The Geography Department at Portland State University links environmental studies and cultural studies in a program centered on environmental issues, social and cultural landscapes, sustainability in urban and natural areas, and Geographic Information Science. Coursework emphasizes systematic and regional approaches to understanding the physical environment and human-environment interactions. Techniques classes (in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and spatial analysis) provide the tools to analyze complex local, regional, and global phenomena. Access to the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains provides ample opportunity for fieldwork-based classes and opportunities for research. The PSU Department of Geography is an excellent choice for undergraduate and graduate students with interests in the linkages between human and natural systems.
Faculty engage in local, regional, and international research projects in hydrology, water resources, biogeography, geomorphology, sustainable development, land use analysis, climate change, cultural and political ecology, cultural landscapes, the urban environment, geographic education, and geographic information science. Ongoing faculty research sites in international areas include Patagonia, the Amazon Basin, Sub-saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Rim.
Geography participates in the Earth, Environment and Society (EES) Ph.D. Program. Over 120 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate students participate in two departmental groups, the Friends of Geography and the Student Chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing/Columbia River Region. Several research groups and outreach programs in the department provide additional job and internship opportunities for interested students in public agencies and businesses in such fields as planning, environmental management, GIS, and cartography.
The geography program gives students an appreciation and understanding of the human environment on global, regional, and local scales. It provides background and requisite training for careers in resource, planning, environmental, or education fields. Geography majors find work in urban and natural resource management, spatial/GIS analysis, urban planning, map design and production, and statistical analysis. Geography is the lead department on campus for training in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and spatial analysis.
Geography B.A./B.S.
In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in geography must complete at least 52 credits in geography courses, including 12 credits in each of the following areas: geographic techniques, physical geography, and human geography—as detailed below. Of the courses presented for the major, 12 credits are in required courses (Geog 210, Geog 230, and Geog 380U), and at least 36 Geography credit hours must be at the upper division, to include 16 hours at the 400-level. Geog 496, or Stat 243Z and Stat 244, or equivalent is required for the B.S. degree.
Requirements
Physical Geography: (12 credits)
Human Geography: (12 credits)
Geographic Techniques: (12 credits)
| Geog 380U | Maps and Geographic Information | 4 |
| Geog 407 | Seminar in Research Skills | 4 |
| Geog 420 | Field Methods in Physical Geography | 4 |
| Geog 425 | Field Methods in Human Geography | 4 |
| Geog 472 | Critical GIS | 2 |
| Geog 475 | Spatial Database Design and Applications | 4 |
| Geog 476 | 3D Terrain Analysis & Visualization | 2 |
| Geog 477 | Photogrammetry and LiDAR | 2 |
| Geog 480 | Fundamentals of Remote Sensing | 4 |
| Geog 481 | Digital Image Analysis I: Introduction | 4 |
| Geog 482 | Digital Image Analysis II: Advanced Remote Sensing | 4 |
| Geog 484 | Cartographic Applications of GIS | 4 |
| Geog 485 | Map Design and Production | 4 |
| Geog 488 | Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction | 4 |
| Geog 489 | Building a GIS Database with GPS | 4 |
| Geog 490 | GIS Programming | 4 |
| Geog 492 | Geographic Information Systems II: Advanced GIS | 4 |
| Geog 494 | GIS for Water Resources | 4 |
| Geog 495 | Maps, Models, and GIS | 4 |
| Geog 496 | Introduction to Spatial Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| Geog 497 | Advanced Spatial Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
Geography Electives (16)
Total Credit Hours: 52
Course taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling department major requirements.
All courses used to satisfy the departmental major requirements must be graded C- or above.