Geography

B. J. Sommers, Chair; R. W. Benfield, J. E. Harmon, P. A. K. Kyem, C. Pope, T. Rickard, X. Shen, D. Truly (Dept. phone 832-2785)

The Geography Department is concerned with the science of location. Geography faculty teach students to use maps, air photos, computers and information about places to understand how people use the land they live on and what makes that land different from other areas. Geography students learn about the nature of places, human impacts on environment and the proper use of the land. Career opportunities include travel and tourism, environmental protection, urban, regional and transportation planning, map making, area studies and computer applications. The department also provides internships for students in a variety of town, regional, state and private agencies and offers consulting services, workshops and short courses as part of its outreach program.

Major in Geography, B.A. or B.S.

36 or 39 credits in Geography, as follows: A 21-credit basic core including GEOG 110 or 120, 3 credits in physical geography, 3 credits in cultural geography, 3 credits in geographic techniques, 3 credits in planning and 6 credits in regional geography courses. Also, completion of one of four programs as follows:

Environmental: 9 credits in physical geography, 9 credits in geographic techniques and 9 credits from GEOG 430, 433, 445, 472 and 473, plus any 300- or 400-level Geography course. 9 credits of this program may be used to fulfill the requirements of the core.

Techniques: GEOG 256, 266, 276, 378, 379, 430 or other course selected in consultation with faculty advisor, and 6 credits from other Geographic Techniques courses. 3 credits of this program may be used to fulfill requirements of the core.

Tourism: 15 credits from GEOG 290, 291, 450, 451, 453, 454 or 455; two courses in regional geography at the 300- or 400- level; GEOG 425 or GEOG 430 or a substitute course; and one elective geography course. 9 credits of this program may be used to fulfill requirements of the core (39 credits total).

General/Regional: 18 credits of Geography electives, at least nine of which must be at the 400-level. All elementary education students selecting this program will take GEOG 414 as one of their 3-credit electives in geography.                

Geography Course Groups. Physical geography courses:  GEOG 272, 275, 374, 472, 473; cultural geography courses: GEOG 220, 223, 244, 270, 290, 291, 433, 451, 453, 454, 455, 471; geographic techniques courses: GEOG 256, 266, 276, 378, 442, 476, 478; planning courses: GEOG 241, 420, 439, 440, 441, 445, 450, 483; and regional geography courses: GEOG 120, 330, 434, 435, 436, 437, 446, 448, 452, 459.

Acceptable substitutes for GEOG 425 or 430 will be jointly determined by student and advisor. When approved in advance by the student’s advisor, up to 6 credits of cognate courses in one or two other disciplines may be applied toward the major in Geography.

For certification in elementary education: Students are advised to follow the General/Regional program in the Geography major. All elementary education students selecting geography as their single subject matter area will take GEOG 414, with this course counting as a geography elective. Please consult with the School of Education and Professional Studies concerning additional education requirements.

Completion of a minor in another discipline is required, except for elementary education students. Certain minors are especially recommended by the department, depending on the career track chosen by the student. We also encourage participation in CCSU’s Cooperative Education program.

Major in Geography with a Specialization in Planning, B.A.

39 credits as follows: GEOG 110, 241 and 441; 15 credits in geographic techniques; 9 credits from GEOG 439, 440, 445, 450 or 483; 3 credits from GEOG 244, 272, or 275; and GEOG 420. A minor in another discipline acceptable to the student’s advisor is required. STAT 104 or 215 (Skill Area 2) is also required.

Minor in Geography with a Specialization in Planning

18 credits in Geography as follows: GEOG 110, 241, 441; 6 credits from GEOG 272 and/or any geographic techniques course; 3 credits from any 400-level planning course (see Geography Course Groups above).

Minor in Environmental Geography

18 credits in Geography as follows: 3 credits in GEOG 110; 3 credits from GEOG 256, 266, 276, 378/379, or 442; 6 credits from GEOG 270, 272, 275, 374; and 6 credits from GEOG 433, 445, 472, 473.

Minor in Geography

18 credits in Geography as follows: GEOG 110 or 120; and 15 credits of Geography electives. At least 6 credit hours must be in courses at the 300- or 400-level. We recommend that these electives include one course from each group listed in the Geography Course Groups.

Minor in Tourism

18 credits in Geography as follows: GEOG 110 or 120, 290; 3 credits from any regional Geography course and 9 credits selected from these courses: GEOG 291, 450, 451, 453, 454, 455. Courses used to satisfy this minor may not be used to satisfy the requirements of any major in Geography. Students selecting this minor must consult with the department chair.

Major in Social Science with Minor in Geography, B.S. (Acceptable for secondary certification in social studies.)

56 credits distributed as follows: 

18 credits in History, to include: HIST 121 and 122 or HIST 142 and 143; HIST 261 and 262; and 6 elective credits, three of which must be in non-western history.

18 credits from six of the following courses (must be spread among three social sciences): ANTH 140; ECON 200, 201; PS 104, 110; PSY 112; SOC 110.

26 credits from EDTE 315, SPED 315, EDSC 425, EDSC 435, EDF 415, EDT 315, RDG 440. In addition, students must take SSCI 415, 421 and PSY 236.

18 credits in Geography, as specified by the requirements for the minor in Geography.

Note: Please consult with the School of Education and Professional Studies concerning additional requirements.

Note: Geography is not a certifiable subject in Connecticut. Those who wish to teach the subject at the secondary level in the state should complete this major. Those who wish to teach geography or social studies at the middle level should complete the following: 

For certification in elementary or middle level education, Complementary Subject matter Area in Geography:

Complements Primary Subject Matter Area in English at the elementary level, and English, General Science or Mathematics at the middle level. 18 credits, as follows: GEOG 120, 220, 330; one of GEOG 272, 275, 374, or 433; and six credits in geography electives (at least three of which must be at 400 level). All education students selecting geography as a complementary subject matter area will also enroll in GEOG 414; Elementary-level (1–6) students will enroll for 3 credits and may use the course as one of the two geography electives. Middle-level (4–8) students will enroll for 2 credits in addition to the 18 hours specified above, using GEOG 414 as their complementary methods course. Please consult with the School of Education and Professional Studies concerning additional requirements for dual subject programs and interdisciplinary majors.