Geography Major & Minor
The discipline of geography seeks to understand the transformation of the earth in relationship to both human and environmental processes and serves as a bridge between the natural and social sciences. Spatial theories (scale, location, place, and connectivity) allow geographers to critically analyze change in the cultural, physical and economic landscape.
Students find geography’s interdisciplinary nature combines well with other programs and fields of study such as international studies, environmental studies, biology and economics.
The Geography Major
Note: No grade below a C- (1.70) will be allowed for credit within the major.
10 units, including:
SUST-101 Introduction to Sustainability
GEOG-210 Planet Earth: People and Place
GEOG-250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire
GEOG-260 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
DSST-189 Introduction to Statistical Modeling (or equivalent research methods course, with approval of department)
GEOG-401 Geography Capstone
Four units in electives, which must include an approved experiential learning component (internship, field work, study abroad). Three of the electives must be at the 300 level or higher.
The Geography Minor
Note: No grade below a C- (1.70) will be allowed for credit within the minor.
Six units, including:
Sustainability Minor
The minor in Sustainability empowers students to shape a just and sustainable world through core concepts in (1) systems thinking, (2) justice, (3) sustainability knowledge, (4) integration, and (5) acting for positive change. The sustainability curriculum follows the structure of the Triple Bottom Line Approach (Society/Equity, Economy, Environment/Nature) and includes consideration of the impacts of our actions, personally and collectively, on others, as well as a sense of self-efficacy to work toward improving conditions that foster well-being of people and the environment now and into the future. Inherent in the sustainability worldview is an understanding of definitions of sustainability and the complexity of sustainability challenges across cultures.
Requirements
The minor in Sustainability requires 5 Units, plus an Acting for Positive Change Requirement with embedded reflection. Grade point average of coursework comprising the minor must be no less than 2.00, with no course grade below C- (1.70). Units include:
SUST-101 Introduction to Sustainability
GEOG-345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy, Nature
1 course in Economic Sustainability, chosen from:
ECON-211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
ECON-230 Environmental Economics
ECON-234 Urban Economics
ECON-330 Environmental and Resource Economic Theory
MGMT-348 Environmental Management
MGMT-353 Sustainability and Accountability in Business
MKT-329 Sustainable Marketing
GEOG-370 Economic Geography and Globalization
1 course in Environmental Sustainability, chosen from:
BIOL-109 Introduction to Ecology
BIOL-111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake Bay
ENVR-199 Introduction to Biological Thinking
CHEM-110 Pollutants in the Environment
ENVR-201 Introduction to Environmental Studies
GEOG-215 Geography of the James River Watershed
GEOG-250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire
GEOG-315 Landscape Ecology
1 course in Social Sustainability, chosen from:
Acting for Positive Change Requirement can be fulfilled through the following, with associated reflection approved and supervised by the Chair of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability:
Directed Research
Internship
Sustainability Study Abroad
Electives in Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability cannot be double counted toward the Environmental Studies or Geography Majors or Minors.
Questions should be directed to the Chair of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability.