Geospatial Analysis
Degree: B.A., Geography
Department of Geography
The Geography Department hosts two majors and a certificate in Geographic Information Science. Majors in Geography and in Geospatial Analysis both lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography.
Geography is the study of the interaction between people and their environments, both natural and human. Geographers examine the places and regions resulting from such interaction and analyze the spatial characteristics of all manner of cultural, economic, political, and physical processes and relationships. Students in the Geospatial Analysis major take foundational thematic geography courses, and specialize in geospatial technologies.
Geospatial Analysis majors may study geographic information systems, spatial analysis, remote sensing, the global positioning system, web-GIS and GIS programming. Students will tailor their interests in geospatial technologies to one or more areas in geography, such as planning, economic development, or environmental studies. Majors are also encouraged to engage in internships, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research.
Facilities for geographic studies at Mary Washington include well-equipped laboratories for the study and practice of physical geography, GIS, cartography, and remote sensing. The department hosts a chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the International Geography Honorary Society.
During the senior year qualified students may pursue Honors in Geography by completing an independent research project and writing and defending a thesis.
The knowledge and skills gained by majoring in Geospatial Analysis position graduates for careers as geospatial specialists in a variety of fields, including government agencies and private businesses, research institutions and health organizations, planning agencies and non-profit institutions.
A minimum of 41-42 credits in Geography, Geographic Information Science, and related fields.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 15 | |
| Introduction to Human Geography | ||
| Landform Processes | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Cartography | ||
or GISC 200 | Introduction to GIS | |
| Spatial Analysis | ||
| Foundation (choose one) | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Upper-Level GEOG Requirement (choose one) | 3 | |
301 to 339 | ||
| Upper Level GIS Requirements (choose two) | 8 | |
| Remote Sensing and Air Photo Interpretation | ||
| Mobile Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems | ||
| GIS Programming | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Web GIS: Concepts and Applications | ||
| Breath Requirements | 9-10 | |
| Take one course from each of the 3 areas of specialization, at least one being at 300-level. | ||
| Areas of Specialization | ||
| A. Society & Politics | ||
| Introduction to Planning | ||
| Globalization and Local Development | ||
| Cities | ||
| Race and Place in America | ||
| Migration Politics in a Globalizing World | ||
| Planning Seminar | ||
| The Nature of Cities 1 | ||
| Geopolitics | ||
| B. Culture | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Geography of Eastern North America | ||
| Geography of Western North America | ||
| Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Geography of the Middle East | ||
| Sacred Spaces | ||
| Development Studies | ||
| Grassroots Development in Guatemala | ||
| C. Environment | ||
| Introduction to Weather and Climate | ||
| Hazards and Resilience | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Dynamic Climatology | ||
| Glacial Processes and Landscapes | ||
| Climate Change | ||
| The Nature of Cities 1 | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar in Geography | ||
| Total Credits | 41-42 | |
- 1
GEOG 337 may be used in either Society & Politics or Environment, not both.
Certificate in Geographic Information Science can be found by using this link.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits