Geography (B.A.)

Geography (B.A.)

Geography B.A.

What is geography?

Are you curious about the world? Do you want to make a difference? The geography major links local to global perspectives and environmental and social sciences. We study relationships between environments and people, exploring the form, function and perceptions of places and spaces and how they interact and change. Geographic insights are fundamental to solving major challenges of our time, including climate change, environmental hazards, social justice, political conflict, public health, globalization, sustainability, and urban and rural development.Wherever you want to go, from your own backyard to the most distant reaches of the planet, Geography can take you there!

Why study geography at UNH?

Geography is rich in possibilities.Because our students gain strong skills across social and natural sciences, integration of diverse knowledges and experience, and analysis of spatial data through digital mapping, they excel in a wide variety of careers that span private, public and nonprofit sectors. With small class sizes, personalized advising and opportunities for independent study, you’ll enjoy a high degree of individual attention. You’ll have opportunities to intern at places as varied as forestry agencies, international relief organizations and planning commissions and to study abroad in countries such as China, Ghana, Italy, Denmark, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Spain and Vietnam.

Potential careers

  • City, town or rural planning
  • Community development
  • Emergency management
  • Environmental and social justice
  • Environmental or social sciences teacher
  • Geospatial data analysis
  • Intelligence and security
  • International development
  • Market research
  • Natural resource management
  • Public health
  • Transportation and logistics

Contact

  • Geography and International Affairs Majors
    Hometown: Bow, N.H. What made you choose UNH? I am actually a transfer student and I initially went to a school in Washington, D.C., but ended up choosing UNH because I love New Hampshire and I was really interested in the geography program here. I was at a big school in the biggest major, so I was...
    Geography and International Affairs Majors
    Hometown: Bow, N.H. What made you choose UNH? I am actually a transfer student and I initially went to a school in Washington, D.C., but ended up choosing UNH because I love New Hampshire and I was really interested in the geography program here. I was at a big school in the biggest major, so I was...
  • Geography and Sustainability Majors
    College choice stories could be their own literary sub-genre, involving as they often do dramatic decisions and “what ifs” we never forget. Jordan Garrett had her moment of decision while driving back to her hometown of Portsmouth, N.H., after visiting a pricey university she was considering along...
    Geography and Sustainability Majors
    College choice stories could be their own literary sub-genre, involving as they often do dramatic decisions and “what ifs” we never forget. Jordan Garrett had her moment of decision while driving back to her hometown of Portsmouth, N.H., after visiting a pricey university she was considering along...
  • Geography Major | Aerospace Research Analyst
    What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? I'm a research analyst at MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace. I perform research activities for one of the largest manufacturers of aerospace bearings in the world. These activities include compiling monthly reports for 9 factories in 5...
    Geography Major | Aerospace Research Analyst
    What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? I'm a research analyst at MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace. I perform research activities for one of the largest manufacturers of aerospace bearings in the world. These activities include compiling monthly reports for 9 factories in 5...
  • Geography and History Majors | Social Media and Engagement Coordinator AAG
    What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? Currently I am the social media and engagement coordinator at the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The AAG is a non-profit membership association for academic and professional geographers located in Washington, DC. I...
    Geography and History Majors | Social Media and Engagement Coordinator AAG
    What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? Currently I am the social media and engagement coordinator at the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The AAG is a non-profit membership association for academic and professional geographers located in Washington, DC. I...
  • Geography and International Affairs Majors | Field Tester for Apple
    I spent my first year after graduation working for Apple, Inc., in the maps department. I do field testing and travel domestically. I was recently accepted into a masters program at the Université Grenoble Alpes to study international development and sustainability in Grenoble, France and will...
    Geography and International Affairs Majors | Field Tester for Apple
    I spent my first year after graduation working for Apple, Inc., in the maps department. I do field testing and travel domestically. I was recently accepted into a masters program at the Université Grenoble Alpes to study international development and sustainability in Grenoble, France and will...

Curriculum & Requirements

The geography major provides undergraduates with a solid foundation in geography by uniting social and biophysical sciences, humanities and technology to examine the factors that make a place or environment unique. Connecting academic inquiry to real-world problem solving, you will develop critical thinking skills and be prepared to transfer classroom and field experience into a wide range of careers. 

With interests ranging from globalization to climate change and sustainability, urbanization to community development at home and abroad, UNH geography graduates have gone on to careers in urban, regional and transportation planning, community development, environmental conservation and natural resources management, sustainability science, geographic information science, market research, locational analysis, population studies, foreign aid, international diplomacy and education. 

To earn a bachelor of arts in geography, students must complete 10 geography courses with a minimum grade of C-minus:

Select three foundation courses.
Select two skills courses.
Select five elective courses.

Foundation Courses 

Foundation courses are intended to provide students a basic understanding of human, physical, and world regional geography. It is recommended they be taken as early as possible in a student's program.

All geography majors must complete three foundation courses:

GEOG 401World Regions: Europe and the Americas4
or GEOG 402 World Regions: Asia and Africa
GEOG 572Geography of the Natural Environment4
GEOG 581Society, Environment and Justice4
Total Credits12

sKills Courses

Skills courses are required of all majors. Skills courses provide students with basic analytical and technical skills used in geography.

Select two skills courses
GEOG 590Field Research4
or GEOG #595 Statistics for Spatial Science
GEOG 658Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 14
Total Credits8
1

Students are encouraged to complete GEOG #595 Statistics for Spatial Science, or another statistics course approved by their advisor before enrolling in GEOG 658 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

Elective Courses

Select five elective courses20
Select four courses from the electives list below (may be any geography courses, excluding 401 or 402) 2
Discovery Program Capstone:
Select one 600+ writing intensive course from electives list below (these are GEOG 670, GEOG 673, GEOG 685, GEOG #686)
Total Credits20
2

Independent study courses including GEOG 695 Internship and GEOG 795 Special Project may be applied to the major elective requirement once if taken for a total of four credit hours.

Electives List

GEOG 405There Is No Planet B4
GEOG 473Elements of Weather4
GEOG 530China: People, Politics and Economy4
GEOG 540Geography of the Middle East4
GEOG 550Sub-Saharan Africa: Environmental Politics and Development4
GEOG 560Natural Hazards and Human Disasters4
GEOG 572Geography of the Natural Environment4
GEOG 574Global Landscapes and Environmental Processes4
GEOG 581Society, Environment and Justice4
GEOG 582Global Trade and Local Development4
GEOG 584Political Geography4
GEOG 591Making Maps: GIS Fundamentals4
GEOG 670Climate and Society4
GEOG 673Political Ecology4
GEOG 685Population and Development4
GEOG #686World Economy and Globalization4
GEOG 757Remote Sensing of the Environment4
GEOG 759Digital Image Processing for Natural Resources4
GEOG #760Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources4

Geotechniques

Students interested in geographic information systems, remote sensing, locational analysis and other geographic techniques may specialize in Geotechniques by completing three 700-level methods courses in Geography (GEOG 750-769).

Additional Requirements

Major department courses may be used to satisfy two Discovery category requirements excluding courses taken for foundation course credit and unlimited in the case of a second major.

The university's foreign language requirement may not be fulfilled by American Sign Language except by petition.

Students intending to major in geography should consult with the department chairperson.

  • Integrate biophysical and socio-cultural disciplinary traditions to explain the complex interrelationships between and among human-natural systems spanning local to global scales.
  • Communicate geographic concepts, research, and methods of analysis professionally and effectively through written products, oral presentations, and visualizations appropriate for the intended audience.

Additional Resources

Current students who declare geography prior to fall 2019 may elect to either follow the current requirements or the new requirements listed in the document below.

Geography Major Requirements, effective fall 2019

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