Geography & Geographic Information Science
Geography & Geographic Information Science
Geography & Geographic Information Science website
Geography & GIS Faculty
geography@illinois.edu
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
LAS College website
Advising
Geography & GIS advising
Admissions
Liberal Arts & Sciences Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Undergrad Admissions
Students interested in majoring in Geography and Geographic Information Science may choose the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences, or the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences select one of two concentrations:
General Geography Concentration
Geography majors integrate social science, physical science, and technology in their study of how humans use the Earth’s surface. Majors in Geography & GIS can sample courses from different subfields of geography without having to choose one specialty of the discipline. Upon completion, the students are prepared for diverse employment opportunities, or further studies in a geography graduate program.
The Human Geography concentration allows students to specialize in the social science aspect of modern geography. The curriculum includes the systematic study of human social organization and its environmental consequences. Employment opportunities for human geographers include urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences select one of two concentrations:
Geographic Information Science Concentration
The Geographic Information Science (GIS) concentration emphasizes the creation, use and analysis of digital geographic information to examine economic, environmental, physical and social phenomena. The GIS concentration provides students with in-depth training in contemporary software packages to prepare them for careers in the field. There is growing demand for professional knowledge of the earth's systems and the use of geographic information systems to enhance business, protect the environment and manage the massive amounts of spatial data now widely available on the internet. The U.S. Department of Labor has identified geospatial technologies as one of the fastest-growing domestic job sectors.
Physical Geography Concentration
The Physical Geography concentration examines the earth sciences including patterns of climates, land-forms, vegetation, soils, and water. Graduates of our physical geography concentration will be equipped for careers in infrastructure development, land and water resources management, and surveying.