Geography, Applied (BS)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Geography
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Geographic and Environmental Sciences
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab

Program Information

Geographers investigate the character and possible associations between a subject and its environment. The Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences educates students to view the world in a spatial and time-dependent context to determine relationships between people and their immediate and global environment.

 The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in five different concentrations:

• Environmental Analysis: designed for students who are interested in the environment and environmental sustainability.
• Geospatial Technologies: designed for students who are interested in developing geospatial technologies like GIS and remote sensing.
• Human and Cultural Dynamics: designed for students interested in the forces that shape human environments like population trends, sustainable development, ethnic and racial segregation, globalization and geopolitics.
• Meteorology: designed for students interested in operational meteorology and meets NOAA requirements to work for the National Weather Service.
• Urban Analytics: designed for students interested in using data science and geospatial technologies to analyze processes that shape urban environments and solve urban problems.

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Requirements 1		31
College/School Requirements		13-15
Program/Major Requirements 1		36
Supporting Courses		6-26
Track Requirements		15-27
Minimum Total Hours		121

¹

Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

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Accelerated BS/MS in Applied Geography

The Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences offers an accelerated MS program in which qualifying majors in Geography may earn up to 9 graduate-level credit hours (at either the 500 or 600 level) during their senior year. These hours may then be applied towards an MS degree in Applied Geography at the University of Louisville. The selected graduate-level courses are applied towards both the undergraduate degree and the graduate degree allowing students to go on and complete the graduate degree with the remaining graduate hours, saving both time and expense.

All applicants should apply during the first or second semester of their Junior year (typically on completion of 70-80 hours) and have a minimum 3.0 GPA over all courses for entry into the MS Applied Geography program at the time of application. Contact the Department of Geographic and Environmental Sciences Director of Graduate Studies for an application form.

Departmental Admission Requirements

There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan.  The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.

General Education Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Requirements 1		31
The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement:
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity
ENVS 200	The Global Environment

*

Meteorology track also requires ENVS 220/PHYS 220, PHYS 295, PHYS 298 and MATH 205.

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

College/School Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Arts & Sciences Requirements
GEN 100	Student Success Center First Year Experience	1
or GEN 101	Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
Foreign Language 2		6-8
Electives in Natural Sciences or Humanities at the 300 level or above 3		6
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 4
Minimum Total Hours		13-15

Program/Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments 3	3
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal 3	3
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis 3	3
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
Electives in Geography or Environmental Sciences at 300 level or above 5		6
Minimum Total Hours		36

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Track Requirements (see Track Requirements tab)		15-27

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing:
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis

¹

Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

²

Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on the language taken

³

Students in the Meteorology track satisfy this requirement by completing the track. Please consult the Track Requirements tab for more information.

⁴

Fulfills WR requirement.

⁵

Students in the Meteorology track satisfy this requirement by completing the track's supporting courses requirements. Please see the Track Requirements tab for more information.

 

 

Track Requirements

Track in Meteorology

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS_MET

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ENVS/PHYS 220	Introduction to Weather and Climate	3
ENVS 305/PHYS 360	Introduction to Weather Analysis	3
ENVS 363	Climate Science	3
ENVS 366/PHYS 465	Dynamic Meteorology	3
ENVS 370/PHYS 361	Thermodynamic Meteorology	3
ENVS 452/PHYS 362	Physical Meteorology	3
ENVS 465/PHYS 365	Mesoscale Meteorology	3
ENVS 469/PHYS 466	Synoptic Meteorology	3
GEOG 355	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
Minimum Total Hours		27

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses for Meteorology
PHYS 295	Introductory Laboratories I	1
PHYS 298	Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound	4
PHYS 299	Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light	4
PHYS 350	Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences	4
MATH 205	Calculus I	4
MATH 206	Calculus II	4
Select one of the following courses:		3
CSE 130	Introduction to C and C++ Programming Languages
GEOG 385	Introduction to Programming for GIS and Spatial Data Analysis
ENVS 564	Hydrology
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 441	Elements of Physical Chemistry
CHEM 465	Physical Chemistry I
Minimum Electives 1, 2		0-26
Minimum Total Hours		24-50

¹

Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

²

Some free electives at the 300+ level may be required to reach a minimum of 50 hours at the 300+ level.

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Track in Environmental Analysis

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS_ENV

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Environmental Foundation
GEOG 340	Environmental Conflict in the United States: Historical Foundations & Contemporary Problems	3
ENVS 360	Global Environmental Change	3
Environmental Specialization
Select three of the following:		9
ENVS 301	Geology for Scientists and Engineers
ENVS 363	Climate Science
ENVS 365	Biogeography
ENVS 367	Geomorphology
ENVS 564	Hydrology
ENVS 565	Natural Hazards
ENVS 570	Water Resource Management
ENVS 571	GIS and Water Resources
GEOG 355	Introduction to Remote Sensing
GEOG 525	Earth Observation and Sustainability: Our Human Planet
GEOG 540	Geography and Human-Environment Interactions
Minimum Total Hours		15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses for Environmental Analysis
Electives in Social Sciences, other than Geography, at the 300 level or above		6

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Track in Geospatial Technologies

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS_GST

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Geospatial Technologies Foundation
GEOG 355	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
GEOG 385	Introduction to Programming for GIS and Spatial Data Analysis	3
Geospatial Technologies Specialization
Select three of the following:		9
GEOG 522	GIS and Public Health
GEOG 530	Transportation Geography
GEOG 531	GIS & Urban Demographic Analysis
GEOG 556	Advanced Remote Sensing
GEOG 559	Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 583	Spatial and Non-Spatial Database Management
ENVS 571	GIS and Water Resources
Minimum Total Hours		15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses for Geospatial Technologies
Electives in Social Sciences, other than Geography, at the 300 level or above		6

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Track in Human and Cultural Dynamics

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS_HCD

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Human and Cultural Dynamics Foundation
GEOG 320	Geopolitics	3
GEOG 331	Population Geography	3
Human and Cultural Dynamics Specialization
Select three of the following:		9
GEOG 324	Race and Place
GEOG 500	Globalization Seminar
GEOG 510	Urbanism in the Global South: Cities and Space
GEOG 521	Medical Geography
GEOG 524	Food and Race
GEOG 540	Geography and Human-Environment Interactions
Minimum Total Hours		15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses in Human and Cultural Dynamics
Electives in Social Sciences, other than Geography, at the 300 level or above		6

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Track in Urban Analytics

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS_URA

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Urban Analytics Foundation
GEOG 327	Economic Geography	3
GEOG 328	Urban Geography	3
Urban Analytics Specialization
Select three of the following:		9
GEOG 331	Population Geography
GEOG 510	Urbanism in the Global South: Cities and Space
GEOG 529	Geography of Urban Issues
GEOG 530	Transportation Geography
GEOG 531	GIS & Urban Demographic Analysis
GEOG 535	GIS and Retail Site Analysis
GEOG 536	Sustainable Transportation
Minimum Total Hours		15

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Supporting Courses in Urban Analysis
Electives in Social Sciences, other than Geography, at the 300 level or above		6

Flight Plan

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Track in Environmental Analysis

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS ENV

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
Foreign Language 1		3-4
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH		3
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
	Hours	13-14
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR
Foreign Language 2		3-4
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15-16
Year 2
Fall
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC		3
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Spring
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1		3
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
GEOG 340	Environmental Conflict in the United States: Historical Foundations & Contemporary Problems	3
ENVS 360	Global Environmental Change	3
	Hours	15
Year 3
Fall
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B		4
Humanities/Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Environmental Analysis Track Course		3
General Elective		2
	Hours	18
Spring
Environmental Analysis Track Course		3
Environmental Analysis Track Course		3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Year 4
Fall
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal	3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Spring
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis	3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective (if needed)		3
	Hours	15
	Minimum Total Hours	121-123

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Track in Geospatial Technologies

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS GST

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
Foreign Language 1		3-4
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH		3
	Hours	13-14
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR		3
Foreign Language 2		3-4
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
	Hours	15-16
Year 2
Fall
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC		3
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
GEOG 355	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
	Hours	15
Spring
Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
General Elective		3
	Hours	12
Year 3
Fall
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B		4
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments	3
Geospatial Technologies Track Course		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		1
	Hours	17
Spring
Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Geospatial Technologies Track Course		3
Geospatial Technologies Track Course		3
GEOG 385	Introduction to Programming for GIS and Spatial Data Analysis	3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
	Hours	15
Year 4
Fall
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal	3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis	3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		4
	Hours	16
	Minimum Total Hours	118-120

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Track in Human and Cultural Dynamics

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS HCD

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH		3
Foreign Language 1		3-4
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
	Hours	13-14
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR		3
Foreign Language 2		3-4
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
	Hours	15-16
Year 2
Fall
Humanities/Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC		3
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
	Hours	15
Spring
GEOG 331	Population Geography	3
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Year 3
Fall
GEOG 320	Geopolitics	3
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B		4
Human & Cultural Dynamics Track Course		3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		1
	Hours	17
Spring
Humanities/Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Human & Cultural Dynamics Track Course		3
General Elective		3
Human & Cultural Dynamics Track Course		3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
	Hours	15
Year 4
Fall
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal	3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis	3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective (if needed)		4
	Hours	16
	Minimum Total Hours	121-123

Track in Meteorology

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS MET

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
ENVS 220	Introduction to Weather and Climate	3
MATH 205	Calculus I	4
	Hours	14
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
ENVS 363	Climate Science	3
MATH 206	Calculus II	4
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH		3
	Hours	16
Year 2
Fall
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
Foreign Language		3-4
ENVS 305	Introduction to Weather Analysis	3
PHYS 295	Introductory Laboratories I	1
PHYS 298	Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound	4
	Hours	14-15
Spring
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
ENVS 370	Thermodynamic Meteorology	3
PHYS 299	Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light	4
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH		3
Foreign Language		3-4
	Hours	16-17
Year 3
Fall
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
GEOG 355	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
ENVS 366	Dynamic Meteorology	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
ENVS 465	Mesoscale Meteorology	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1		3
Choose an additional Supporting Course for Meteorology		3
Social Science Elective, other than Geography (300 level or above)Course		3
	Hours	15
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 350	Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences	4
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments	3
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal	3
ENVS 452	Physical Meteorology	3
Social Science Elective, other than Geography (300 level or above)		3
	Hours	16
Spring
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis	3
ENVS 469	Synoptic Meteorology	3
Humanities/Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Humanities/Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
	Minimum Total Hours	121-123

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Track in Urban Analytics

Academic Plan Code(s): GEOGBS URA

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Hours
GEN 100 or GEN 101	Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience	1
ENGL 101	Introduction to College Writing	3
Foreign Language 1		3-4
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH		3
ENVS 200	The Global Environment	3
	Hours	13-14
Spring
ENGL 102	Intermediate College Writing	3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH		3
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR		3
Foreign Language 2		3-4
GEOG 200	Human Geography in a Changing World	3
	Hours	15-16
Year 2
Fall
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC		3
GEOG 256	Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Geography and Geosciences	3
GEOG 300	Globalization and Diversity	3
GEOG 327	Economic Geography	3
GEOG 350	Introduction to Mapping and Geospatial Technologies	3
	Hours	15
Spring
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD1		3
GEOG 356	Introduction to Spatial Statistics	3
GEOG 558	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Year 3
Fall
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B		4
GEOG 361	Sustainable Human Environments	3
GEOG 328	Urban Geography	3
Urban Analytics Track Course		3
General Elective		1
General Elective		3
	Hours	17
Spring
Humanities or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
Urban Analytics Track Course		3
Urban Analytics Track Course		3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Year 4
Fall
GEOG 441	Senior Thesis Proposal	3
Geography/Environmental Sciences Elective (300 level or above)		3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GEOG 442	Senior Thesis	3
Social Science Elective (300 level or above)		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		3
General Elective		4
	Hours	16
	Minimum Total Hours	121-123

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan.  What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

To create either report:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area. 
4. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.

Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan.  The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center.  Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.