Undergraduate Program in Geography
The Department of Geography provides a comprehensive program that reflects the discipline’s three main areas – human geography, physical geography, and spatial analysis. The department’s courses allow students to explore the linkages between human activities and natural systems. Students taking geography courses should develop factual knowledge, critical thinking, and analytic skills. Training in geography allows students to know where things are located, why they are located where they are, how and why places differ, how human activity shapes and is shaped by the natural environment, and how to analyze humanenvironment interactions.
Geography Major
Geography 131 and 132, and 101 or 102 are prerequisites to the major, which consists of 27 hours as follows. Geography 310 and 499; either 320, 421, or 423; either 340 or 351; one course from among 410, 411, 412, 413 or 415; one course from among 361, 363, 365, 371, 373, 375, or 379; and 9 additional credits, at least 6 of which must be taken at the 400 level. No more than 3 hours of Geography 490 may be counted toward the major. Students who enter the major with more than 60 hours of credit, and who have completed a laboratory science sequence other than geography, may petition the department to substitute certain upper-division physical geography courses for 131 and/or 132. Students who enter the major with more than 60 hours of credit, and who have met the social science divisional requirements in departments other than geography, may petition the department to substitute certain upper-division human geography courses for 101 or 102.
Honors Concentration
Students who have an overall GPA of 3.20 may elect to participate in an enrichment program that involves the successful completion of Geography 497 and 498 (Honors: Senior Thesis) under the direction of a faculty mentor. An approved written copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Department of Geography. Interested students should consult their advisor for details about participation.
Minor in Geography
The minor in geography consists of 15 hours of geography courses at the 300 level or above. Geography 490, 491, 492, 493 may not be counted toward the minor without departmental permission.
Note: This sheet is for general information only. For more specific information on this program refer to the UT catalog at http://tennessee.edu/catalogs or contact the college or the department.
Forms
Contact Information
Department of Geography
Burchfiel Geography Building Room 304
Knoxville, TN 37996-0925
Phone: 865-974-2418
Fax: 865-974-6025
Email: utkgeog@utk.edu