Geography

University of Florida

United States of America, Gainesville

University Rank:#212

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Duration4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

USD 48,438 / Year

Next IntakeJanuary 9, 2023

Geography

About

Geography offers exciting undergraduate degrees at UF. Students learn from world-renowned faculty and award-winning mentors, and contribute to groundbreaking research, all while studying topics that have great environmental and social significance. Geography is an integrated and highly interdisciplinary field of study spanning the physical world and society. It is also a hands-on discipline, with a strong emphasis on computer-based tools and field studies.

Geographers can choose to study an enormous range of subjects, essentially anything that has a spatial component. Students who major in geography use the lens of space to examine issues as diverse as climate variability and change on the African continent, malaria outbreaks in Africa and South America, deforestation and land conflict in the Amazon, and the origin and spread of blues music in the Southeastern United States. Across the globe, geographers study tropical cyclones, river restoration, disease outbreaks, the role of parks and other protected areas, changes in land cover, forest management and fragmentation, community conservation, emerging infectious diseases, environmental influences on the elderly, and economic development.

Geography explores the relationship between human and biophysical systems and deals with some of the most critical issues of our time such as environmental hazards, climate change, sustainability of resource management systems, international development, and community and urban planning. Understanding the concept of place, including how and why places differ from each other, is a central concern. Students who have social and economic interests can enter into careers in international development, urban and regional planning, geographic information systems, and environmental consultancy. Students who combine the study of socioeconomic factors and the biophysical world can work in resource management, conservation, environmental assessment, and watershed and coastal planning.

Coursework for the Major

The geography major has six different programs: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Arts in environmental geosciences, the Bachelor of Arts in Geographical Science and Sustainability, the Bachelor of Arts in medical geography in global health, and the Bachelor of Science in medical geography in global health. Coursework for the major will depend upon the program, which are all flexible. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all coursework for the major.

Students who are uncertain of a program should contact the Department of Geography's undergraduate coordinator for information and curriculum planning.

Required Coursework

All majors take some techniques courses, including GEO 3162C and a minimum of two additional courses that involve working with data and computers. All majors take a regional course, focusing on the countries, cultures and landscapes of one region in the world. The systematic courses include specialized courses in human or environmental/physical geography, but majors can also take additional techniques courses as part of this requirement. Students can concentrate coursework in economic geography and planning, environmental/physical geography, geospatial technologies, medical geography, or natural resource management.

Coursework for the major will depend upon the degree program. Courses for each program are listed below under Critical Tracking and Model Semester Plan.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Best suited for students interested in careers in urban and regional planning, business geography, medical geography, and geographic education, or for students who want a broad overview of the discipline with a focus on human geography.

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Geosciences

A joint program between the Department of Geography and the Department of Geological Sciences and is intended for students interested in land and water aspects of the environment. The degree focuses on human impacts, water and mineral resource exploitation and management, disasters, environmental planning, earth science education, or environmental law.

Bachelor of Science in Geography

Best suited for someone who wishes to pursue a career in environmental consulting or graduate work in physical geography or related natural sciences, including atmospheric science, geosciences, hydrologic sciences, or meteorology.

Bachelor of Arts in Geographical Science and Sustainability

A joint program (specialization) co-offered by Geography and Sustainability Studies and is intended for students interested in using geospatial technologies to advance sustainability. Students in this specialization learn modern geospatial technologies, such as geographical information system, remote sensing and spatial analysis, and use them to maintain ecological and environmental health, create economic welfare, and pursue social justice in a changing world.

Bachelor of Arts in Medical Geography in Global Health

Intended for students interested in social and cultural aspects of medical geography and global health and disease issues. The degree focuses on human impacts, cultural and social aspects of health and disease, and public health planning and management.

Bachelor of Science in Medical Geography in Global Health

Best suited for someone who wishes to pursue a career in public or animal health or disease management or graduate work in medical geography, public health or related natural sciences, including ecology, biology, or epidemiology/public health. This specialization offers the flexibility for students to prepare for admission to health professions programs.

A major in geography enables students to know the earth’s physical environment, to learn social, cultural and economic concepts from spatial and regional perspectives, and to understand the relationship between environment and society. Students will learn how geographic techniques, skills and concepts are applied in the subfields of geography. Computer-based lab assignments teach students how to analyze geographic information and to apply an interpretation of data toward problem solving or modeling. They will be able to interpret and to effectively communicate information spatially, graphically and/or with statistics.

The Bachelor of Arts in geography enables students to learn how geographic techniques, skills and concepts are applied in various subfields of geography. The Bachelor of Science enables students to learn basic concepts in sciences related to the earth and its atmosphere.

Before Graduating Students Must

Complete a capstone exam in GEO 4930, as developed by geography faculty.
Complete a capstone portfolio in GEO 4930, evaluated by geography faculty.
Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

Identify and describe the physical and human characteristics of Earth and its regions, the essentials of human‐environment interactions, and the techniques of geographic science.

Critical Thinking

Analyze geographic information and apply interpretation of data toward problem solving or modeling.

Communication

Interpret and effectively communicate information spatially, graphically and/or with statistics.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 3
Courses	SLO 1	SLO 2	SLO 3
GEA 2000-4000 level Regional Geography	R
GEO 2000 level Human Geography	I
GEO 2200	I
GEO 2200L	R
GEO 3162C	I	I	R
GEO 4930	R, A	A	A
GIS 3043 and GIS 4001C	R	R	R
STA 2023			I
B.A. Only Plus 15 additional credits in the department	R	R	R
B.S. Only Plus 12 additional credits in the department and 22 credits outside the department with CHM, GLY, MET, PHY, SWS prefixes	R	R	R

Assessment Types

Capstone exam
Portfolio

Disciplines

Liberal Arts and Sciences

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants who should complete the SSAR:

Attended a high school regionally accredited in the United States for at least three years.
Attended a DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) school.

Applicants who should not complete the SSAR:

Attended a secondary school located outside the United States for more than one semester.
Studied a curriculum that did not follow the standard U.S. system.

Required: At least three full years of your most recent secondary school transcripts, including courses in progress (grades 9, 10 and 11 + senior schedule) in both the native language of instruction and a word for word certified English translation (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts are accepted electronically via the status Check Status page for the review process, while official transcripts and translations are required upon enrollment.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6
TOEFLMin 80

English Program Requirements

All applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate English proficiency. English proficiency examination results, such as TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test, are encouraged for non-native English speakers, but are not required for freshman admission. SAT or ACT results are required for all freshman applicants.

Fee Information

How to Apply

A copy of your transcript for any school you have attended with the grades you have earned
A list of your high school activities including jobs, clubs, sports, community service, etc.
Information about your parent(s) or guardian(s), such as educational background, occupation and employer information

Add UF as a university to receive your application and review our specific application requirements.

Fill in your profile information. Your profile is where you'll enter information that will be sent to all schools to which you apply. The University of Florida requires the following sections:

Information about who you are and how to contact you, your address, citizenship, high school and family information
Current-year coursework
Honors and distinctions
Activities and experiences

Complete the UF Supplement. This includes a few additional short-answer questions so that we can learn more about you when reviewing your application.

Complete the essay questions. The essay helps our admissions staff get to know you better. Use this space to tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t learn elsewhere in your application. And remember, the best essay topic for you is going to be the one that you are most excited to write about.

Once you have submitted your application, a link will appear on your status page to create your Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR). List your high school courses and grades exactly as they appear on your transcript. You must complete the SSAR by December 1 for your application to be complete. If you begin the SSAR separately before submitting your UF application, be sure to link it to your application once your application has been submitted.

Submit your test scores to UF no later than December 15. You may either self-report your SAT and/or ACT scores through your application status page or send official scores from the testing agency. Since accuracy is critical, students who choose to self-report should have a copy of their SAT/ACT score report(s) available to reference when submitting their scores. Because UF superscores both the SAT and ACT, we encourage you to submit scores for all SAT or ACT tests you have taken. If admitted, students who have self-reported their scores in the admissions process will be required to submit official scores from the testing agency to UF by May 1. UF Institutional Codes:

You may request to begin your studies in either the Summer B or Fall term. The term requested DOES NOT affect the consideration of your application. If you are admitted, we will try to offer you the term you requested, but space limitations may mean you receive an offer for a different term.

When you submit your application, pay the $30 nonrefundable fee by credit card unless you qualify for a fee waiver. In both the Common and Coalition applications, you can indicate in the profile section if you qualify for a fee waiver.

You will receive an email 24-48 hours after submitting your application with instructions to create your MyAdmissions application status credentials. Once completed, you can log in to the MyAdmissions app status portal to keep track of your application status and the materials that UF has received. This is also where you will find the link to create your SSAR.

Geography

University of Florida

United States of America, Gainesville

Go to Official Website