Old Dominion University Online Geography Degree (B.A., B.S.)

Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in Geography online through ODUGlobal, along with an Environment and Resources option for either degree. Courses are asynchronous and run in accelerated 8-week sessions, with start dates throughout the year.

ODU’s geography program sits in the Department of Political Science and Geography. ODU calls itself a national leader in sea level rise research and the center of geospatial technology in the Hampton Roads region, and that coastal focus shows up in courses on marine and coastal geography. Out-of-state online students pay only $10 more per credit than Virginia residents.

Program at a Glance

Degrees	B.A. or B.S. in Geography
Options	General Geography; Environment and Resources
Total credits	120, including 36 geography credits
Residency	At least 30 credits at ODU; up to 90 can transfer in
Format	Asynchronous, accelerated 8-week courses (16-week options also offered)
Start dates	Six per year (next: October 19, 2026; January 11, 2027; March 15, 2027)
Tuition (2026–27)	$443 per credit in-state; $453 out-of-state; $250 active-duty military
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

B.A. vs. B.S.

	B.A. in Geography	B.S. in Geography
Language	Foreign language through the 202 (intermediate) level	Foreign language through the 102 level
Quantitative	Standard math requirement	STAT 130M plus GEOG 418 Quantitative Methods
Geography electives	12 credits at the 300–400 level plus 9 at the 400 level	9 credits at the 300–400 level plus 9 at the 400 level

Requirements come from the B.A. and B.S. catalog pages.

Curriculum

Core Courses (both degrees)

Course	Credits
GEOG 100S Human Geography	3
GEOG 101S Environmental Geography	3
GEOG 300 Maps and Geographic Information	3
GEOG 308 Research Design (C- or better)	3
Writing-intensive capstone: GEOG 400W, 422W Coastal Geography, 454W Latin America or 480W	3

Environment and Resources Option

The Environment and Resources option replaces 12 elective credits with GEOG 305 World Resources, GEOG 401 Global Environmental Policy, and two of: Environmental Politics, International Resource Management, Marine Geography, Coastal Geography, Weather, Climate and Society, or the Advanced Environmental Geography Seminar.

Elective Highlights

ODU’s geography course list includes about 60 courses. GIS and technical options include GEOG 402 GIS, GEOG 404 Remote Sensing, GEOG 408 Cartography, GEOG 409 Drone Applications, GEOG 419 Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments, GEOG 425 Internet GIS, GEOG 432 Advanced GIS, GEOG 463 GIS Programming and GEOG 472 GIS for Cybersecurity. Up to three internship credits (GEOG 368) count toward the major.

Students also complete a capstone paper and senior assessment, and add a minor, certificate or 6 credits outside the College of Arts and Letters. ODU’s undergraduate GIS certificate is listed as an on-campus program, so check online availability before planning around it.

How the Online Format Works

Asynchronous: accelerated courses have no scheduled meeting times, though instructors set deadlines and exam windows.
Exams: most exams are taken online in Canvas. Some courses require Respondus LockDown Browser or a proctor through SmarterProctoring (exam policy).
Rolling admission: ODUGlobal accepts applications until one week before classes start.

Admission Requirements

$50 application fee and high school or GED transcript
ODU does not consider SAT or ACT scores
Transfer students send transcripts from all colleges; a high school transcript is needed with fewer than 24 credits
ODU pays for official transcripts from up to 10 prior institutions

Guaranteed Admission and Military Credit

Students who finish a transfer-oriented associate degree at a Virginia community college (and some out-of-state systems) with a 2.5 GPA qualify for guaranteed admission, with lower-level general education satisfied and the application fee waived. ODU’s military pathway for geography shows that 71 or more credits may come from military training, exams and experience.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

Item	2026–27 cost
Tuition, Virginia residents	$443 per credit
Tuition, out-of-state	$453 per credit
Tuition, active-duty military	$250 per credit
Course technology fee	$30 per credit
Innovation fee	$8 per credit
General services and ID card fees	$11 per 8-week term

At $443 per credit, 120 credits would cost about $53,200 for Virginia residents and $54,400 out of state, before fees. Because up to 90 credits can transfer, many students pay for only 30 to 60 credits at ODU. Source: ODUGlobal undergraduate cost.

Application Advantage Award: $500 for Virginia students or $1,000 for students outside Virginia, for new transfer students who start in a Fall 2 eight-week session.
Military scholarship: $1,000 for service members disabled in the line of duty, and their spouses and children.

Faculty and Department

The geography program has eight full-time faculty and about 100 majors, with specializations in GIS, environmental, human, regional and geography education. Dr. Jennifer Whytlaw directs the program, and Dr. Tom R. Allen chairs the Department of Political Science and Geography. ODU also houses the Center for Geospatial and Visualization Computing.

Careers

ODU says geography graduates have worked for NASA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Google Maps and local planning agencies. Graduates can also pursue Dual Dominion options that pair the bachelor’s with an M.A. in Humanities, an MBA or an MPA, sharing up to 12 graduate credits.

Pros and Considerations

Strengths

Choice of B.A. or B.S., plus an Environment and Resources option
Out-of-state tuition only $10 more per credit than in-state
Up to 90 transfer credits and guaranteed admission for Virginia community college graduates
Strong coastal, GIS and drone course options

Things to Consider

Technology and innovation fees add $38 per credit
The undergraduate GIS certificate is listed as on campus
Some exams require proctoring
The B.A. requires intermediate-level foreign language

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ODU’s online geography degree asynchronous?

Yes. Accelerated 8-week courses have no scheduled meeting times, though instructors set deadlines and exam windows.

How much does ODU’s online geography degree cost?

For 2026–27, tuition is $443 per credit for Virginia residents and $453 for out-of-state students, plus a $30 per-credit technology fee and an $8 per-credit innovation fee.

What is the difference between ODU’s B.A. and B.S. in Geography?

The B.A. requires foreign language through the intermediate (202) level. The B.S. requires less language but adds statistics and GEOG 418 Quantitative Methods.

How many credits can I transfer to ODU?

Up to 90. At least 30 credits must be completed at ODU.

Compare ODU with other schools in our online geography degree rankings, or see campus programs in Virginia.

Official Sources

We verified this profile against the following school pages in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with the school before you apply.