Bachelor of Arts in
Geography and Environmental Studies
The Geography B.A. degree in Environmental Studies provides broad cultural background in the liberal arts with an emphasis on Alaska and the Arctic. The B.A. also provides a geographic perspective based on these regions and prepares students for careers in management, policy, teaching, field-based research, regional planning and private sector careers. The B.A. develops a strong foundation for advanced studies in a wide range of academic disciplines. Students may complete the Geography/Environmental Studies B.A. with an Emphasis in Outdoor Studies. This emphasis provides focus on outdoor sport and recreation and field experience in outdoor and adventure settings. Program assessment plans and student learning outcomes are posted at: www.uas.alaska.edu/provost/assessment/program-assessment1.html
To view details of the program, visit the program website.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students are admitted to the program after declaring a Geography and Environmental Studies major to an academic advisor in the Geography program. Students will be assigned an advisor in the Humanities, Social Science, or Natural Science department depending on their interests. Students should consult with their advisor for course selection and sequencing. Additional admission requirements exist for the Emphasis in Outdoor Studies. Please visit www.uas.alaska.edu/ods for specific application and admission requirements.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS (2012-2013 catalog)
Candidates must complete the General Education Requirements (GERs) as well as the specific program requirements listed below for a minimum of 120 credit hours. Courses in a degree program may be counted only once. Courses used to fulfill the major requirements cannot be used to fulfill the GERs. Specific requirements for GERs are listed below. The degree must include 42 credits of upper-division (300 or above) courses. To satisfy the residency requirement, 30 credits must be completed at UA, including 24 upper division credits. Candidates who expect to teach in public secondary schools should seek advising from the UAS School of Education. Grades of C or better are required in all major courses.
Students should consult with an advisor and select courses that satisfy prerequisites required in this degree program.
| Minimum Credit Hours | 120 | ||
| General Education Requirements | 36 | ||
| Major Requirements* | 45 | ||
| GEOG | S101 | Introductory Geography | 3 |
| GEOG | S102 | Earth and Environment | 4 |
| GEOG | S312 | Humans and the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG | S338 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| GEOG | S490 | Geography Seminar | 2 |
| ___ | S___ | Electives* | 6-8 |
| Select from the following (6 credits): | |||
| Earth Systems and Geographic Analysis | |||
| ENVS | S420 | Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| ENVS | S309 | Mobile GIS Technology and Applications | 2 |
| ENVS | S406 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG | S410 | Advanced GIS | 3 |
| GEOG | S415 | Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| GEOL | S301 | Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEOL | S302 | Hydrology | 4 |
| Select three from the following (9 credits): | |||
| Human-Environment | |||
| ANTH | S342 | Arctic Ethnology | 3 |
| ANTH | S408 | Ethnobiology | 3 |
| ECON | S435 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENGL | S303 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| PHIL | S371 | Perspectives on the Natural World | 3 |
| SOC | 404 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| Breadth Requirements | 15 | ||
| Select from the following (15 credits): | |||
| ANTH | S314 | Archeology of Southeast Alaska | 3 |
| ANTH | S428 | Tlingit Culture and History | 3 |
| ANTH | S475 | Alaska Native Social Change | 3 |
| ANTH | S458 | Alaska Native Economic and Political Development | 3 |
| ENGL | S363 | Nature Writing | 3 |
| ENGL | S365 | Literature of Alaska | 3 |
| ENGL | S370 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL | S423 | Ecocriticism | 3 |
| GEOG | S407 | Snow Hydrology | 4 |
| GEOG | S414 | Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| GEOL | S300 | Geology of Alaska | 3 |
| GEOL | S310 | Glaciation and Climate Change | 3 |
| HS | S206 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| ODS | S243 | Outdoor Leadership I | 3 |
| ODS | S244 | Outdoor Leadership II | 2 |
| Electives** | 39 | ||
*Cultural diversity courses; world history, world languages, Alaska Native languages, or faculty advisor-approved courses in anthropology, art, communication, literature, and the humanities or social sciences, including transfer or study abroad courses, with an evident focus in cultural diversity. | |||
| Outdoor Studies Emphasis | |||
| In order to enroll in ODS designated courses, students must provide ODS application materials and be accepted into the ODS Emphasis Program. | |||
| Minimum Credit Hours | 120 | ||
| General Education Requirements | 34 | ||
| Major Requirements* | 68 | ||
| Geography Core | 21 | ||
| GEOG | S101 | Intro to Geography | 3 |
| GEOG | S102 | Earth and Environment | 4 |
| GEOG | S312 | Humans and the Environment | 4 |
| GEOG | S338 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| GEOG | S490 | Geography Seminar | 2 |
| ____ | S___ | Electives* | 6 |
| *Cultural diversity courses; world history, world languages, Alaska Native languages, or faculty advisor-approved courses in anthropology, art, communication, literature, and the humanities or social sciences, including transfer or study abroad courses, with an evident focus in cultural diversity. | |||
| ODS Emphasis | 20 | ||
| ODS | S120 | Wilderness First Responder | 4 |
| ODS | S243 | Outdoor Leadership I | 3 |
| ODS | S244 | Outdoor Leadership II | 2 |
| ODS | S245 | ODS Certificate Capstone | 1-4 |
| ODS | S444 | Expedition Planning and Leadership | 2 |
| ODS | S445 | ODS Emphasis Capstone | 2 |
| HUM | S270 | Sport, Leisure and Culture | 3 |
| PHIL | S371 | Perspectives on the Natural World | 3 |
| Outdoor Skills | |||
| Select from the following (12 credits): | |||
| ODS | S112 | Swiftwater Rescue | 1 |
| ODS | S114 | Backpacking in SE Alaska | 2 |
| ODS | S115 | Winter Backpacking in SE Alaska | 1 |
| ODS | S116 | Introduction to Rock Climbing | 1 |
| ODS | S117 | Introduction to Ice Climbing | 1 |
| ODS | S118 | Avalanche Eval and Theory-Level I | 2 |
| ODS | S119 | Introduction to Flyfishing | 2 |
| ODS | S133 | Introduction to Sea Kayaking | 1 |
| ODS | S134 | Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking | 1 |
| ODS | S148 | Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding | 1 |
| ODS | S205 | Backcountry Navigation and Travel | 2 |
| ODS | S216 | Rock Climbing Level II | 1 |
| ODS | S217 | Ice Climbing Level II | 1 |
| ODS | S218 | Avalanche Evaluation and Theory Level II | 2 |
| ODS | S221 | Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Fund | 2 |
| ODS | S222 | Mountaineering | 2 |
| ODS | S233 | Expedition Sea Kayaking ** | 1-2 |
| ODS | S___ | other approved ODS Skills courses | |
| **May be repeated for up to 3 credits | |||
| Earth Systems and Geographic Analysis | |||
| Select from the following (3-4 credits): | |||
| ENVS | S420 | Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| GEOG | S406 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG | S410 | Advanced GIS | 3 |
| GEOG | S415 | Biogeography & Landscape Ecology | 3 |
| GEOL | S301 | Geomorphology | 4 |
| GEOL | S302 | Hydrology | 4 |
| Human-Environment | |||
| Select from the following (3 credits): | |||
| ANTH | S342 | Arctic Ethnology | 3 |
| ANTH | S408 | Ethnobiology | 3 |
| ECON | S435 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENGL | S303 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| SOC | S404 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| BREADTH REQUIREMENTS | 9 | ||
| Select from the following (9 credits): | |||
| ANTH | S314 | Archeology of SE Alaska | 3 |
| ANTH | S428 | Tlingit Culture and History | 3 |
| ANTH | S458 | AK Native Economic & Political Dev | 3 |
| ENGL | S363 | Nature Writing | 3 |
| ENGL | S365 | Literature of Alaska | 3 |
| ENGL | S370 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL | S423 | Ecocriticism | 3 |
| GEOG | S407 | Snow Hydrology | 4 |
| GEOG | S414 | Biogeochemstry | 3 |
| GEOL | S300 | Geology of Alaska | 3 |
| GEOL | S310 | Glaciation and Climate Change | 3 |
| HS | S206 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| BREADTH ELECTIVES | 18 | ||
| 12 credits of breadth electives must be upper division. | |||
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The UAS Career Services Office provides a current listing of internship opportunities available to UAS students. These internships are funded by Alaskan, federal, national and international organizations and businesses. Changes occur frequently. If you have an interest in internships please contact Career Services for assistance. If admitted to a degree program you can also speak with a faculty member if you are interested in an internship for academic credit.
CONTACT INFORMATION
University of Alaska Southeast
11120 Glacier Highway
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Ph: 907-796-6100
Ph: 877-465-4827 ext. 6350 (toll free)
Program website: www.uas.alaska.edu/artssciences/naturalsciences/geography
Email: admissions@uas.alaska.edu