Undergraduate Catalog

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Geography and Planning (GEOG) Undergraduate Programs

359 STEWART HALL/(320) 308-3160
www.stcloudstate.edu/geog

Also see School of Public Affairs description and requirements.

Chairperson: David L. Wall
Faculty: Baker, Blinnikov, Fuller, John, Kambach, Richason, Torguson, Wall, Wixon, Yu

The Geography program specializes in how the world’s physical, human and environmental phenomena are spatially organized and interrelated.  In an ever-changing world that is intensifying and multiplying in its global connections, geography is more relevant than ever.  With major specializations in disciplinary geography, land surveying, travel and tourism and geography education, and a keen focus on highly marketable technical skills in the Geographic Information Sciences, this program seeks to equip students for a broad range of rewarding careers in the private and public sectors (including tourism, land surveying, urban planning, natural resource management, teaching, and computer mapping) as well as for graduate study in a range of disciplines.  Students graduating with a degree from the geography program look at the world differently and with an understanding of the important trends and processes that shape the world in which we live, work, and travel.   

     Geography majors develop a solid understanding of the processes and patterns of the earth's physical phenomena (e.g., landforms, weather and climate, ecosystems) as well as how people organize themselves across the earth’s surface to create a mosaic of human geographies (based on economic activity, culture, and political systems). This combined perspective provides students with a strong basis in understanding human-environment linkages (resource use, environmental impacts). Important elements of geographic training necessary for professional employment or graduate study include regional study (with a choice of world regions including Russia; East Asia; Europe; British Isles), topical specialization (such as biogeography; political geography; urban planning) as well as applied GIScience skills in mapping, aerial photo and satellite image interpretation, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

     The Travel and Tourism major prepares students for careers in one of the world’s fastest growing industries.  Graduates of the program work for major companies and corporations in Minnesota and throughout the United States and abroad in such areas as travel planning, accommodations, airlines, attractions/events management, corporate travel, cruise lines, government, tour operations, automobile rental and many more.  Through class activities, applied research projects, site visits, and invited speakers, students gain the necessary tools and experience to build successful careers in the tourism industry.

     The Land Surveying and Mapping Sciences major utilize computers to process ground, air and space measurements.  Surveyors also apply technology by the use of surveying instrumentation such as: total stations, theodolites, electronic distance measuring instruments, levels, aerial photographs and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receivers to obtain the needed measurements.  Students in this major are provided with courses in mathematics, geographic information science (GIS), boundary law, cadastral studies, geodesy, least squares, site development and cartography.  Upon graduation the student is well prepared in the land surveying and mapping sciences such that he/she can be a participant on a professional land surveying team.

Bachelor of Arts

Geography Major (42)
Required Core: GEOG 216, 270, 271, 273, 274, 390, 432; STAT 219 or 229 (24).
Electives (18 credits) must be upper division courses --internships are in addition to the 42 credits.
A minimum of 3 credits and a maximum of 6 credits (of the 18 upper division) taken from regional courses (368, 369, 373, 374, 376, 378, 384); 410 may be substituted with approval of adviser. Completion of GEOG 432 with a grade of C- or better fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.

This major requires either one year in a single foreign language OR a minor.

Geography Minor (24)
GEOG 216, 270, 271, 273, 274 (15)
9 credits of electives 300/400 courses.

Travel and Tourism Major (45)
Core (24): GEOG 276, 277, 290, 361, 395, 396, 434, 498.  A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in each of these courses.
Tourism Electives (15): Select 15 credits from the following courses: GEOG 292, 297, 362, 363, 393, 144, 444, 460, 496, 497. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in each of these courses.
Regional Electives (6): Select 6 credits from the following courses: GEOG 368, 369, 373, 374, 376, 378, 384, 410

Completion of GEOG 434 fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.

Travel and Tourism Minor (24)
GEOG 276, 277, 290, 361, 363, 395, 396, 460
A minimum grade of "C" (2.0) is required in each of these courses.

Geographic Information Science Minor (24)
GEOG 216, 316, 350, 406, 407, 416, 450, 462. Up to 9 credits may be double counted for geography majors.

British Studies Minor (20-22)

The British Studies Minor offers students the opportunity to work towards a minor using required and elective courses taken in the UK and at SCSU.

Required (8-10): BRIT 101, 201*; BRIT 250 or GEOG 384; HIST 235 or 335 (or HIST 483 with approval).  *BRIT 101 and 201 may together be substituted with a 3-credit independent study taken with a previous or current director of the British Studies Program that meets the course SLOs of those courses, with prior approval.  Alternatively participation in a short-term education abroad program may substitute for BRIT 101 and 201 (if short-term program is 3 credits) plus BRIT 250 (if short-term program is 6 credits) with prior approval.  Alternatively, these courses may be substituted with those taken at UK universities with approval.

Electives (12 minimum):  ENGL 321, 322, 323, 325, 326, 327, 328, 423, 424, 465 (no more than two ENGL courses may be counted towards the minor); GEOG 374, 384; HIST 135 or 337; POL 331; or other courses (though no more than two courses from same rubric) with approval of the British Studies Subcommittee.

Bachelor of Science-Non-teaching

Land Surveying/Mapping Sciences Major (60) -  ASAC – ABET Accredited
GEOG 216, 316, 335, 336, 350, 394, 406, 416, 433, 435, 436, 438, 439, 444, 455, 462; MATH 221, 222, STAT 229. Must have an Associate degree from a Community or Technical College that has an articulated agreement with the B.S. degree program at SCSU. (Please contact the Department of Geography and Planning for list of articulated colleges.)   Completion of GEOG 439 fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.

The Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying and Mapping Sciences is accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of ABET (http://www.abet.org).

Undergraduate Certificate in Land Surveying (24)
Must have a Bachelor's degree.
Required (9): GEOG 335, 336, 439
A total of 15 credits from the following: GEOG 433, 435, 436, 438, 444, 455.

Gainful Employment

Certain undergraduate and graduate certificates at St. Cloud State University prepare students for employment in specific fields and do not result in a degree. Federal law requires publication of data associated with those programs of study, including approximate program costs, program length, and employment statistics. The Minnesota State Colleges and University's (MnSCU) Chancellor's office has provided these reports containing the aforementioned information for all required programs.

• Land Surveying Certificate (pdf)

Bachelor of Science-Teaching

The Social Studies Education major prepares students for Minnesota licensure as middle/secondary (5-12) social studies teachers. Students selecting this major must complete the Liberal Education program, the Social Studies Licensing Core, one of the emphases in the B.S. Social Studies major designated for licensure, and the Professional Education component.

The following courses make up the University's approved Social Studies Licensing Core:
ANTH: 250; ECON 201; GEOG 253, 270; HIST 140** or 141**, 106* (global only), 385; ETHS 310; POL 111, 251; PSY 240; SOC 160; SST 253, 453. Many of these social studies licensure core courses may be used in the liberal education program. (*Students emphasizing history will use HIST 210, 211 and electives in African, Asian, and/or Middle Eastern history instead of HIST 106 (global only). **They also include both HIST 140 and 141 in their emphasis.)

Individuals who plan to seek this licensure should consult the Director of Social Studies Education in the School of Public Affairs, SH 361, 320-308-5226, immediately upon enrolling at SCSU or changing to this field to determine the current plan for the social studies licensure competencies to be developed and demonstrated. Fifteen credits of coursework at SCSU and a 2.50 GPA at SCSU are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science Social Studies Education (Teaching) major leading to middle/secondary social studies licensure.

Social Studies Major-Geography Emphasis (24)
Geography Core
GEOG 270, 271, 273, 274
Required regional courses: 376 and one non-western: 368, 369, or 373; 410 may be substituted with approval of adviser.
Electives: 6 credits - one must be regional - one must be topical
Note: Students in this emphasis are not required to take GEOG 253 in their Social Studies Licensing Core.

Bachelor of Elective Studies — Non-teaching

Land Surveying/Mapping Science (45)
Required (9): GEOG 335, 336, 439
Completion of GEOG 439 fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.
Electives (27): Select 27 credits from among the following: 316, 317, 350, 394, 416, 406, 433, 436, 438, 444, 455, 462
Supporting Courses (9): Minimum of 6 credits of 200 level or higher calculus and a minimum of 3 credits of 200 level or higher statistics.

Eligibility to take the Fundamentals of Land Surveying (FS) exam is contingent upon completing elective courses approved by a Land Surveying advisor.

Bachelor of Elective Studies

Major (36)
Completion of any 36 Cr. in geography with approval of major adviser. Completion of GEOG 432 with a grade of C- or better fulfills the university's upper division writing requirement.

Minor (24)
Completion of any 24 Cr. in geography with approval of adviser.