Geography

• Department Information
• Program Description
• Career Opportunities
• Features
• Scholarship
• Major Requirements (B.A.)
• Major Requirements (B.S.)
• Other Degree Requirements
• Minor Requirements
• Certificate in Cartography and GIS
• Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management
• Undergraduate Courses

Department Information

Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Office: Robinson Hall 220
Phone: (510) 885-3193; FAX: (510) 885-2353
Website: http://class.csueastbay.edu/geography

Professors

Karina Garbesi, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
David Larson (Chair), Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
Michael Lee, Ph.D. London School of Economics (England)
Gary Li, Ph.D. State University of New York at Buffalo
Scott Stine, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

Associate Professor
David Woo, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara

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Program Description

Geography is the study of the spatial distributions and spatial relations within the human-environment system. Attention is focused on historic and contemporary human activities within the context of the physical-biotic and cultural environment, and on humanity as one of the major agents of change of the earth's surface. A curriculum in Geography helps students understand the world's landscape and how it has been transformed or altered by either the earth's natural processes or human modifications.

At Cal State East Bay, students can choose between a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in Geography. A B.S. degree major is appropriately suited for students with career objectives in the professional field of Geography. It is also highly recommended for those planning to enter a graduate school program in Geography. Obtaining a Bachelors of Arts degree major provides for a liberal education, and prepares students for positions in business, government, foreign service, and especially teaching. Combining geography with coursework in other social sciences or with other science fields is excellent preparation for teachers in secondary education. Both majors require 61 units, 16 lower division and 45 upper division.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. or B.S. in Geography from Cal State East Bay will: 1) have developed a broad and deep understanding of the critical factors and fundamental concepts of the discipline of Geography; 2) have the ability to communicate orally and in writing; 3) have a solid understanding of regional and global affairs; 4) be familiar with the urban and rural geography of the Bay Area; 5) be able to prepare, use and interpret maps and other spatial data with and without the aid of computers.

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Career Opportunities

• Aerial Photo Interpreter
• Agricultural Geographer
• Archaeologist
• Cartographer
• Census Analyst
• Climatologist
• Community Development Specialist
• Demographer
• Ecologist
• Economic Development Analyst
• Environmental Analyst/Planner
• Map Curator
• Recreational Resource Planner
• Soil Conservationist
• Transportation Planner
• Urban Geographer
• Zoning Specialist/Surveyor

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Features

With the arrangement of a faculty advisor, students in the Bachelor of Science program can select from the following fields of concentration: biogeography, cartography, cultural geography, economic geography, historical geography, history and philosophy of geography, physical geography, regional geography.
 
The department also offers a Certificate Program in Cartography and G.I.S. for those wanting to learn skills and methods in data collection, interpretation, and analysis as well as the design, compilation, production, and reproduction of maps.
 
Geographic internships are available. Individual students may be assigned to public, private, or volunteer agencies.

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Scholarship

Richard and Evelyn Thoman Scholarship in Geography and Environmental Studies

One $500 scholarship is awarded each academic year for full-time undergraduate or graduate studies. Awards are limited to students with upper division or graduate standing. A grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required, and demonstrated scholastic and creative ability in the field of Geography or Environmental Studies.

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Major Requirements (B.A.)

The major consists of 61-73 units in geography; the B.A. degree requires a total of 180 units.

1. Lower Division (16 units)
   • GEOG 2100 Physical Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2300 Cultural Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2310 Economic and Resource Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2410 Introduction to Maps (4)
2. Upper Division (45 units)
   • GEOG 3450 Literature and Research Methods (5)
   • Four units of an upper division GEOG course covering field geography of the San Francisco Bay region with consent of advisor (4)
   • One Physical Course (4 units):
     • GEOG 3115 Physical Landscape Analysis
   • One Technical Course (4 units) selected from:
     • GEOG 3410 Air-Photo Interpretation
     • GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles
   • One Cultural Course (4 units) selected from GEOG 3000-level courses with consent of advisor.
   • One Resource Course (4 units) selected from:
     • GEOG 3000 Sustainable Resource Management
     • GEOG 3320 Food, Culture and Environment
     • GEOG 4320 Energy and Society
     • GEOG 4350 Water Resources and Management
   • One Regional Course (4 units) selected from 3500 series
   • Plus 16 units of electives in geography, including not more than 4 additional units in the 3500 series, and to include at least 8 units of the 4000-level series by advisement
   Note: The following courses or their equivalents have to be completed if a student in the B.A. program in Geography desires to enter the M.A. degree program in Geography:
   • GEOG 3410 Air-Photo Interpretation
   • GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles
   • GEOG 3000-level course in applied field studies, with consent of advisor
3. Proficiency Requirements (0-12 units)
   Proficiency in reading a foreign language, at the first-year level, must be demonstrated by successful completion of a departmental examination; or proficiency in statistics, at the level of a 3000-series course, must be demonstrated by passing an examination set by the Statistics Department; or proficiency in Mathematics, at the level of Calculus III, must be certified by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Appropriate coursework will be recommended to students who do not pass an examination.

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Major Requirements (B.S.)

The major consists of 61-73 units in Geography; the B.S. requires a total of 180 units.

1. Lower Division (16 units)
   • GEOG 2100 Physical Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2300 Cultural Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2310 Economic and Resource Geography (4)
   • GEOG 2410 Introduction to Maps (4)
2. Upper Division (45 units)
   • GEOG 3410 Air-Photo Interpretation (4)
   • GEOG 3450 Literature and Research Methods (5)
   • GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles (4)
   • GEOG 3000-level course in applied field studies, with consent of advisor (4)
   • One Physical Course (4 units):
     • GEOG 3115 Physical Landscape Analysis
   • One Cultural Course (4 units) selected from the group comprising the 3300 series
   • One Field Course (4 units):
     • GEOG 4325 Field Course in Cultural-Urban Geography
   • Two Regional Courses (8 units) selected from the 3500 series.
   • Plus 8 units of electives in Geography, in the 4000 series by advisement.
3. Proficiency Requirements (0-12 units)
   Proficiency in reading a modern language, at the first-year level, must be demonstrated by successful completion of a departmental examination; or proficiency in statistics, at the level of a 3000 series course, must be demonstrated by passing an examination set by the Statistics Department; or proficiency in Mathematics, at the level of Calculus III, must be certified by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Appropriate coursework will be recommended to students who do not pass an examination.

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Other Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University requirements for graduation which are described in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements chapter in the front of this catalog. These include the General Education-Breadth requirements; the second composition (ENGL 1002) requirement; the cultural groups/women requirement; the performing arts/activities requirement; the U.S. history, U.S. Constitution, and California state and local government requirement; the University Writing Skills Requirement; and the residence, unit, and grade point average requirements.

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Minor Requirements

The minor consists of 36 units.

• GEOG 2100 (4 units)
• GEOG 2300 (4 units)
• GEOG 3410 (4 units)
• Two regional courses (3500 series) from different instructors (8 units)
• Four courses from one of the following groups (16 units):
  1. Human Geography Option: GEOG 2310, 3320, 3360; one course selected from GEOG 3000-level courses with consent of advisor
  2. Physical-Biotic Resources Option: GEOG 3115, 3120, 4320, 4350

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Certificate in Cartography and GIS

The Cartography and GIS Certificate Program consists of 20 units. It is designed to prepare students in methods of data collection, interpretation, and analysis as well as the design, compilation, production, and reproduction of maps, thus enabling students to be current in the field of cartography.

Select at least 20 units from the following:

• GEOG 3410 Air-Photo Interpretation (4)
• GEOG 3600 Cartographic Principles and Graphic Communication (4)
• GEOG 3605 Computer Cartography (5)
• GEOG 4425 Remote Sensing of Earth Environments (4)
• GEOG 4605 Applications of GIS (5)

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Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management

Prerequisites: STAT 1000 Elements of Probability and Statistics (5), or equivalent, and AA degree, or equivalent, or completion of lower division requirements for a four-year degree program.
 
The certificate consists of a total of 28 units.

1. Required Courses (16 units)
   • GEOG 3000 Sustainable Resource Management (4)
   • ENVT 3400 Environmental Resource Analysis (4)
   • ENVT 4100 Environmental Impact Analysis (4)
   • MGMT 3110 Project Management (4)
2. Elective Courses (12 units)
   Select three courses from the following list:
   
   • GEOG/ENVT 3480 Applied Field Studies (4)
   • GEOG/ENVT 4320 Energy and Society (4)
   • GEOG 4330 Sustainable Development (4)
   • GEOG 4350 Water Resources and Management (4)
   • GEOG 6780 Seminar in Environmental Planning (4)
   • GEOG 6820 Seminar in Sustainable Cities (4)
   • MGMT 6460 Strategic Management for a Sustainable Society (4)

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Undergraduate Courses

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