The Department of Geography offers programs of study that lead to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science. The Department also participates in several interdisciplinary programs including Urban Studies and Atmospheric Sciences.
The Bachelor of Arts program includes a Major, Honours, and Minor in Human Geography, a Major and Minor in Environment and Sustainability, and a Minor in Geographic Information Science and Geographical Computation.
Students may declare a Major or Minor offered by the Department of Geography after completing 27 credits.
For course information please see the Department website.
For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Geography.
Students must take 9 credits GEOG 121, 211, GEOB/GEOS1 270; and 6 credits GEOB/GEOS1 102*, 103*; and 3 credits from GEOB/GEOS1 200, 204, 206, 207, GEOG 122, 220, 250.
*Students may obtain credit for only one of GEOS 102, GEOB 102 or EOSC 112, and only one of GEOS 103, GEOB 103 or EOSC 110. See the Science Credit Exclusion List.
30 credits from courses numbered 300 and higher, as follows:
Environmental Concentration
Research and Methods
Although some courses pertain to more than one requirement, no course can be counted twice (credits applied to more than one requirement) within the Major.
1As of 2021S, the course code GEOS replaced the course code GEOB. There were no changes to course content.
Recommended Program Electives
Please refer to the geography web site for suggestions on program electives.
Geographic Information Science
Students wishing to specialize in Geographic Information Science should take the GEOB/GEOS 270, 370, 479; 372, 472; 373 suite of courses.
Students must take at least 9 credits from GEOG 121, 122, 210, 211, 220, 250, 281 or 290; and 6 credits from GEOB/GEOS1 102*, 103*.
*Students may obtain credit for only one of GEOB/GEOS1 102 or EOSC 112 and only one of GEOB/GEOS1 103 or EOSC 110. See the Science Credit Exclusion List.
GEOB/GEOS1 270 taken in second year will satisfy the Research and Methods (A) requirement but does not count toward 30-credit upper division course requirements.
At least 30 credits of 300- or 400-level geography (GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1) courses:
Although some courses (identified in italic type) pertain to more than one theme, NO COURSE can be counted twice to meet credit requirements in Cultures and Places, Cities and Globalization, Nature and Society, or within the A and B categories of the Research and Methods theme.
Students must have at least 42 and no more than 60 GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1 credits in total for the Major.
Cultures and Places
At least 6 credits from: GEOG 321, 327, 328, 329, 352, 380, 390, 391, 395, 396, 419, 423, 426, 429, 439, 456, 481, 484, 485, 493, 495, 4961, 497, 498
Cities and Globalization
At least 6 credits from: GEOG 321, 329, 350, 351, 352, 353, 357, 361, 362, 364, 380, 391, 396, 450, 453, 456, 457, 461, 493, 4961, URST 400
Nature and Society
At least 6 credits from: GEOG 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 318, 319, 351, 361, 395, 396, 410, 412, 419, 423, 4961, 497
1GEOG 496 was cancelled as of September 2019.
Research and Methods
At least 6 credits, including 3 credits from each of A and B:
1As of 2021S, the course code GEOS replaced the course code GEOB. There were no changes to course content.
The Honours program in Human Geography differs from the Major in two respects: degree of specialization and standing, which must be at least 74% average of all courses taken (for entry and graduation).
Students who are interested in the Honours program should consult the Department before the end of their second year or at the beginning of their third year. Students may declare their Honours program after completing 54 credits and must do so before completing 72 credits.
Individual Honours programs require the approval of the Department. The total number of Honours students may be restricted to match available teaching resources.
As for Major in Human Geography.
48 credits of geography (GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1) courses numbered 300 and higher, as follows:
1 GEOG 496 will be cancelled as of September 2019.
Total GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1 credits for an honours program must be no fewer than 63, and within the 120 credits necessary for the B.A., no more than 72.
Although some courses (identified in italic type) pertain to more than one theme, NO COURSE can be counted twice to meet credit requirements in Cultures and Places, Cities and Globalization, Nature and Culture or within A, B, and C categories of the Research and Methods theme.
1As of 2021S, the course code GEOS replaced the course code GEOB. There were no changes to course content.
As for Major.
18 credits of geography (GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1) courses numbered 300 and higher, with 6 credits from each theme (Cultures and Places; Cities and Globalization; Nature and Society).
Total GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1 credits for a Minor in Human Geography program must be no fewer than 30 and no more than 42, within the 120 credits necessary for the B.A.
1As of 2021S, the course code GEOS replaced the course code GEOB. There were no changes to course content.
Students must take 6 credits of GEOG 121, 211 and 3 credits from GEOB/GEOS1 102 or 103.
21 credits of geography (GEOG/GEOB/GEOS1) courses numbered 300 and higher, as follows:
1As of 2021S, the course code GEOS replaced the course code GEOB. There were no changes to course content
Please see Geographic Information Science and Geographical Computation.
Please see Urban Studies.