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Geography

Geography is concerned with place and environment and the ongoing processes of change within and between social and physical systems. Geography's importance to scholarly inquiry is rooted in the complexity of social and environmental problems. Three concepts at the core of the discipline—space, place, and scale—provide theoretical constructs and methodological tools for a science that investigates the complex character of social and environmental phenomena.

Geographers examine issues such as distribution and consumption of natural resources, air and water quality, climate changes and ecosystem dynamics, growth and development of urban areas, population dynamics, politics and practice of international development, and social justice. They view society and the environment as a physical/social/cultural system. They apply uniquely geographical perspectives and tools, as well as knowledge from other social and scientific disciplines, to analyze the emergent properties of these systems.

Department of Geography graduates find employment opportunities in government, nongovernmental organizations, and business. For example, many geographers are employed in resource management, urban and regional development, site selection, and market area analysis. They analyze problems in the distribution and interactions among physical, ecological, social, and political systems.

Geography students acquire skills in computer-based cartography and geographic information systems (GIS) software used to investigate and solve many environmental and social problems. Opportunities for graduates with GIS training are growing rapidly in both private and governmental organizations.

The geography faculty has developed an undergraduate instructional program that serves students majoring or minoring in geography as well as students in other disciplines. Courses in geography are commonly required for students preparing to teach at the elementary and secondary school levels and for those who want to pursue careers in urban and regional planning. They also provide a background for many related professions, including law, health care, environmental or transportation engineering, and international business.

Geography students use the University's Geographic Information System Instructional Lab (GISIL) for GIS instruction and research. The lab is located in the Department of Geography; see "Facilities and Resources" later in this Catalog section.

The Department of Geography participates in a number of University of Iowa interdisciplinary programs that have international, area studies, urban, or environmental components. It also participates in the University's internship program for students; see "Internships" later in this Catalog section.

Undergraduate Programs

• Major in geography (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science)
• Major in environmental policy and planning (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science)
• Minor in geography 

B.A. and B.S.: Geography

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in geography requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 36-40 s.h. of work for the major. The Bachelor of Science with a major in geography requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 44-48 s.h. of work for the major. Students choose one of four tracks: health and society, environmental studies, geographic information science (GIS), or sustainability. Credit required for the major depends on the student's choice of track.

The major in geography (either B.A. or B.S.) is appropriate preparation for advanced training or careers in geography. Students with strong interest in quantitative analysis and model building should pursue the Bachelor of Science and are encouraged to master an appropriate computer programming language.

All students majoring in geography complete a common set of foundation courses in addition to the requirements for their choice of track. Bachelor of Science students take additional mathematics course work. Students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

Transfer students majoring in geography must earn a minimum of 15 s.h. for the major in residence at The University of Iowa. Consistent with the CLAS maximum hours rule, students may count no more than 50 s.h. earned in their major department toward graduation.

Common Requirements (B.A. and B.S.)

All geography majors must complete the following courses. Students may not use a course to fulfill more than one major requirement.

One of these:

Both of these: 

One of these, in addition to any course required to fulfill a track requirement: 

One of these (not required for GIS track students): 

One of these: 

Senior Project Seminar [044:150 (GEOG:4030)] is offered only in spring semesters. Students who choose 044:151 (GEOG:4990) Senior Thesis must make arrangements with a faculty advisor.

Statistics COURSES (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts students must earn a minimum of 3 s.h. in statistics by completing one of the following courses or a statistics course equivalent to or numbered above one of these.

Statistics/Mathematics COURSES (B.S.)

Bachelor of Science students must earn a minimum of 9 s.h. in statistics/mathematics by completing one of the following options or courses equivalent to or numbered above these.

Option 1

This sequence:

Or this sequence:

And one of these:

Option 2

This course:

And one of these sequences:

Tracks (B.A. and B.S.)

All geography majors must complete one of the four tracks described below: health and society, environmental studies, geographic information science (GIS), or sustainability. Students should pay close attention to prerequisites for the upper-level courses in each track in order to develop a study plan that allows them to complete their major in a timely way.

Students in the health and society, environmental studies, or sustainability track who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of GIS systems should take GIS-based courses offered by the Department of Geography, as described for each track below.

Students may use 044:197 (GEOG:3001) Special Topics to fulfill a track requirement if the course content is applicable.

Health and Society Track

The health and society track requires a minimum of 15 s.h. It is designed for students preparing for positions in government, nongovernment organizations, international development agencies, and business. It also provides preparation for graduate study in geography or planning, or for professional programs such as law, business, or policy analysis. The track provides an understanding of increasing globalization, including processes of urban and regional development or underdevelopment; the roles of elites, classes, institutions, and social movements; the role of the natural environment in effecting social change in different parts of the world; and the processes through which policy decisions are reached. Course work in the track covers social and economic theories of location and regional formation, methods of spatial analysis and geographic modeling, global and regional political economy, and theories of community conflict and social change.

Students develop requisite skills in quantitative analysis and the development, management, and application of geographic information systems and computer methods. They have opportunities to work on applied problems, such as assessing sites for their growth potential, identifying the best locations for service facilities, evaluating the impact of major projects, and forecasting the populations of small areas. The health and society track also provides opportunities for students interested in international development to examine competing theories intended to explain international and regional inequalities, and to investigate and evaluate the patterns and practice of development worldwide.

In addition to satisfying the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the health and society track complete a common track course (3 s.h.) and at least 12 s.h. of upper-level geography courses.

Common course—all health and society track students take this:

Students choose a total of four upper-level courses (at least 12 s.h.) from the following lists, in consultation with their advisors. Those who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of GIS systems should also take 044:113 (GEOG:3510) Principles of Geographical Information Systems or at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based geography courses.

Two or three of these:

One or two of these:

Environmental Studies Track

The environmental studies track requires a minimum of 15 s.h. It is designed for students interested in the interrelationships among social and natural processes that affect the environment. The track prepares students for careers or pursuit of personal interests in resource management, physical geography, climatology, environmental policy or law, global environmental change, sustainable development, or other complex environmental issues. Graduates may find employment in an environmental profession such as landscape ecology or climatology; environmental planning and regulation; or environmental law, policy, and politics.

The environmental studies track offers training in field observation, remote sensing, geographical information systems, quantitative analysis/computing, and cartographic representation. It also provides a sound foundation for graduate or professional-level studies in the natural or social aspects of the environment.

In addition to satisfying the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the environmental studies track complete a common track course (3 s.h.) and at least 12 s.h. of upper-level geography courses.

Common course—all environmental studies track students take this:

Students choose a total of four upper-level courses (at least 12 s.h.) from the following lists, in consultation with their advisors. Those who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of GIS systems should take 044:110 (GEOG:3520) GIS for Environmental Studies: Introduction and 044:128 (GEOG:4520) GIS for Environmental Studies: Applications, or at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based geography courses.

Two or three of these:

One or two of these:

Geographic Information Science Track

The geographic information science track requires a minimum of 18-19 s.h. It is designed for students preparing for positions in government agencies, nongovernment organizations, international development agencies, and business. It also provides preparation for graduate study in geography, planning, and other disciplines. The track focuses on the design, implementation, and use of geographic information systems. Courses address how geographic data are acquired, stored, accessed, displayed, managed, and analyzed.

Students in the geographic information science track learn to address problems involved in modeling environmental systems, identifying the best locations for service facilities, assessing environmental impacts, and forecasting the populations of small areas. They use the department's Geographic Information Systems Instructional Lab (GISIL) extensively to develop expertise in using GIS software.

Course work in the track covers methods of spatial analysis and geographical modeling and involves database management and computer programming.

In addition to the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the geographic information science track complete a common track course (3-4 s.h.) and at least 15 s.h. of upper-level geography courses.

Common course—all GIS track students take one of these:

Students choose a total of five upper-level courses (at least 15 s.h.) from the following lists, in consultation with their advisors (a total of four courses from the first two lists plus one course from the third list). GIS track students are encouraged to add breadth to their degree by taking additional upper-level courses in the department. Students interested in the application of GIS to environmental issues should select additional courses from the department's environmental studies area; those interested in socioeconomic issues should select additional courses from the department's health and society area.

Two or three of these:

One or two of these:

One of these:

Sustainability Track

The sustainability track requires a minimum of 18 s.h. It is designed for students interested in finding ways for people to live that do not threaten the survival of future generations.  It includes training in scientific and social scientific methods and requires students to look at the world on scales ranging from local to global. The sustainability track prepares students to be effective leaders and agents of change for sustainability in varied professions, such as academic researcher and teacher, technology specialist, grassroots advocate, government official, or corporate officer.

In addition to satisfying the common requirements for all geography majors, students in the sustainability track complete two common track courses, earning a minimum of 3 s.h. in 057:013 (ENGR:4013) Introduction to Sustainability. They also complete at least 12 s.h. of upper-level geography courses.

Common courses—all sustainability track students take both of these:

Students choose one upper-level course from each of the four groups below (at least 12 s.h.), in consultation with their advisors. Sustainability track students who wish to gain additional experience in theory and application of GIS systems should take 044:110 (GEOG:3520) GIS for Environmental Studies: Introduction or 044:128 (GEOG:4520) GIS for Environmental Studies: Applications or at least an additional 6 s.h. in GIS-based geography courses.

Environment and human health—one of these:

Energy, climate, and the built environment—one of these:

Society and culture—one of these:

Environment and public policy—one of these

B.A. and B.S.: Environmental Policy and Planning

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in environmental policy and planning requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 40-41 s.h. of work for the major. The Bachelor of Science with a major in environmental policy and planning requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 47-48 s.h. of work for the major. Students choose one of two tracks: planning or policy. Credit required for the major depends on the student's choice of track.

The major in environmental policy and planning concentrates on the social science and policy dimensions of environmental problems, which often are caused by people and may have significant economic effects. Environmental issues are embedded in a complex mesh of economics, politics, culture, and behavior. Planners and policy makers must understand the human dimensions of these factors in order to solve environmental problems.

Environmental policy and planning is an interdisciplinary major that draws courses from geography, anthropology, economics, political science, and other disciplines. Work for the major includes introductory courses, methods courses, intermediate courses, and a track. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the major. Transfer students must complete at least 21 s.h. of work for the major in residence at The University of Iowa.

All students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. 

Students who earn a second major in anthropology, geography, or political science must complete a minimum of 12 s.h. of course work in the second major that they do not double-count toward the major in environmental policy and planning. The 12 s.h. of courses must be offered by the second major's administrative home: anthropology [prefix 113 (ANTH)], geography [prefix 044 (GEOG)], or political science [prefix 030 (POLI)]. This requirement applies whether students earn the same degree (B.A. or B.S.) with both majors or earn a B.A. with one major and a B.S. with the other. However, honors students in environmental policy and planning may count their honors thesis credit toward this 12 s.h. requirement.

The major in environmental policy and planning requires the following course work.

Common Requirements (B.A. and B.S.)

INTRODUCTORY COURSES (B.A. and B.S.)

All of these:

One of these:

METHODS COURSES (B.A.)

This course:

One of these:

METHODS COURSES (B.S.)

All of these:

INTERMEDIATE COURSES (B.A. AND B.S.) 

Both of these:

One of these:

Tracks (B.A. and B.S.)

Students choose either the planning track or the policy track and complete their track's required course work.

PLANNING TRACK

The planning track requires 12 s.h.; all students complete 06E:133 (ECON:3330) and choose three additional courses from the list below.

This course:

Three of these:

POLICY TRACK

The policy track requires 13 s.h.; all students complete 044:125 (GEOG:4750) and choose three additional courses from the list below.

This course:

Three of these:

B.A. or B.S. with Teacher Licensure

Geography majors interested in earning licensure to teach in elementary and/or secondary schools must complete the College of Education's Teacher Education Program (TEP) in addition to the requirements for the major and all requirements for graduation. The TEP requires several College of Education courses and student teaching. Contact the Office of Education Services for details.

Students must satisfy all degree requirements and complete Teacher Education Program licensure before degree conferral.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan. (Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.)

B.A.: Geography

Before the third semester begins: one introductory course in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: five courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: 11 courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: 14 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.S.: Geography

Before the third semester begins: two introductory courses in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: six courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: 12 courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: 15 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A.: Environmental Policy and Planning

Before the third semester begins: one introductory course in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: four courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: eight courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: 11 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.S.: Environmental Policy and Planning

Before the third semester begins: one introductory course in the major and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: five courses in the major and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: eight courses in the major and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: 12 courses in the major

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors in Geography

Geography students interested in pursuing study beyond the typical undergraduate level may work toward graduation with honors in the major. To graduate with honors, students must be members of the University of Iowa Honors Program, which requires that students maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). They must be admitted to the honors program in geography by the first semester of their senior year and must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in the major.

Working under the direction of a faculty member, honors students conduct original research and then prepare and present an honors thesis based on their research. The thesis is reviewed by a committee of three faculty members. Students earn credit for their thesis by registering for 044:199 (GEOG:4995) Honors Thesis. The senior course 044:150 (GEOG:4030) Senior Project Seminar may be substituted for 044:199 (GEOG:4995), as long as the student continues work on the thesis under the direction of a faculty member.

Honors in Environmental Policy and Planning

Environmental policy and planning students interested in pursuing study beyond the typical undergraduate level may work toward graduation with honors in the major. To graduate with honors, students must be members of the University of Iowa Honors Program, which requires that students maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 (contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information). They must be admitted to the honors program in environmental policy and planning by the first semester of their senior year, at the latest, and must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in the major. 

Working under the direction of a faculty member, honors students conduct original research and then prepare and present an honors thesis based on their research. The thesis must be approved by a committee of at least three faculty members. Students earn credit for their thesis by registering for 044:199 (GEOG:4995) Honors Thesis or 030:186 (POLI:4601) Honors Senior Thesis, or 113:186 (ANTH:4995) Honors Research Seminar and 113:176 (ANTH:4996) Honors Research.

Minor in Geography

The minor in geography requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in geography courses, including 12 s.h. in 100-level courses taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students are encouraged to concentrate their course work in tracks—health and society, environmental studies, geographic information science, or sustainability (see "B.A. and B.S.: Geography" above). For help in selecting courses, contact the department secretary to request assignment of a minor advisor.

Courses for Nonmajors

Students in other majors may include geography courses in their study programs to satisfy requirements of the General Education Program. Three General Education areas include geography courses, as follows (several courses are approved for both the International and Global Issues area and the Social Sciences area).

International and Global Issues:

Natural Sciences:

Social Sciences:

Nonmajors also may choose geography courses as electives, for example, 044:060 (GEOG:1060) Geography of Asia: From Japan to Pakistan.

Graduate Programs

• Master of Arts in geography
• Doctor of Philosophy in geography

In addition to offering graduate degree programs, the department administers the geoinformatics subtrack of the graduate Certificate in Informatics; see Informatics in the Catalog (Graduate College).

Department of Geography graduate programs focus on investigating the environmental consequences of human decisions on local, regional, and global scales. Central to the department's studies are geographical information science and the theories and models of environmental and social sciences. Within this broad domain, the department is developing strengths in environmental justice, environmental modeling, GIScience and GIS, land use and its environmental consequences, and health geography.

The Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy programs prepare students to carry on creative and productive research in selected areas of geography. University of Iowa graduates hold positions on college and university faculties, in private research organizations, and in business and government.

The department provides opportunities for graduate students to gain practical teaching experience through service as departmental teaching assistants or graduate instructors.

Graduate students present research papers at conferences and have regularly won awards. Students are involved in faculty research that leads to coauthored publications; they also publish their own. Graduate students compete successfully for intramural and extramural funding for graduate education and research.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts program in geography requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit and is designed to be completed in four semesters. However, students earn more than the required credit in completing the degree, using the additional work to increase their breadth of knowledge in geography and to tailor their study programs to their individual interests. A maximum of 6 s.h. of thesis credit may be applied toward the degree. Students may complete an M.A. specialization in geographic information science by taking specific course work.

Graduate students demonstrate competence by completing appropriate course work and having a portfolio of finished work reviewed, or completing an M.A. exam, or completing and defending an M.A. thesis, or completing the Ph.D. comprehensive exams.

For detailed information about M.A. requirements, see the Manual for Graduate Degree Requirements, Department of Geography; contact the Department of Geography.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy program in geography requires 72 s.h. of graduate credit and is designed to be completed in four or five years. The degree prepares students for college and university teaching and for advanced research. It provides study programs that lead to broad knowledge of a field of geography and its literature and to special expertise in a subfield.

Students may enter the Ph.D. program upon completing an undergraduate degree or with advanced standing corresponding to previous graduate education.

All Ph.D. students take the following courses. They take 044:350 (GEOG:7000) Geography Colloquium (1 s.h.) each semester they are in residence. 

Before students may be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D., they must submit an original research paper to a faculty committee for approval. Students who complete an M.A. or M.S. thesis may submit it to fulfill this requirement. Before taking the comprehensive examination, which consists of both written and oral components, each student must submit an area review paper to his or her Ph.D. committee. This paper, which must be approved by the student's Ph.D. advisor, consists of a critical review of research in the student's concentration area.

The comprehensive examination covers the student's concentration area and his or her general field in the discipline. After obtaining the dissertation supervisor's approval, the student submits a dissertation proposal to the dissertation committee for critical comments and approval. The student then must complete and defend the dissertation.

For detailed information about Ph.D. requirements, see the Manual for Graduate Degree Requirements, Department of Geography; contact the Department of Geography.

Admission

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

A bachelor's degree with a major in geography is not required for admission to graduate study in geography, but applicants must have an undergraduate background relevant to the field. Strength in social or environmental science and interest in exploring the regional and spatial perspectives that characterize modern geography are important in admission decisions. Depending on their prior training, graduate students may be required to take courses that are prerequisites for course work in their chosen area of graduate study; credit earned in prerequisites does not count toward the graduate degree.

Application materials include an undergraduate transcript with grade-point average, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, three letters of recommendation, and an essay in which the applicant states his or her reasons for wanting to study geography at The University of Iowa.

Applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Their scores must be sent to the University's Office of Admissions.

New graduate students whose first language is not English are required to take a speaking proficiency test when they arrive at the University; eventually they take the English Language Performance Test (ELPT). Students must be fully certified by the ELPT before they begin their fourth semester in order to be considered for funding in succeeding semesters. Students who do not pass the tests are required to take Teaching Assistant Preparation in English (TAPE) courses until they have achieved proficiency in spoken English.

Financial Support

A number of graduate teaching and research assistantships are available. In addition, outstanding applicants and underrepresented minorities are eligible for several fellowships. Awards are based on merit. In making awards, the department pays particular attention to grade-point average, especially for the junior and senior years; score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; letters of recommendation; and fit of the student's objectives with department specializations. Applications for graduate appointments must be received by February 1. Applications for fellowships are due by January 15.

Internships

The Department of Geography is a participant in the University's internship program, which provides opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to participate in paid and unpaid activities related to their academic programs. The Pomerantz Career Center works with students to develop appropriate internships.

Facilities and Resources

The department houses three geographic information computational laboratories, which support a variety of GIS software packages, including the latest software from ESRI (ArcGIS) and Erdas (Imagine) as well as open-source software.

The University's Geographic Information Systems Instructional Lab (GISIL) is located in the Department of Geography. The lab is a center for teaching GIS as well as a place where students conduct geographic and GIS-related research. It is equipped with 25 networked student workstations, instructional support technology (e.g., CRT projection), and a suite of peripherals.

Environmental modeling and GIS research laboratories contain state-of-the-art machines. The department provides Windows and Linux platforms, digitizers, scanners, plotters, and printers. Projects requiring massive storage have access to the advanced GIS and modeling facility in the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research. The University of Iowa is a charter member of Internet2, with a high-performance network link to the Department of Geography. The University also is a member of the University Consortium on Geographic Information Science.

To aid studies of water resources and physical geography, the department has a laboratory for analysis of vegetation, sediment, soil, water quality, and tree rings, and a variety of field equipment, including portable meteorological stations and data loggers.

Faculty and graduate students participate in multidisciplinary working groups through the University's Program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, International Programs, Institute for Rural and Environmental Health, Iowa Quaternary Studies Group, and Public Policy Center.

The University's Main Library has a collection of more than 115,500 maps, 3,600 atlases and reference works, and around 100,000 aerial photographs, primarily of Iowa.

Courses

Primarily for Undergraduates

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

For Graduate Students