Kennesaw, GA
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography at Kennesaw State University (KSU) offers flexibility with face-to-face, fully online, or hybrid learning options. Designed as a four-year program, it requires 120 total credit hours to complete. Students can begin in the fall, spring, or summer, offering multiple entry points throughout the academic year.
Curriculum Overview
The program covers both human and physical geography, emphasizing the relationships between people, places, and the Earth’s physical features. Students study topics such as climate, landforms, culture, language, trade, and urban development through geography’s unique spatial perspective.
GEOG 1130: World Regional Geography
3 Credit Hours
Introduces world regions through human geography, focusing on social, economic, and political issues at local, regional, and global scales. Includes elements of physical geography to illustrate interactions between humans and the environment.
GEOG 3398: Internship
1-9 Credit Hours
Students gain practical experience in on-campus or off-campus settings related to their major or career interests. Internship sites must be pre-approved, and scholarly research is conducted under the supervision of the Internship Coordinator.
GEOG 4100: Directed Applied Research
1-6 Credit Hours
Students engage in faculty-led research on geographic concepts and issues, with topics and methods determined by faculty needs. Requires instructor and department chair approval.
GEOG 4499: Senior Seminar in Geography
3 Credit Hours
A capstone course for Geography BA majors that integrates geographic knowledge and skills into a final research project. Includes preparation for graduate studies and career opportunities.
GEOG 3000: Geography of Beer
3 Credit Hours
Explores the geographic origins and cultural, economic, and physical influences on beer production, styles, and distribution. Examines the role of location in shaping the global beer industry.
GEOG 3310: Historical Geography
3 Credit Hours
Analyzes the impact of geography on historical events, including exploration, settlement, and economic and political developments.
GEOG 3312: Geography of Europe
3 Credit Hours
Surveys the physical and human geography of Europe, focusing on cultural, political, and economic diversity and regional transformations.
GEOG 3320: Political Geography
3 Credit Hours
Examines territoriality, geopolitics, nationalism, boundary issues, and spatial expressions of power and ideology in a global context.
GEOG 3330: Economic Geography
3 Credit Hours
Analyzes the spatial organization of economic activities, including resource management, industrial location, and land use, with a focus on global economic transitions.
GEOG 3340: Cultural Geography
3 Credit Hours
Studies the interaction of culture and environment through themes like population, politics, language, and urban spaces, emphasizing cultural landscapes and diffusion.
GEOG 3350: Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
3 Credit Hours
Focuses on the physical, cultural, and economic geography of Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing natural environments, agriculture, and development.
GEOG 3360: Geography of Asia
3 Credit Hours
Surveys the physical and cultural geography of Asia, exploring human interactions with landscapes shaped by historical, political, and economic factors.
GEOG 3370: Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean
3 Credit Hours
Covers the physical and cultural geography of Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing urbanization, resource management, and regional development.
GEOG 3390: Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
3 Credit Hours
Explores the physical, historical, and cultural geography of the Middle East and North Africa, focusing on economic development and demographic trends.
GEOG 3395: Geography of Clothing
3 Credit Hours
Examines the global clothing industry, focusing on labor, consumer behavior, sustainability, and the environmental and social impacts of “fast fashion.”
GEOG 4300: Urban Geography
3 Credit Hours
Analyzes urban environments, focusing on land use patterns, urban systems, and the spatial dynamics of urban issues.
GEOG 4345: Population Geography
3 Credit Hours
Studies population dynamics, including fertility, migration, and demographic changes, with applications to policy and global trends.
GEOG 4349: Health Geography
3 Credit Hours
Explores the relationships between health, the environment, and human geography using spatial methods like GIS and cartography.
GEOG 4380: Geography of North America
3 Credit Hours
Examines the physical and human geography of North America, focusing on cultural, economic, and political diversity.
GEOG 3700: Introduction to Environmental Studies
3 Credit Hours
Surveys U.S. environmental issues from a geographic perspective, exploring laws, ethics, and the spatial patterns of resource use.
GEOG 3710: Local & Global Sustainability
3 Credit Hours
Critically examines sustainability concepts, tools, and case studies, comparing approaches in developed and developing regions.
GEOG 3800: Climatology
3 Credit Hours
Explores Earth’s climate, focusing on atmospheric processes, the hydrologic cycle, and interactions between climate and the environment.
GEOG 3850: Global Climate Change
3 Credit Hours
Provides an interdisciplinary overview of climate change, including scientific foundations, impacts, and policy solutions.
GEOG 3900: Biogeography
3 Credit Hours
Studies the distribution of plant and animal species, emphasizing environmental change, conservation, and ecological processes.
GEOG 4700: Geomorphology
3 Credit Hours
Examines Earth surface processes and landforms, focusing on environmental change and landscape evolution.
GEOG 3305: Introduction to Cartographic Processes
3 Credit Hours
Introduces map-making technologies, focusing on design and analysis in GIS and cartography.
GEOG 3315: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
3 Credit Hours
Covers GIS design, data analysis, and mapping techniques using ArcGIS in a hands-on learning environment.
GEOG 4405: Advanced Geographic Information Systems
3 Credit Hours
Builds on GIS fundamentals, emphasizing spatial analysis, geodatabase management, and advanced mapping techniques.
GEOG 4410: Introduction to Remote Sensing
3 Credit Hours
Introduces remote sensing techniques for mapping and analyzing spatial data, with a focus on digital image processing.
SURV 3320: Photogrammetry and Drone Analysis
3 Credit Hours
Covers aerial imagery and drone analysis, focusing on data interpretation, digital processing, and best practices for image acquisition.
SURV 3451: Terrain Analysis
3 Credit Hours
Explores digital elevation modeling and terrain visualization using GIS and photogrammetry techniques.
GEOG 4490: Special Topics in Geography
1-3 Credit Hours
Focuses on selected geographic topics based on faculty and student interests, with approval from the department chair.
Online Availability
The program’s online format ensures accessibility for students balancing personal and professional responsibilities, while still offering the same comprehensive curriculum as the on-campus option. Online students have access to KSU’s academic advising and support services to stay on track for graduation.
Career and Outcomes
Graduates of the program are equipped with research, analytical, and communication skills applicable to careers in cartography, environmental consulting, urban planning, and more.
KSU has a strong record of connecting students with employment opportunities, with over 7,100 companies recruiting students and alumni in 2020.
Geography graduates are well-positioned to pursue roles in government, non-profits, business, and education.
Admissions and Prerequisites
Admission to the program requires acceptance into KSU, with no additional prerequisites specific to the geography major.
The program’s structure is welcoming to students transferring from other fields, as many previously earned credits can apply toward degree requirements.
Tuition and Affordability
Kennesaw State offers competitive tuition rates, with additional opportunities to save through the Double Owl Pathway, which allows students to pursue both undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously at reduced costs. Study abroad opportunities and career-oriented projects further enhance the program’s value.
Additional Programs and Pathways
The geography program is part of the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which offers interdisciplinary studies and pathways to graduate education. The Double Owl Pathway enables students to accelerate their education, earning a master’s degree faster and at a lower cost.
Program Highlights
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography at KSU prepares students for diverse career paths through a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum supported by hands-on learning and study abroad opportunities. With accessible admissions, affordable tuition, and robust career preparation, this program equips students to understand and address the challenges of our dynamic world.