Geography, BS
The Geography, BS is designed to offer students the opportunity to study the integrated social and environmental processes that continuously shape and reshape the world we live in.
This major provides students with broad training across the core subdisciplines of geography (human, physical, and GIScience), emphasizing application and technique-driven coursework, in addition to a rigorous science and mathematics curriculum. Students will find numerous opportunities for employment in both the private and public sectors, as well as in academia. Given their interdisciplinary approach and uniquely spatial perspective, geographers are well suited to address important local, regional, and global challenges in today's world.
Program Highlights
Students will find numerous opportunities for employment in both the private and public sectors, as well as in academia. Given their interdisciplinary approach and uniquely spatial perspective, geographers are well suited to address important local, regional, and global challenges in today's world.
Course Catalog
Review admission and course requirements for this degree:
Career Paths
With a Geography, BS degree, students will have endless opportunities.
- Our students have gone on to work for local and Federal agencies such as the World Bank, Booz Allen Hamilton, Mapbox, NASA, NGA, and CIA.
- While it isn't a degree requirement, many students choose to engage in internships to further enrich their education. We have strong ties with USGS, NOAA, American Red Cross, and Leidos.
- Get hands on learning to build up your resume. Students have the chance to conduct research with graduate students and faculty, learn to fly drones, and assist instructors as learning assistants.
Research Opportunities
Research opportunities aren't just for graduate students. Our undergraduate students participate in research with faculty and local sponsors such as,
- DARPA
- Fairfax County Government
- NASA
- NOAA
Concentrations
Supplement your bachelors degree by specializing in one of our interdisciplinary concentrations.
Geoinformatics Concentration (GINF)
Geoinformatics is a technical field of study in geography in which digital spatial information is captured, stored, processed, visualized, and analyzed. Geoinformatics encompasses theories and methods of understanding geoinformation, and broadly incorporates geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), cartography and geovisualization, and spatial computing. Students that complete the Geoinformatics Concentration develop skills in applying spatial scientific techniques to digital spatial information, in order to address complex challenges in social and environmental systems.
Geospatial Intelligence Concentration (GI)
The geospatial intelligence (or geointelligence) concentration is designed for students to deepen their knowledge about computational approaches to geoinformation, with particular emphasis in techniques of remote sensing and digital image analysis. While geospatial intelligence has a strong Department of Defense connotation, the techniques developed in this concentration have wide applicability regarding location intelligence over a diverse range of uses and in public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Urban Science Concentration (URBS)
We are living in an increasingly urban world. As concentrations of human activity, cities and urban environments are data-rich, requiring geo-computational approaches to understand complex city systems and urban challenges. Through this concentration, students will apply geoinformational techniques to large-scale data to urban phenomenon like transportation, mobility, urban planning, and urban development.
What Students Say
Eric Ong, BS in Geography 2015, internships at Dewberry and Fairfax County, currently works as a Geospatial Analyst at DigitalGlobe.
“During my time as a student there were numerous aspects of the Geography and Geoinformation Science department and program that allowed me to grow and excel, but a couple stand out because they helped me form a foundation to start my career. The first was the technical and data centric BS program that the GGS department offered because it exposed me to skillsets that I would later use in my career. Secondly, the variety and abundant research assistantships provided by the engaging professors proved to be an undeniable learning experiencing and resume builder. In addition to the faculty, the staff of the GGS department worked tirelessly to keep students updated of possible extracurricular and internship opportunities. Thanks to the curriculum of Geography and Geoinformation Science program and the first hand research assistant experience I felt I stood out from all the other graduates entering the job market.”
Pat Guillen-Piazza, BS in Geography ‘18:
“The environment here is want makes this place an ideal location. There are a plethora of internships whereas institutions in other areas are hurting for internships. There’s plenty to do which makes for an awesome opportunity. It’s really what you make out of it. Also, get to know your professors – they know stuff! And they work hard to get students hands on experience.”