George Mason University > University Catalog > College of Arts and Sciences
2003-04 University Catalog George Mason University


Geography

Faculty

Professors: Gortner (interim chair, Geography; Public and International Affairs), Haack, Haynes (dean, School of Public Policy), Stough (School of Public Policy)

Associate professors: Beach (associate provost), Wong

Assistant professors: Parker, Schintler (School of Public Policy)

Instructors: Dillon, Hallden Harsha, Kopf

Adjuncts: DeCola, Hirsch, Michaelson, Mobley, Rennick, Sheers, Ward, Wheeler, Zinn

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated GEOG in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Geography, B.A.

In addition to the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, candidates for a degree in geography must complete the following:

1. 28 credits in geography, including

a. 16 credits of geography core courses: GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415 (GEOG 103 fulfills the university requirement in social science.)

b. 12 credits of systematic (e.g., GEOG 301, 303, 304, or 305), geographical applications (e.g., GEOG 308, 311, 412, 416, or 463), and regional courses at the 300 level or above (Some of the regional courses will fulfill the college-level non-Western culture requirement.)

2. 18 or more credits consisting of an approved double major, disciplinary minor, interdisciplinary minor, or certificate, or any other coherent 18-credit (minimum) package of courses approved by the advisor and the department chair. No more than 7 credits used to meet the requirements in item 1 may be used to meet this requirement. (Some of these courses may fulfill university-wide general education or college-level requirements.)

Geography, B.S.

In addition to the university general education requirements, candidates for a degree in geography must complete the following:

1. 28 credits in geography, including

a. 16 credits of geography core courses: GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415 (GEOG 103 fulfills the university requirement in social science.)

b. 12 credits of systematic (e.g., GEOG 301, 303, 304, or 305) and regional courses at the 300 level or above (Some of the regional courses will fulfill the college-level non-Western culture requirement.)

2. 18 or more credit sequence of geographical applications courses, including GEOG 311, 411, 412, 416 or 463, and 6 additional credits of geography electives, which may also include an internship (GEOG 480) approved by the program advisor before enrollment.

3. 25 to 26 credits of required science, mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses, including

a. GEOL 101, 102, and 317 (12 credits) or BIOL 103, 104, and 377 (11 credits) (fulfills the university general education requirement in natural science)

b. MATH 113 and 114 (8 credits) (fulfills the university quantitative reasoning requirement)

c. STAT 250 (3 credits)

d. IT 103 (3 credits) (fulfills the university information technology proficiency requirement)

Minor in Geography

To receive a minor in geography, students must complete 18 credits in geography, distributed as follows:

1. 6 credits of GEOG 101 (fulfills the university requirement in global understanding), or GEOG 103 (fulfills the university requirement in social science) and GEOG 102 (non-lab natural science credit)

2. 4 courses (12 credits) at the 300 and 400 level, including 1 systematic course (such as GEOG 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, or 309) and 1 regional course (such as GEOG 315, 316, 320, 325, 330, or 380)

Minor in Geographic Information Systems

To receive a minor in geographic information systems (GIS), students must complete 18 to 19 credits in geography beyond the prerequisite of GEOG 102 or 103:

1. 4 required courses (12 credits): GEOG 110, 300, 311, 463

2. 2 elective courses (6 to 7 credits) chosen from GEOG 310, 411, 412, 416

With departmental permission, one course with significant GIS content may be substituted for one of the above.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in geography fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GEOG 415.

Teacher Licensure

Students who wish to become teachers should consult the Professional Licensure section in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, e-mail gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information.

Graduate Program

Earth Systems Science, M.S.

The interdisciplinary master's program in Earth Systems Science (ESS) is offered jointly by the College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Department of Geography), and the School of Computational Sciences (SCS). The program addresses the growing national and regional demand for trained professionals in Earth systems science and applications. The degree emphasizes a research-oriented global systems approach to the study of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, including their interrelationships and their interactions with the biosphere. Emphasis is on the observation and quantitative analysis of Earth systems. Students completing the program are qualified to pursue careers that require knowledge of the basics of Earth systems science and the requisite tools. Students are encouraged to undertake either an optional master's thesis for more in-depth studies or a research project. In the latter case, students will have to pass a qualifying exam.

Degree Requirements

Candidates must successfully complete 30 credit hours as follows:

1. 9 credit hours of Earth science core: CSI 655; CSI 656/EVPP 652/GEOG 570; and CSI 657/GEOL 601/GEOG 671

2. 3 credit hours of Earth observation courses: CSI 753 or GEOG 579

3. 3 credit hours of quantitative techniques courses: CSI 754 or GEOG 585

4. 3 credit hours of human and biological perspectives courses:

3 credits of of CSI 750, 759; EVPP 577, 636, 741; GEOG 575, 590, 670 (see an advisor for course options)

3 credits of colloquium/seminar: CSI 899/EVPP 791/GEOG 791 and CSI 792/ EVPP 792/GEOG 792

3 to 6 credit hours of research: CSI 798/EVPP 798/GEOG 750, or CSI 799/EVPP 799/GEOG 799

5. General electives (see an advisor for course options)

Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, M.S.

The M.S. in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences provides courses for students interested in the techniques of collection, analysis, and display of spatial data. Students may prepare for further study or careers in geography and cartography with federal agencies, state and local government agencies, private corporations, and educational institutions.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study at George Mason, applications to the M.S. in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences should have a bachelor's degree in geography, cartography, or equivalent. An applicant without an undergraduate degree in geography may be required to take one course in each of the following: physical geography, human geography, and regional geography. All applicants must have a course in statistics. The program also requires GRE aptitude scores, three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all college course work, and a statement of interest in geography.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 30 graduate credits to include 3 to 6 credits of thesis or 36 graduate credits without a thesis. If the non-thesis option is selected, students are required to pass a comprehensive examination.

1. 4 required courses (12 credits)

GEOG 550 Introduction to Geographic Information Science

GEOG 579 Remote Sensing

GEOG 585 Quantitative Methods

GEOG 680 Seminar in Thought and Methodology

2. 12­15 credits (thesis option) or 24 credits (non-thesis option) of elective courses in geography

3. 3 to 6 credits of thesis (thesis option)

4. comprehensive exam (non-thesis option)

Electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor. With departmental approval, up to 9 credits from closely related disciplines may be applied to the degree.