Environmental Geosciences - Geography Track, Valdosta State University
Program Design & Assessment
Overview
The Geography track is designed to provide a broad overview of physical geography. The course sequence provides an introduction to the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere as well as tools and techniques used for their study. The Geography track is one of two tracks available to students interested in the Environmental Geosciences. The track is designed to prepare students for graduate studies or a career in the geosciences.
Strengths of this program
The curriculum is designed to give the students a broad background so they would have a wide range of possible careers. One of the things about our curriculum that we have found effective has been the implementation of a senior thesis sequence. The thesis has made many of our graduates attractive to industry and higher education because it provides a tangible product that demonstrates their ability to solve problems and communicate their findings.
Types of students served
Program Goals
The goals of this program are as follows:
- Provide a working knowledge of the basic research tools in physical and cultural geography, environmental research and in digital cartography.
- Provide the knowledge required to evaluate and interpret environmental data, address and analyze regional environmental questions and synthesize and recommend solutions to a range of environmental problems.
- Provide the analytical and technical skills necessary for geographical research including: spatial and temporal analysis, digital and conventional mapping, and analysis and interpretation of data.
- Provide a range of computer-based spatial analysis skills using geographic information sciences and other techniques for digital mapping, data manipulation and analysis and applications issues.
The learning goals were informed by the following resources:
How program goals are assessed
- These goals are tied to the University's mission and strategic plan. As such, we must undergo regular review by the Board of Regents as well as accreditation review.
- The senior thesis sequence assesses the quality of the student's work.
- We maintain an alumni database as a means to keep track of the destinations of majors after they graduate.
Design features that allow goals to be met
Alumni Careers
Graduation rate
Careers pursued by our alumni
Courses and Sequencing
Diagram of course sequencing and requirements
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Entry into the program
- Introduction to Landforms
- Introduction to Weather and Climate
Core courses
- Computer Cartography
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- Introduction to Hydrology
- Process Geomorphology
- Cultural Geography
- Senior Thesis I
- Senior Thesis II
- Senior Thesis Presentation
Electives
Students are required to take 18 credit hours (usually 5 courses) of electives, selected from the following list:
- Global Climate Change
- Advanced GIS (Prerequisite: Introduction to GIS)
- Coastal and Fluvial Geomorphology (Prerequisite: Process Geomorphology)
- Meteorology and Climatology
- Hydrogeology
- Geosciences Field Trip
- Geology of Georgia
- Environmental Soil Science
- Geoscience Field Methods
- Introduction to Biogeography
- Geography of Europe
- Geography of the Middle East
- Statistics for Geoscientists
Other required courses
- Unifying Principles of Biology
- Physical Science
- Chemistry I
- Precalculus
- Calculus
- Elementary Statistics
Capstone
- Senior thesis presentation