Faculty

Randy Gabrys Alexson, Professor (Geography Education)
William Bajjali, Associate Professor (Geographic Information Systems and Earth Science)

A wide variety of courses are available in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). For more information about specific courses, see Geography in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.

Geography has many specialty areas and exciting career opportunities. The Geography faculty can guide you in selecting a program of study that best suits your interests and goals. Because Geography is inherently interdisciplinary, the minors described below can complement and enhance many major areas of study, such as education, business, communication, legal studies, science, and all areas of international study.

Three minors are currently available:

1. Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
   
2. Geography Minor with Liberal Education emphasis
   
3. Geography Minor for Elementary or Secondary Teacher Certification

21 credits

Employment opportunities are limitless for graduates who are proficient with this interdisciplinary tool. Well-qualified GIS specialists are sought in the areas of business, economics, education, government, planning, and international industries.

Required core courses:

GEOG 241       Fundamentals of GIS I - 4 credits
GEOG 343       Fundamentals of GIS II - 4 credits
GEOG 442       Advanced Principles of GIS - 4 credits

Plus a minimum of nine credits within the following elective courses:

BUS 270         Business Statistics - 3 credits
ITS 108           Business Computer Applications - 3 credits
ITS 346           Database Management - 3 credits
GEOG 302       Economic Geography - 3 credits
GEOG 402       Urban Planning and Transportation Systems - 3 credits
GEOG 491       Research -1-4 credits *
GEOG 496       Internship -1-4 credits *
MATH 115     Precalculus
or
MATH 241     Calculus - 5 credits
MATH 130     Elementary Statistics - 4 credits     

* A combined maximum of four credits may be earned in GEOG 491 and GEOG 496. 

22 credits

Required core courses:

GEOG 100       World Regional Geography - 3 credits
GEOG 102       Cultural Geography  - 3 credits
GEOL 110       The Dynamic Earth  - 4 credits
GEOG 302       Economic Geography - 3 credits

Plus credits from the following courses to equal a minimum of 22 total credits and a minimum of seven credits must be in courses numbered 300 or higher:

GEOG 241       Fundamentals of GIS I - 4 credits
GEOG 343       Fundamentals of GIS II - 4 credits
GEOG 350       Geography of Wisconsin - 3 credits
GEOG 402       Urban Planning - 3 credits
GEOG 481       Special Topics - 1-6 credits
GEOG 491       Undergraduate Research - 1-4 credits *
GEOG 492       Geography Seminar - 1 credit
GEOG 496       Internship -1-4 credits *
ANTH 320      Environmental Anthropology - 3 credits
BIOL 312        Biogeography - 3 credits
POLS 303       Environmental Law - 3 credits

* A combined maximum of four credits can be earned in GEOG 491 and 496.

Minor leading to licensure in Geography (715) at the EA-A (73) level and at the MC-EA (72) level

Required courses (a minimum of 21 credits):

GEOG 100       World Regional Geography - 3 credits
GEOG 102       Cultural Geography - 3 credits
GEOL 110       The Dynamic Earth - 4 credits
or
GEOL 170       Earth Science3 credits
GEOG 302       Economic Geography - 3 credits
GEOG 350       Geography of Wisconsin - 3 credits
GEOG 450       Research for Teachers - 3 credits

Plus one of the following:

GEOG 481       Special Topics: Human Biogeography - 4 credits
or
GEOG 241       Fundamentals of GIS I - 4 credits
or
GEOG 402       Urban Planning - 3 credits       

Secondary Education students pursuing the geography minor also need to complete a teachable major. Majors in History or Broad Field Social Studies are recommended for licensure. See your advisor for more information.