a wide variety of occupations - some examples include cartographers, planners, intelligence specialists, environmental analysts; natural resource managers, retail trade and marketing specialists; location analysts, map librarians, land use specialists, remote sensing & air photo interpreters, cultural resource specialists, industrial development specialists, travel agents, demographers, professors and teachers. Further information on jobs and careers in geography is available from the Association of American Geographers, the National Council for Geographic Education, and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

    Options available to Geography majors for further professional credentials include:
  • GIS Certificate Program, which is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the theoretical, practical and technical skills essential for analysis of spatial data. The program offers the training and experience necessary to prepare for the rapidly expanding professional opportunities available in the diverse fields that depend on geographic information. All MU undergraduate students (other than those working toward the GIS minor) may earn the GIS certificate by completing 15 hours of approved coursework with a grade of B or better.

  • Geospatial Intelligence Certificate Program, which is designed to provide undergraduate students technical and analytic skills necessary to begin a career in the rapidly growing field of geospatial intelligence. Geospatial intelligence or “GeoINT” is an is a discipline comprising the exploitation and analysis of geospatial data and information to describe, assess, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth. GeoINT sources include imagery and mapping data, whether collected by commercial satellite, government satellite, or by other means, such as reconnaissance aircraft. Eligibility for the GICP is established by admission to MU for any undergraduate degree program. After this, an undergraduate student must be complete a minimum of 21 hours of approved coursework, and must earn a grade average of at least B (3.0) in these courses. The MU GICP is accredited by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation.

  • Professional Opportunities An internship program is available through Geography 4945. Jobs in the mapping sciences and Geographic Information Systems are rapidly expanding for geography graduates. These include computer cartographers, air photo interpreters, remote sensing specialists and Geographic Information Systems (GJS) specialists. Students are encouraged to contact the department and potential employers early in their program of study, because special course work may be required for certain jobs, and useful internships may be available. The department cooperates with the MU Career Center to find appropriate jobs for its majors and will assist them in designing programs that are compatible with stheir individual career objectives and ambitions.

    • Questions? Please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Larry Brown