NEW FOR FALL 2020
Ohio Wesleyan has recently enhanced its Geography major to prepare our graduates for an ever-evolving world. The major embraces OWU's signature program, the OWU Connection to allow its students to Think Big, Go Global, and Get Real.
About the Major
Geography is a traditional, integrative discipline focused on the intersection of the human and natural worlds. Geography examines spatial and temporal patterns of the Earth’s surface and humankind's transformation of, impacts on, and modification of those environments. Geography traces cultural, social, political and economic relationships in a spatial context, and seeks innovative ways to analyze and represent the diverse phenomena it studies. The Geography major exposes students to the nature of geographic knowledge and the process of geographic inquiry within the four traditional Geography themes:
● Physical Geography: key physical processes that produce the earth's diverse natural environments
● Environmental Geography: human interrelations with the natural environment
● Human Geography: cultural, social, political and economic organization to geographic space
● Cartography, GIS, and Remote Sensing: analysis and representation of the three (above) themes
Major Requirements
A minimum of 11.5 Units
Majors should be declared by the end of the sophomore year. A 2.0 grade point average is required to declare the major. Students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in his/her program to remain a major.
Core Requirements (3.5 units):
1. GEOG 110: Human Geography
2. GEOG 111: Physical Geography
3. GEOG 112: Maps and Geographic Information Systems
4. GEOG 398: Geography Keystone (0.25 unit)
5. ENVS 400.1: Conversations Toward a Sustainable Future (0.25 unit)
Individually Advised Curriculum: All Geography majors and minors will work with the Geography faculty to guide decisions about courses taken and OWU Connection activities. This guidance will help shape a unique academic program tied to each student’s interests, needs, and future goals.
OWU Connection & Related Independent Work
(A combination of 3 experiences and/or units)
The Geography program embraces the OWU Connection as the centerpiece of the learning experience for our majors. This includes experiences for formal credit, such as independent credit courses (GEOG 490, 490, 495) and travel learning courses (typically the 0.25 addition), along with non-credit bearing experiences, including the summer science research program (SSRP), theory into practice grant (TPG) projects, internships (link), study abroad (link), research experiences for undergraduates (REU), etc. Majors should consult as early as possible with the Geography faculty for guidance on coherence among these experiences, and integration with their Geography coursework.
Seven Geography Courses (7 units) in consultation with Geography faculty:
● GEOG 235: Energy Resources
● GEOG 245: Weather & Climate (Natural Science credit)
● GEOG 333: Latin American Geographies
● GEOG 345: Economic Geography
● GEOG 347: Human Impacts on the Environment
● GEOG 353: Cartography and GIS
● GEOG 355: Geographic Information Systems
● GEOG 360: Environmental Geography
● GEOG 369: Remote Sensing of the Environment
● GEOG 370: Urban Geography
● GEOG 375: Climate Change (Natural Science credit)
● GEOG 380: Landscape Geography
● GEOG 490: Independent Study
● GEOG 491: Directed Readings
● GEOG 495: Internship
● GEOG 499: Seminar in Geography
Special consideration given for inclusion of the following courses (limit: 2 units):
○ GEOL 110: Physical and Environmental Geology
○ GEOL 270: Earth's Resources and Our Environment
○ GEOL 275: Hydrology
○ ENVS 100.1: Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
○ ENVS 100.2: Conversations Toward a Sustainable Future
○ ENVS 399: Sustainability Practicum
Quantitative Course (1 unit): in consultation with Geography faculty
Minor Requirements (6 units)
● GEOG 110: Human Geography
● GEOG 111: Physical Geography
● GEOG 112: Maps and Geographic Information Systems
● Three additional upper level geography courses