In the physical systems track, geography majors study the processes shaping the earth’s climate; soils; distributions of plants and animals; landforms, including caves and glacial landscapes; and water, including rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Physical systems geography majors go on to work in conservation, hydrology, environmental management, hazards mitigation, and environmental education.

To finish your geography degree in the physical systems track, you need to complete the geography core curriculum, plus the following:

• Any 3 of the following physical geography courses (9 credits)
  • Geog 310 – General Climatology
  • Geog 340 – Biogeography
  • Geog 415 – Hydrogeography
  • Geog 420 – Methods and Principles in Land Form Geography
  • Geog 450 – Climates of the Past and Climate Change
• Electives (6 credits) Any two upper division (numbered 300 or above) courses approved for natural science credit (pdf) that have not been selected to fulfill the above requirements. A maximum of 3 credits from outside Geography may be applied to the major.

The following courses offered by the Department of Geosciences may be used to fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate major or minor in geography, especially in the physical systems track:

• Geo Sci 401 – General Soil Science
• Geo Sci 409 – Process Geomorphology
• Geo Sci 550 – Soils, Landscape, and the Environment