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Geography Major | Geography Minor | Geospatial Science Minor

General Distribution Requirement

All geography courses count toward the general distribution requirement in social science except courses numberedÌý,Ìý, , , and .Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, and ÌýcountÌýtoward the general distribution requirement in mathematics and natural science.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and US identities and differencesÌýwill be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information about general distribution requirements and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirementsÌýsection of this catalog.

Honors Program

The geography department participates in the honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either theÌýdepartment or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.

Internships

Over the past several years the department, in cooperation with the Career Exploration Office, has sponsored preprofessional internships in a variety of natural resource and planning agencies, consulting firms, and community organizations. In some internships, students are paid for their work.

Further Preparation

To meet requirements for graduate study, students with majors or minors in geography should select supplementary courses from the social sciences, the natural sciences, and the humanities and fine arts in consultation with their department advisors. It is also desirable that students preparing for graduate study take an advanced geospatialÌýcourse (e.g.,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,ÌýorÌý), or a geographical analysis course,Ìý, and one of the 400-level research seminars in the department.

For other opportunities in related areas of study, see the catalog description of urban studies, international studies, environmental studies, computer science, community and global health, food, agriculture and society, and various area studies programs.

Honors

The Macalester Geography Award for Excellence of Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding senior majoring in geography. The David A. Lanegran Award, named for the longest serving member of the department, is presented to a student or students in recognition of significant contributions to the community life of the department. The Hildegard Binder Johnson Prize in Geography, named for the founder of the department, is awarded annually to academically outstanding students in geography. In addition, exceptional majors and minors in geography are eligible for membership in Epsilon Kappa, the Macalester chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the national honor society in geography.Ìý

Topics Courses

, , , Ìý

Examination of special topics of interest to faculty and students, such as a study of the processes by which the spatial environment is cognitively organized by people, geographical problems in economic development, regions of the world, etc. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the CurriculumÌýsection of the catalog.

Geography Major

Major Requirements

A major in geography consists of nine courses. The classes comprising the major will be selected in a manner that builds from the introductory classes to the advanced seminars and will include the following:

• One foundation course: , or .
  Note: Students can earn credit equivalent to , , or by scoring a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in Human Geography. Students who do so are still required to take nine geography courses for the major.
• Two research methods courses: and
• One area studies course, which may be satisfied through one of the following:
  • A regional geography course in the department (e.g., , , , , or );
  • An approved study away program; or
  • The student may petition to count a comprehensive area studies course in another department for regions not covered by the geography department.

If the student fulfills the area studies requirement through a study abroad program or a non-geography course, they must still take nine geography courses for the major.

• Four intermediate courses - 200 or 300 level - with at least one 300 level course.
• One research seminar course:

The senior capstone requirement in geography will be satisfied by completing one 400-level research seminar course. is strongly recommended for majors planning to attend graduate school.

Geography Minor

Minor Requirements

A minor in geography may be achieved by completing five courses selected in consultation with a department faculty member.

One of these five courses must be:

Students may earn credit equivalent to , or by scoring a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in Human Geography. Students who do so are still required to take five geography courses for the minor.

Geospatial Science Minor

Minor requirements

A minor in Geospatial Science may be achieved by completing five geospatial courses, four of which must be in the Geography department. No more than two courses can count towards the Geography major.

Required course:

• ​

Geospatial courses in Geography (Choose 3):

• (GIS- or Remote Sensing-related)
• (GIS- or Remote Sensing-related)
• (with specific GIS, Remote Sensing, or Cartography focus)
• (with specific GIS, Remote Sensing, or Cartography focus)

Geospatial-related courses in Geography or other disciplines (Choose 1):