Mar 19, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Geography, B.A.


About the Geography Bachelor’s Program


Texas Tech University offers a 120-hour Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a minor in geography, both of which appeal to students who have broad interests in the relationships of humans and the environment, who are curious about the world, and who like to be challenged. Geographers study how people interact with the environment and how various phenomena are distributed and move over the surface of the earth.

The B.A. degree is intended to provide students with a background in the nature of human interactions with the environment and a solid grounding in data collection and analysis techniques such as field data collection, statistical analysis, and geographic information systems.

Undergraduate majors find interesting careers in the public and private sectors. Geographers work with local, state, and national government agencies and the military. In the private sector, there are increasing demands by business and industry for employees trained in field research methods, geographic information systems, statistical analysis, remote sensing, and other skills acquired by geography students. Geography majors also become teachers at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. In addition, the undergraduate program can provide a foundation for students who wish to pursue graduate study, whether in geography or some related professional field such as urban or regional planning, environmental and resource management, law, and public affairs.

The geography major consists of 31 hours of coursework in geography plus MATH 2300  or MATH 2345 . Required courses are GEOG 1401 , GEOG 2300 , GEOG 3340 , GEOG 4300 ; and GIST 3300 . Students who select a GIST minor will use GIST 3300  in the minor, not the major and select another jr/sr GEOG elective. Students must complete an additional 15 hours of junior- and senior-level GEOG and GIST courses to complete the GIST minor. An additional 15 hours of junior- and senior-level GEOG and GIST courses are required in the major. Students majoring in geography must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of geography courses from Texas Tech. The geography minor requires at least 6 hours from Texas Tech.

Sample Curriculum


First Year


Fall


Total: 16

Spring


Total: 16

Second Year


Fall


Total: 16

Spring


Total: 16

Third Year


Fall


  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • GEOG Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Junior/Senior Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 15

Spring


  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • GEOG Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor 6 Semester Credit Hours
  • Junior/Senior Elective 2 Semester Credit Hours
Total: 14

Fourth Year


Fall


Total: 15

Spring


Total: 12

Total Hours: 120


Note:


GEOG 4310  (Internship) is open to seniors with a 3.0 GPA or better and may be substituted for 3 hours of courses in either of the two geography course blocks.

Multicultural Requirement


Select from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements . Students have the option of choosing either a Creative Arts or a Language, Philosophy, and Culture course that also satisfies the multicultural requirement.

Foreign Language


A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is credit for the freshman level. This credit can be determined through a credit by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements  for further explanation.