Geography & Geographic Information Science, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science
Students pursuing this major select one of two concentrations:
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Minimum required major and supporting course work: A minimum of 35 credit hours of Geography & Geographic Information Science courses. Twelve (12) hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Geography & GIS Core Requirements | 6-8 | |
| Physical Geography Course (Select one): | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Earth's Physical Systems | ||
| Landscapes, Ecosystems and Environmental Change | ||
| Big Rivers of the World | ||
| Human Geography Course (Select one): | ||
| Global Development & Environment | ||
| Social and Cultural Geography | ||
| Geographies of Globalization | ||
| Social & Environmental Issues | ||
| Geographies of Global Conflict | ||
| People, Places, and Environments of the US | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must choose one of the following concentrations: | ||
| Geographic Information Science | 30-35 | |
| Physical Geography | 29-31 | |
| Concentration Credit Hours Required | 29-35 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 |
| Human Geography Course | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Physical Geography Course | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 4 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science
Geographic Understanding
GGIS students will understand the interconnectedness of places and scales in human-environmental systems, including the sustainability of those systems.
Spatial Patterns and Processes
GGIS students will be able to analyze spatial patterns, distributions, processes, and connections within and among different human-environmental systems, using qualitative, quantitative, computational, and/or spatial methods of research appropriate to their level of training and their field of geographic inquiry.
Problem-Solving and Communication
GGIS students will be able to formulate and conduct geographic analyses and communicate the results in verbal, written, and visual form.
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Major in Computer Science & Geography & GIS, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science Concentration, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography Concentration, BSLAS
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science
Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science
Geography & GIS Faculty directory
Geography & GIS undergraduate advising
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Admissions
LAS Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions