Geography (B.A.)

Geography is a social science that explores the ways in which humans have organized their activities in space, used and modified the earth’s resources and environments, and created distinctive landscapes and regions. These concerns are inherently interdisciplinary and increasingly international. Geographers who study spatial organization forge close ties with urban and regional economists, sociologists and planners, as well as with those who study international trade and economic growth. Geographers who explore environmental relationships have become skilled in earth science (for example, geomorphology or climatology) or have become leaders in the development of cultural ecology, linking closely with anthropology and archaeology, as well as with specialists in government and regional studies. Geographers have played leading roles in area studies and the development of urban studies and of regional science, and are active in such policy arenas as urban and transportation planning, area studies, regional and international development, risk analysis, and environmental management.

UTD offers three degree options to its geography majors: a general B.A. degree, a B.A. with certification in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technologies, and a B.A. with a concentration in Regional Development and International Studies.

Those who elect the general B.A. degree are provided an educational experience to allow them to put their degrees, backgrounds, and experience to use in a wide variety of post-graduate educational and occupational positions, including:

• Graduate School in Geography (or a related social, policy or environmental science discipline, including UTD's own graduate programs in Geospatial Information Science, Political Economy and Pulic Policy, and Public Affairs;
• Urban, Environmental or Transportation Planning;
• the travel industry;
• Public Policy or Management;
• Marketing, Real Estate or Locational Analysis ;
• Employment in federal, state and local government agencies.

Those who elect the certification option have added opportunities as GIS analysts in many of these same areas.

The concentration in regional development and international studies is interdisciplinary and serves a group of students who cross the disciplines of geography, political science, economics, sociology, and the humanities. Graduates with a specialization in this area will possess the skills that are necessary to meet the needs and demands of the international diplomatic and business sectors, in particular, students will be prepared to identify and develop solutions to current problems in public and international affairs, including regional development. Students also will be prepared for analytical and administrative positions and responsibilities in the government, policy-making, or private sector. The program builds on requirements in foreign language, regional/comparative studies, and an international foundation. Students choose from three fields of study: Globalization and Development, International Political Economy, and Culture and Politics. Each field of study combines theory and social science research methods to provide students with the skills and ability to deal effectively with international issues. The Globalization and Development field focuses on issues related to the global economy and regional development. The International Political Economy field allows students to understand how economic polciy is formulated by political leaders, providing a means to better understand complex interactions at the local, national, and international levels. The Culture and Politics field allows students to explore the mutual engagement of culture, space, and political power adding a new and crucial dimension to the study of international affairs.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective (GEOG 3377)²
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301, SOC 2319, CJS 1301, or CJS
            1307)²
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
        3 hours Mathematics (at or above the level of College Algebra)
        3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3305)²
    E. Science (9 hours)
        GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory
        GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory
        GEOS 1303 Physical Geology
        GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life
        1 hour Science elective

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education.
² The courses listed in parenthesis are the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 52 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (9 hours)
        ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
        GEOG 2301 Social Relations and Spatial Organization*
            or GEOG 2303 People and Place: An Introduction to World Geographic Regions
            or GEOG 2304 The Human Mosaic: Culture and Space
        GEOG 2302 The Global Environment*
        GEOS 1103 Physical Geology Laboratory²
        GEOS 1104 History of Earth and Life Laboratory²
        GEOS 1303 Physical Geology²
        GEOS 1304 History of Earth and Life²
    Major Core Courses ( 25 hours)
        GEOG 3304 Tools for Spatial Analysis
        GEOG 3377 Urban Planning and Policy²
        SOCS 3105 Social Statistics Laboratory
        SOCS 3305 Introduction to Social Statistics²
        Four of the following:
            GEOG 3301 Cultural Ecology
            GEOG 3331 Urban Growth and Structure
            GEOG 3341 Politics, Place and Space
            GEOG 3357 Spatial Dimensions of Health and Disease
            GEOG 3358 Population: Concepts and Issues
            GEOG 3370 The Global Economy
            GEOG 3372 Population and Development
            GEOG 3373 Transportation and Logistics
        One of the following:
            CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
            ECO 4320 Public Sector Economics
            GOVT 4361/SOC 4361 Law and Society
            GOVT 4364/SOC 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
    Major Related Courses (24 hours)
        18 hours Geography upper-division electives
        6 hours Major and Related electives³

² A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take upper-division GEOG courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.
* Indicates a prerequisite to be completed before enrolling in upper-division GEOG courses.

III. Elective Requirements: 26 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major
        field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that
        have prerequisites.
    Free Electives (20 hours)
        This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of
        study. Students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for
        graduation.

Specialization Areas

GIS Certification

This specialization area requires admission into the Fast Track Program. Students interested in this specialization should take the following sequence of courses within the Major Related Requirements.

Major Related Courses (9 hours)
    9 hours Geography upper-division electives³
GIS Certification (15 hours)
    GISC 6381 GIS Fundamentals
    GISC 6382 Applied GIS
    GISC 6383 Management and Implementations
    GISC 6387 GIS Workshop
    One additional GIS course

Regional Development and International Studies Concentration

Students interested in this specialization should take the following sequence of courses within the Major Related and Elective Requirements.

Major Related Courses (12 hours)
    12 hours Geography upper-division electives³
Regional Development and International Studies (32 hours)
    Regional and Comparative Studies (9 hours)
        These must be from the same are (e.g. Latin America, Europe, Africa, or The Middle         East). See an advisor for a list of approved courses.
    International Foundation (9 hours)
        Choose 3 of the following:
            ECO 4360 International Trade
            ECO 4382 International Finance
            GOVT 3328 International Relations
            GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
            GOVT 4329 Global Politics
    Field of Study (14 hours)
        Students must choose from Globalization and Development; International Political         Economy; or Culture and Politics. All hours must be taken in the same field of         study. See an advisor for a list of approved courses.
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
        6 hours in the same foreign language. These must be either upper-division         classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.

³ Most students take upper-division GEOG courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Minor in Geography (18 hours)

For a minor in Geography, students must take GEOG 2302, GEOG 3304, GEOG 3370 and three additional Geography (GEOG) or Geographic Information Sciences (GISC) courses, with no more than one at the lower division (100 or 200 level).

The University of Texas at Dallas 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 31, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

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