Bachelor of Science in Geography

June 29, 2023

(This new program was approved by the CSULB Academic Senate on March 9, 2023, approved by the President on May 4, 2023, and the CSU Chancellor’s Office on June 8, 2023.)

The B.S. in Geography focuses on the spatial organization of human and physical landscapes, interactions between human society and the physical environment, and ways in which human actions modify the environment. Students analyze and understand these phenomena through application of geographic methodologies and technologies used to study these phenomena.

The B.S. in Geography includes three distinct pathways: Urban, Environmental and Geospatial, with an additional focus on statistical and methodological approaches to geographic inquiry.

The B.S. includes a suite of four lower division (12 units; no prerequisites) and five upper division (16 units) core courses. These are followed by specializations in one of the three pathways – Urban, Environmental and Geospatial. Each pathway includes unique curriculum with specific content and methods requirements designed for the subfield.

The lower division courses selected for the B.S. degree are designed to provide students with an introduction to the four areas covered by the B.S. Additional breadth is provided through the upper division core courses. Depth is introduced through the specialization in one of the three distinct pathways. Each pathway contains a set of upper division core courses selected specifically for that pathway’s specialization course. A methods capstone specific to a selected pathway is integrated as part of the upper division core (see Figure 1).

Degree Requirements (120 units total)

Lower Division Core (12-13 units)

Take all of the following:

• Human: GEOG 100 (3) or GEOG 120 (3)
• Environment/Physical: GEOG 101 (3), OR GEOG 130 (4) OR GEOG 140 (3)
• Statistics: GEOG 200 (3)
• Geospatial: GEOG 280 (3) Upper Division Core (16 units) Take all of the following:
• Human: GEOG 360 (3)
• Environment/Physical: GEOG 340 (3)

• Geospatial: GEOG 380 (3)
• Methods: GEOG 300 (3) (New Course Proposed)
• Methods, Capstone: GEOG 402 (4), OR GEOG 486 (4), OR GEOG 487A (4) OR GEOG 487B (4)

Specializations Pathways Urban (18-20 units)

Take all of the following courses:

• GEOG 446 (3)
• GEOG 467 (3)
• GEOG 469 (3)
• GEOG 471 (3)

Take two courses from the following:

• GEOG 464 (3)
• GEOG 465 (3)
• GEOG 482 (4)
• GEOG 487B (4)
• GEOG 488 (4)
• GEOG 492 (Subject Appropriate Internship) (3) Environmental (20-22 units)

Take the following courses:

• GEOG 330 (3)
• GEOG 473 (4)
• GEOG 481 (4)

Take two courses from the following:

• GEOG 440 (3)
• GEOG 442 (3)
• GEOG 444 (3)
• GEOG 447 (3)
• GEOG 448 (3)
• GEOG 455 (3)
• GEOG 458 (3)

Take one course from the following (if not previously completed)

• GEOG 400 (4)
• GEOG 440 (3)
• GEOG 442 (3)
• GEOG 444 (3)
• GEOG 447 (3)
• GEOG 448 (3)
• GEOG 455 (3)