Geography focuses on the integrated study of our increasingly connected world, shaped by the interactions between cultural and biophysical forces. The major synthesizes approaches widely used in the humanities, social, biophysical, and digital information sciences. Geography is uniquely poised to investigate combinations of social, political, economic, and ecological processes - especially the role of space, place, and geographic networks in shaping these processes and interactions. Geography attempts to interpret not just these phenomena, but also, how they are perceived and what meanings they hold. Such an integrative perspective on global, regional, and local change provides students with a singular understanding of today's complex world. Depending on their specific interests, geographers employ one or more research techniques, including field observation, legal and archival analysis, interviewing, textual analysis, ethnography, mapping, spatial statistics, and computer and econometric modeling. Many geographers are interested in the intersections of science, technology, and information, such as the application and evaluation of geographic information science on decision-making. All geography undergraduates are trained to be interdisciplinary to be better prepared to address some of the world’s most pressing problems including climate change, inequity, population growth, natural resource use and perception, and economic challenges. Students earning a degree in geography are well-prepared to pursue a wide range of career opportunities due to a strong foundation of interdisciplinary education and training. Students in geography are required to engage in course work in the three primary subfields of the discipline: cultural patterns, environmental processes and global change, and geographic information and mapping sciences. The geography program emphasizes critical thinking and writing skills, fosters the development of effective teamwork skills, and focuses on creative approaches to problem-solving. Geographers have a broad range of career opportunities. Federal, regional, and local governmental agencies seek geographers for city and regional planning, natural resource management, law enforcement, and transportation positions. Private industry consulting, environmental and marketing firms, the non-profit sector, and local, national, and transnational non-governmental organizations seek geographic skills including geographic information sciences and spatial analytical techniques. Many Geography undergraduate majors obtain careers in education and many go on to graduate school. The BA degree offers a challenging and solid foundation in the theory and practice of geography, with the flexibility needed to specialize in particular areas of student interest. Geography undergraduates are encouraged to tailor individual programs to meet their interests and goals.

CLA BA degrees require 4 semesters or the equivalent of a second language. CLA BA degrees require 18 upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits outside the major designator. These credits must be taken in designators different from the major designator and cannot include courses that are cross-listed with the major designator. The major designator for the Geography BA is GEOG. Special Policies on Counting Courses: 1. Some GEOG 5xxx-level courses are graduate-level courses and will require departmental consent. 2. Courses counting toward the electives requirements must be worth three or four credits each. In some circumstances, students may substitute 2 two-credit courses for one of the electives course requirements. 3. Any given course can only be used to satisfy one requirement for the major. See major advisor for final approval of individual program. Students who double-major and choose to complete the senior project in their other major are still responsible for taking a minimum of 32 total credits within the major. At least 14 upper-division credits in the major must be taken in residence at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. Students may earn up to one undergraduate degree in the geography program: a BA or a BS or a minor in Geography. All CLA first-year students must complete the First Year Experience course sequence.