Geography

General Information and Departmental Policy

General Information

Geography is the study of the Earth's surface, and of the spatial distribution and patterns of its physical and human characteristics. Geographers study how nature and culture work to create distinct spaces, places, landscapes, and regions. Geography is a subject of practical importance in such fields as urban and regional planning, industrial location, marketing, resource development, environmental monitoring and management, and geomatics. It is possible to obtain a major or honours in geography in either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree program.

Departmental Policy

  1. The Department regards 1000-level courses as both service courses for the university in general and basic introductory courses for geography majors. Higher level courses are designed primarily to serve the interest of geography majors but may be of interest to students in cognate areas. In some cases, the Department may allow a student from a cognate area to take the course without the stated prerequisite; for example, economics students may be admitted to GEOG 3321.1(.2) and history majors may be allowed to take GEOG 4439.1(.2).
  2. GEOG 1203.1(.2) is not recognized as a science credit to satisfy Faculty of Science regulation 6e.
  3. The course content in most geography courses is cumulative.
  4. Where a prerequisite is specified, a student wishing to take the course must have obtained at least a C grade in the stated prerequisite.
  5. Normally 2000, 3000, and 4000-level courses are not open to students in their first year at university.
  6. In order to register for a course without the stated prerequisites, students must first obtain permission from the instructor or the Chairperson.
  7. Because program changes occur from time to time with renumbered or restructured courses, students are advised that they are not eligible to take a course for credit if they already have a credit for a comparable course, even if that course was taken at a different level or under a different number.
  8. Majors and honors students must normally complete GEOG 2316.1(.2) and GEOG 2336.1(.2) before the end of their second year or, in the case of part-time students, before proceeding to other upper level courses.
  9. All majors and honors students are assigned a faculty advisor with whom they should consult each year to review their progress and course selection.
  10. For more complete information on geography programs, students should contact the Chairperson.
  11. Geography courses are divided into four groups:

    Group A -human geography courses
    Group B -physical geography courses
    Group C -techniques or methods courses
    Group D -integrative courses which may combine aspects of human geography, physical geography or techniques.

    Depending on the degree program, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, the required courses from each group vary. The group to which each course belongs is shown beside each course's title.

General Requirements for a Major

Geography is both a social science as well as a natural science. Students may major in geography and obtain a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. In either case forty-eight (48) geography credit hours are required. Not only must students meet the geography requirements to qualify for a major in geography in either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, they must also meet individual Faculty requirements to qualify for the degree (see relevant sections of the Calendar). Students in the Faculty of Arts must maintain a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.00 (an average grade of C) in courses used to meet the minimum requirements for the major. Students in the Faculty of Science must obtain a grade of not less than C in every course used to meet the minimum requirements for the major. Students wishing to major in Geography in the B.Sc. program are strongly encouraged to take six (6) credit hours in Geology.

General Requirements for a Major in a Bachelor of Arts Program

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), GEOG 1204.1(.2), and one of 2213.1(.2) or 2214.1(.2);
  2. GEOG 2316.1(.2), 2336.1(.2) and three (3) credit hours from GEOG 3326.1(.2), 3356.1(.2), 3366.1(.2), or 3386.1(.2);
  3. Nine (9) credit hours in GEOG at the 4000-level; and
  4. Twenty-one (21) other credit hours in GEOG.

Note: In addition to the 18 defined credit hours in (i) and (ii), the thirty (30) other GEOG credit hours may be taken from any group (A, B, C, D). After the student attains forty-eight (48) GEOG credit hours, only Group A, C, and D courses count towards the “sixty-six (66) credit hours in Arts subjects as the 2000-level or above” (Faculty of Arts Regulation 1a). Additional Group B courses could be taken as electives.

General Requirements for a Major in a Bachelor of Science Program

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), 1204.1(.2), and 2213.1(.2);
  2. GEOG 2316.1(.2), 2336.1(.2) and three (3) credit hours from GEOG 3326.1(.2), 3356.1(.2), 3366.1(.2), or 3386.1(.2);
  3. At least fifteen (15) other credit hours from Group B courses at the 2000-level or above, of which at least six (6) credit hours must be at the 4000-level; and
  4. Fifteen (15) other credit hours from any group.
  5. A total of nine (9) GEOG credit hours must be at the 4000-level.

Note: After the student has attained the required forty-eight (48) GEOG credit hours, any additional GEOG credit hours would be taken as free electives in the Faculty of Science.

Concentration in GEOG Requirements

Students registered in the Bachelor of Arts General Program may complete the concentration requirement in Geography by taking twenty-four (24) Geography credit hours, to include:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2) or 1204.1(.2).
  2. GEOG 2213.1(.2) or 2214.1(.2).
  3. eighteen (18) other GEOG credit hours.

Students registered in the Bachelor of Science General Program may complete the concentration requirement in Geography by taking thirty (30) Geography credit hours, to include:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), 1204.1(.2), and 2213.1(.2).
  2. Nine (9) credit hours from Group B or C courses.
  3. Twelve (12) other GEOG credit hours that are not designated.

Double Majors and Geology/Geography Combined Programs

Students wishing to complete a double major in geography and another subject must meet the requirements for a major in geography as stated above. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce double major students would complete the requirements for a geography major in Bachelor of Arts program; Bachelor of Science double major students would complete requirements for a geography major in the Bachelor of Science program.

Geology/Geography Combined Programs

These programs offer Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours) degrees, emphasizing environmental Earth Science, under the general requirements of the Faculty of Science. The geology/geography major program requires a minimum grade of C in all geology and geography courses. The geology/geography Honours program requires (a) a minimum grade of C in all geology and geography courses; and (b) a minimum quality point average of 3.00 in these same courses.

Geology/Geography Major Program (Bachelor of Science)

  1. At least thirty-six (36) credit hours in geology (see Calendar for list of eligible courses).
  2. At least thirty-six (36) geography credit hours including:

GEOG 1203.1(.2) Physical Geography: Global Patterns
GEOG 1204.1(.2) Demographics and Culture
GEOG 2213.1(.2) Physical Geography: Local and Regional Patterns
GEOG 2316.1(.2) Map and Air Photo Interpretation
GEOG 2336.1(.2) Principles of Cartography
GEOG 3313.1(.2) Geomorphology OR 2325.1(.2) Sedimentology
[credit not permitted for both courses]

At least twelve (12) credit hours from:

GEOG 2305.1(.2) The Oceans: A Physical Geography
GEOG 2333.1(.2) Biogeography
GEOG 3343.1(.2) Weather and Climate
GEOG 4413.1(.2) Coastal Geomorphology
GEOG 4423.1(.2) Glacial Geomorphology
GEOG 4433.1(.2) Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 4443.1(.2) Natural Hazards

Six (6) additional credit hours in geography from Group B or C courses.

Geology/Geography Honours Program (Bachelor of Science: Honours)

In addition to the requirements for the major listed above, Honours students must complete:

  1. GEOL 4550.0 Honours Project or GEOG 4526.0 Honours Research Project;
  2. six (6) additional credit hours in geology from the list of geology courses under “Double Major and Honours” above; and
  3. GEOG 4406.1(.2) Seminar in Theoretical Geography and GEOG 4416.1(.2) Seminar in Applied Geography.

In the Honours Bachelor of Science geology/geography program, topics for Honours projects should be approved by both Departments and may be carried out in either Department.

Geography Major (Bachelor of Arts) with a Minor in Geology

  1. A Bachelor of Arts degree student may major in geography with a minor in geology by fulfilling the requirements for a minor as listed in the geology section of the Academic Calendar.
  2. Courses that are cross-listed between geography and geology may only count towards the geology minor if they are taken as geology credit hours. (If they are taken as geography credit hours they can only apply to the geography major.)
  3. Students accepted into the geology minor program will be allowed to count twenty-four (24) geology credit hours towards their Arts degree requirements.

Honors Program

  1. Depending on whether the student is undertaking a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, the regulations of the respective Faculty apply to admission, continuance and graduation from honors program.
  2. To be admitted to the honors program, a student must have at least a B standing in geography courses and have obtained satisfactory grades in non-geography courses. Possession of the minimum requirements does not establish the right of an applicant to be admitted, or readmitted, to the program.
  3. Each year students should seek advice on their program of courses from the Honors Program Coordinator.
  4. Students admitted to the program are responsible for finding a member of the Department to act as their Honors Research Project supervisor.
  5. Complete details regarding the Honors Research Project are contained in Regulations for the Honors Research Project (Geography 4526.0) available from the Departmental secretary.
  6. Besides meeting the respective Faculty credit hour and grade level requirements, students must complete a total of seventy-two (72) geography credit hours to qualify for graduation with honors.

For the Bachelor of Arts Honors degree, the seventy-two (72) credit hours are:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), 1204.1(.2) and either 2213.1(.2) or 2214.1(.2);
  2. GEOG 2316.1(.2), 2336.1(.2), 3326.1(.2), and one of GEOG 3356.1(.2), 3366.1(.2), or 3386.1(.2);
  3. GEOG 4406.1(.2) and 4416.1(.2);
  4. GEOG 4526.0; and
  5. Thirty-nine other GEOG credit hours from any group of which at least six (6) credit hours must be at the 4000-level.

For the Bachelor of Science Honors degree, the seventy-two (72) credit hours are:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), 1204.1(.2), and 2213.1(.2);
  2. GEOG 2316.1(.2), 2336.1(.2), 3326.1(.2), and one of GEOG 3356.1(.2), 3366.1(.2), or 3386.1(.2);
  3. At least eighteen (18) credit hours from Group B courses at the 2000-level or above, of which at least six (6) credit hours must be at the 4000-level;
  4. GEOG 4406.1(.2) and 4416.1(.2);
  5. GEOG 4526.0; and
  6. Twenty-one (21) other GEOG credit hours from any group.

Minor Program in Geography

Students in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Commerce program wishing to complete a Minor in geography are required to complete at least twenty-four (24) credit hours in geography, including:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2) or 1204.1(.2).
  2. GEOG 2213.1(.2) or 2214.1(.2).
  3. Eighteen (18) other GEOG credit hours.

Students in a Bachelor of Science program wishing to complete a Minor in geography are required to complete at least thirty (30) credit hours in geography, including:

  1. GEOG 1203.1(.2), 1204.1(.2), and 2213.1(.2).
  2. Nine (9) other credit hours from Group B or C courses.
  3. Twelve (12) other GEOG credit hours that are not designated.

Graduate Level Courses

Although the Department of Geography does not offer a graduate program, a number of graduate level courses are available. These are:

GEOG 5614.1(.2) Integrated Coastal Zone Management
GEOG 5623.1(.2) Glacial Geomorphology
GEOG 5632.1(.2) Social Geography of The City
GEOG 5633.1(.2) Fluvial Geomorphology
GEOG 5636.1(.2) Advanced Remote Sensing
GEOG 5639.1(.2) Urban Historical Geography
GEOG 5642.1(.2) Urban Planning
GEOG 5643.1(.2) Natural Hazards
GEOG 5652.1(.2) The Geography of Urban Transportation
GEOG 5653.1(.2) Coastal Geomorphology
GEOG 5686.1(.2) Concepts in GIS
GEOG 5696.1(.2) Applications in GIS
GEOG 6602.0 Directed Studies in Urban/Regional Geography
GEOG 6603.0 Directed Studies in Environmental Geography
GEOG 6604.0 Directed Studies in Marine Geography
GEOG 6605.0 Directed Studies (General)
GEOG 6612.1(.2) Directed Studies in Urban/Regional Geography
GEOG 6613.1(.2) Directed Studies in Environmental Geography
GEOG 6615.1(.2) Directed Studies (General)
GEOG 6624.1(.2) Directed Studies in Marine Geography

For further information, please consult the Chairperson of the Department of Geography.


This page last modified Friday, 25-Nov-2011 11:36:34 AST