Geography
Program Description
The Greek derivation of the word geography is "earth description." Geography studies natural features such as mountain ranges, rivers, valleys, forests, deserts, and grasslands, as well as human-made features such as cities, roads, dams, and bridges. Geography examines how human societies dynamically interact with each other and the environment, including how they are affected by a changing climate. Geography is truly an integrated discipline. Geography is central to an understanding of the international global arena and provides an exciting and challenging way to examine our planet.
Learn more about the program on the Geography website.
Associate Degree for Transfer
This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Geography AA-T listing.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to interpret spatially distributed data and draw valid conclusions by using maps, graphs, and/or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- Students will be able to evaluate core concepts in cultural and physical geography and apply them to contemporary events and issues.
Career Opportunities
Geography serves as an excellent undergraduate major. City, county, and state governments are hiring geographers in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), urban planning, and environmental studies because of their broad training. A geography degree also provides a good foundation for careers in international work with agencies such as the State Department, the United Nations, or international NGOs. The national mapping division of the United States Geological Survey traditionally needs geographers in map making and its related job openings such as photo-interpretation, satellite image analysis, land use, and land cover mapping. In addition, the analytical skills gained through a geography major provide a strong foundation for graduate study in law, urban planning, and architecture. Geographers with advanced degrees are also in demand in colleges and universities around the world. Students should enhance their major with a strong array of courses in the international arena, statistics, physical sciences, computer science, and basic business principles.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
Units Required
- Major: 33
Additional Information
Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required 1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (17 units)
- Support courses (16 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| GEOG 1 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY | 5 |
| GEOG 2 | HUMAN GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| GEOG 10 | WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY | 4 |
| GEOG 11 | INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING | 4 |
| or GIST 11 | INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING & SPATIAL REASONING | |
| Support Courses | ||
| Select eight units from the following: | 8 | |
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
or ANTH 2AH | HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
or ANTH 2B | PATTERNS OF CULTURE | |
| THE GLOBAL ECONOMY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY | ||
or GIST 12 | INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY | |
| INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCE | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES | ||
or GLST 1H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES | |
| GLOBAL ISSUES | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE | ||
or HIST 4B | HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800 | |
or HIST 4C | HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT | |
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS | ||
or POLI 15H | HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS | |
| And eight units from the following: 1 | 8 | |
| PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY | ||
| CALIFORNIA ECOLOGY/NATURAL HISTORY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATION | ||
| HISTORY OF RUSSIA & THE SOVIET UNION | ||
| COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | ||
or POLI 2H | HONORS COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | |
| Total Units | 33 | |
- 1
Students may also use courses listed in the first section of support courses to fulfill the requirement for the second section of support courses.