Geography & Environmental Planning Major
Study the relationship between people and the environment and explore a more thoughtful, informed approach to community planning.
This major integrates topics that will deepen and broaden your understanding of the interrelationships between environmental, social, and economic issues and how these disciplines work together to influence decisions that affect the environment and long-range planning. Students choosing to major in geography and environmental planning will be exposed to a wide range of courses in both human and physical geography. The broad education in geography prepares students for a variety of professions. View the in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Major Requirements
The core requirements of the major are three lower division intro courses in physical geography (101), human geography (109), and geospatial technologies (221). At the upper division level, the three required courses are a methods course (375 or 376), growth of geographic thought (401), and one upper level regional course.
Course Requirements for the Major
- GEOG 101 Intro to Physical
- GEOG 109 Intro to Human
- GEOG 221 Intro to Geospatial
- GEOG 375 or 376 Methods
- GEOG 401 Growth of Geographic Thought
- A Regional Course
Electives
The major then allows students to choose from a wide range of upper level courses to complete a desired career path. Seven electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor. Below are some suggested career paths.
Geospatial Technologies
- GEOG 232 Intro to GIS
- GEOG 321 Intro Remote Sensing
- GEOG 323 Cartography
- GEOG 414 GIS Applications
- GEOG 416 Advanced Remote Sensing
- GEOG 426 GIS Database Design
- GEOG 428 Python for GIS
- GEOG 465 Advanced Techniques
Environmental Systems and Sustainability
- GEOG 315 Geomorphology
- GEOG 317 Energy Resources
- GEOG 319 Soils and Vegetation
- GEOG 373 Climatology
- GEOG 377 Meteorology
- GEOG 383 Natural Resources and Society
- GEOG 409 Applied Climatology
- GEOG 410 Environmental Geography
- GEOG 411 Natural Hazards
- GEOG 413 Severe and Hazardous Weather
- GEOG 419 Climate Change
- GEOG 481 Environmental Impact Reports
Environmental Planning
- GEOG 251 Intro to Planning
- GEOG 317 Energy Resources
- GEOG 383 Natural Resources and Society
- GEOG 393 Transportation Planning
- GEOG 405 Comprehensive Planning
- GEOG 410 Environmental Geography
- GEOG 417 Outdoor Recreation Planning
- GEOG 419 Climate Change
- GEOG 481 Environmental Impact Analysis
- GEOG 484 Land Use Planning
International Affairs
- GEOG 357 Cultural Geography
- GEOG 359 Economic Geography
- GEOG 381 Political Geography
- GEOG 385 Population Geography
- GEOG 431 Geography of Africa
- GEOG 443 Geography of East Asia
- GEOG 444 Geography of South Asia
- GEOG 445 Geography of Southeast Asia
- GEOG 447 Geography of the Middle East
- GEOG 451 Geography of Europe
- GEOG 454 Rethinking Brazil
- GEOG 461 Geography of Latin America
- GEOG 462 Geography of Oceania
- GEOG 463 Geography of Central Asia
Space and Society
- GEOG 329 Geography of Health
- GEOG 357 Cultural Geography
- GEOG 358 Feminist Geography
- GEOG 359 Economic Geography
- GEOG 381 Political Geography
- GEOG 407 Geography of the Aged
- GEOG 427 The Global Economy
Planning and Urban Studies
- GEOG 251 Intro to Planning
- GEOG 355 Historical Geography of Urbanization
- GEOG 359 Economic Geography
- GEOG 381 Political Geography
- GEOG 385 Population Geography
- GEOG 391 Urban Systems
- GEOG 393 Transportation Planning
- GEOG 405 Comprehensive Planning
- GEOG 407 Geography of the Aged
- GEOG 417 Outdoor Recreation Planning
- GEOG 420 Geography of the US and Canada
- GEOG 423 Geography of Maryland
- GEOG 481 Environmental Impact Analysis
Accelerated B.S./M.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning
The Department of Geography and Environmental Planning offers an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. Accelerated programs allow you to begin your graduate education as an undergraduate, offering you the opportunity to save time and money while you advance your academic career. The combined enables students to substitute nine credits in the Master’s in Geography and Environmental Planning program for undergraduate classes in the Geography and Environmental Planning major.
student opportunities
Scholarships for Majors
Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered exclusively for geography majors.
GTU Honor Society
A chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), the international honor society in geography, is sponsored by the department. Hear guest lecturers speak at GTU meetings and apply for a GTU-sponsored scholarship.
Geography Club
The Towson University Geography Society, better known as the Geography Club, provides opportunities to meet your peers in the department and engage in geography-related discussions and projects on campus.