Louisiana Geography Degree Programs

2026 Best Geography Degree Programs in Louisiana

If you're looking for the best geography degree programs in Louisiana, you've come to the right place. At geographydegrees.org, we've carefully reviewed the top options to help you find a program that fits your needs. Our rankings highlight schools known for strong academics, experienced faculty, and great career support. We consider factors like affordability and student outcomes to give you a clear picture. For full details on how we put together these rankings, check out our methodology page: https://www.geographydegrees.org/ranking-methodology/.

#1

Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA - Public 4-Year - latech.edu

Master's - Geography

Campus Based - Visit Website

Louisiana Tech University's Geography program immerses students in both physical and human geography, with a strong emphasis on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), environmental studies, and urban planning. The curriculum includes hands-on fieldwork and research, preparing graduates for roles in environmental consulting, urban planning, and GIS analysis. As a bachelor's-level campus program, admission requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with a focus on science and math courses, and ACT or SAT scores are needed for entry. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant campus community.

• Campus-based program
• Focus on GIS
• Hands-on fieldwork
• Environmental studies included
• Urban planning curriculum

#2

Grambling State University

Grambling, LA - Public 4-Year - gram.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Arts in Geography

Campus Based - Visit Website

Grambling State University's Bachelor of Arts in Geography provides a comprehensive education in geographic techniques and global regions, with an emphasis on ecological awareness and the interconnectedness of world areas. The program requires 30 semester hours, including core geography courses and flexible upper-level electives, fostering analytical skills for real-world problem-solving. As an HBCU, it prepares graduates for diverse careers in environmental and geographic fields. Undergraduate admissions follow the university's criteria, which typically require ACT or SAT scores for entrance. Financial aid is available to support eligible students in this campus-based program.

• Bachelor of Arts in Geography
• 30 semester hours required
• Core courses in geography
• Flexible course selections
• Focus on global regions
• Ecological awareness emphasis
• Prepares for diverse careers
• Undergraduate admissions criteria
• Financial aid available
• Campus-based program

*Source: NCES, IPEDS 2023. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

LSU

• Baton Rouge, LA
• https://www.lsu.edu/ga/index.php

LSU’s Department of Geography and Anthropology offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs that explore the physical environment, human societies, and the interaction between the two. Students can pursue Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Geography and a B.A. in Anthropology. Each program includes opportunities for specialization, research, and hands-on experience.

Undergraduate Geography Degrees

Students interested in human geography typically pursue the B.A., while those focused on physical geography or mapping sciences select the B.S. degree. Core topics include climate variability, urban geography, GIS, hydrology, remote sensing, and political ecology. Special emphases are available in areas such as climatology, cultural geography, economic geography, and regional studies of Latin America and East Asia.

Undergraduate Anthropology Degree

The Anthropology B.A. covers archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Students are encouraged to take supporting courses in science, humanities, and social sciences. Courses address topics like forensic anthropology, human evolution, historical archaeology, and cultural traditions across regions including Africa, Latin America, and the U.S.

Minors in Geography and Related Fields

Students may pursue minors in Geography, GIS, Climatology, Disaster Science and Management, or Anthropology. Each minor offers a focused set of courses, such as spatial analysis, emergency management, meteorology, or folklore, and prepares students for interdisciplinary applications in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Graduate Certificates

LSU offers graduate certificates in Geographic Information Science and Spatial Crime Analytics. Each certificate is 12 to 15 credit hours and includes courses in theory, methods, applications, and ethics. These programs are designed for graduate students and professionals seeking formal training in spatial data analysis, GIS technologies, or geospatial crime intelligence.

Core Curriculum and Mapping Sciences

Geography majors complete a core curriculum including Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Geospatial Technology. Students choose from mapping science courses such as cartography, remote sensing, GIS programming, and spatial modeling. Courses emphasize practical skills in spatial data acquisition, analysis, and visualization.

Human and Physical Geography Focus Areas

Human geography courses examine cultural, urban, economic, and political patterns, while physical geography courses explore atmospheric processes, climate analysis, hydrology, and geomorphology. Climatology offerings include hurricane climatology and tropical meteorology, while coastal courses focus on fluvial geomorphology, coastal morphodynamics, and hazard management.

Anthropology Curriculum Highlights

Anthropology students can explore topics like osteology, paleopathology, archaeology of foodways, ethnomusicology, folklore, and ritual. Research areas include forensic anthropology, Maya prehistory, African diaspora, medical anthropology, and conservation discourses. Many courses overlap with geography, providing interdisciplinary depth.

Research Strengths and Regional Expertise

The department’s research spans coastal management, climatology, political ecology, GIS, historical geography, and more. Regional expertise includes Louisiana, the Gulf Coast, Latin America, Southeast Asia, China, Africa, and the Caribbean. Faculty apply a variety of methods, from fieldwork and remote sensing to archival analysis and qualitative research.

Graduate Study and Career Preparation

Graduate offerings include seminars in GIS, climatology, and cultural geography, as well as research-focused thesis and dissertation opportunities. Students engage in advanced coursework in both theory and application, preparing them for careers in academia, government, nonprofit work, and industry roles involving geospatial technology and environmental planning.

University of New Orleans

• New Orleans, LA
• https://www.uno.edu/course-catalog/subject?s=GEOG

The University of New Orleans offers a strong foundation in geography through a variety of lecture-based courses. Students begin with World Regional Geography courses that focus on Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and Africa, examining the physical and cultural relationships between countries.

Other key courses include Conservation, Cultural Geography, and Political Geography, all of which analyze how human activity and governance affect the environment. Special topics courses and internships further allow students to apply geographic principles in regional contexts.

GIS and Mapping Instruction

UNO’s geography program includes detailed instruction in mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The curriculum begins with Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS and advances to courses on GIS theories, spatial analysis, and automation through ArcObjects.

These courses prepare students for technical roles involving spatial decision-making, data visualization, and geospatial programming.

Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences

The B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences is a 120-credit-hour program that combines general education, core science, and specialized EES coursework.

Students choose between two concentrations—Geosciences or Environmental and Coastal Science—based on their career goals. The program builds a broad understanding of environmental systems, geological processes, and human interactions with the planet.

Geosciences Concentration

The Geosciences concentration focuses on the physical structure of the Earth, including geomorphology, stratigraphy, and sedimentology. This track prepares students for careers in academia, environmental consulting, and the oil and gas industry. It also serves as strong preparation for graduate programs in related fields.

Environmental and Coastal Science Concentration

This interdisciplinary concentration emphasizes environmental systems, human impact, and coastal ecology. Students study environmental science, coastal geomorphology, and oceanography, with particular attention to challenges in the Mississippi Delta region.

Graduates are equipped for careers in environmental policy, field research, and private sector environmental roles.

Student Research Opportunities

UNO supports student engagement through active research labs. The Coastal Research Lab studies sediment deposits and coastal dynamics. The Nekton Research Lab monitors aquatic communities and ecological responses to change.

The Dynamics of Sedimentation Lab focuses on sediment transport processes. Students may also participate in projects at the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, which addresses regional environmental issues.

Program Enhancements and Honors

High-performing students can apply to the EES honors program, which includes a senior honors thesis and oral defense. A minor in Earth and Environmental Sciences is also available for students pursuing other majors. Graduates are prepared for work in environmental consulting, government agencies, and advanced academic programs.