UND Geography Students Working on Class Project Outdoors on Campus

Geography Major

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Professionals with skills in geospatial technologies are increasingly in demand.

UND's affordable bachelor’s degree in geography offers concentrations in community and urban development, environmental geography and geographic education. The geography degree is designed to use technology and scientific reasoning to study locations, the differences between places and how people interact with the environment.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120

What is a geography major?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Geography is the science of place and space. As a geography student at UND, you'll explore the science of our global landscape and prepare to create solutions to some of today's most urgent problems.

Geography majors at UND choose an area of focus from three concentrations:

  • Community and urban development
  • Environmental geography
  • Geographic education

If a career in information systems, remote sensing or global positioning systems (GPS) is appealing to you, you can also add-on a minor in Geospatial Technologies.

Whichever program you choose, you'll study geospatial technologies related to human geography, physical geography and geographic education.

Geography Major at UND

  • Great Value Colleges ranks UND #10 in the nation for the most affordable bachelor's degree in geography for 2020. To help cut down on time and cost, you can earn academic credit for your volunteer work and/or work experience. 

  • Engage in lab and field experience as part of some geography courses.

  • Join Gamma Theta Upsilon, the geography honor society.

  • Participate in active research with faculty within the department and across campus.

  • Take part in UND's North Dakota Digital Atlas.

  • Earn academic credit for work and volunteer experience.

Geography Major Jobs

97k

Median annual salary for geographers, 2024

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A geography major from UND opens the door to myriad career opportunities in government, education, business, nonprofits and beyond. With a B.S., our graduates have the option of continuing on to graduate school or starting a highly successful career such as:

  • Cartographic Technician
  • City Planner
  • Community Development Analyst
  • Director of Economic Development
  • GIS Analyst, Technician or Developer
  • High School or Middle School Teacher
  • Hydrologic Technician
  • Imagery Scientist
  • International Logistics Analyst
  • Research Scientist
  • Science and Operations Officer
  • Site Assessment Analyst

Geography Major Skills

A Geography degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • ArcGIS (GIS Software)
  • Cartography
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Remote Sensing
  • Spatial Analysis

UND Geography Major Alumni

Geography alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • AE2S
  • Bolton & Menk, Inc.
  • City governments
  • Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.)

Geography Major Courses

GEOG 274. Introduction to Geospatial Technologies. 3 Credits.

Students engage with a range of geospatial technologies to explore, analyze, and represent geographical phenomena and data through a series of field-based exercises. Students will learn about the types of societal problems that geospatial scientists are uniquely positioned to solve. Through guest speakers, readings, and discussions, they will learn about the knowledge and skills required to enter this rapidly-expanding career field and the courses in the geography curriculum that will help them to acquire these skills. S.

GEOG 161. World Regional Geography. 3 Credits.

Development of the concept of region with analysis of the relationship of physical and cultural features to the contemporary world situation. F,S,SS.

GEOG 374. Environmental Remote Sensing. 2 Credits.

A thorough examination of optical, infrared, and microwave methods for remote observation of Earth systems, with a focus on the use of aircraft and satellite data for addressing environmental problems. The course includes an overview of modern remote sensing systems for data collection at a variety of scales, as well as an introduction to digital image processing. Corequisite: GEOG 374L. F.

GEOG 474. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 2 Credits.

An introductory course that examines the digital representation, manipulation, and analysis of geographic data, with emphasis on the analytical capabilities that GIS brings to bear on the solution of geographic problems. Corequisite: GEOG 474L. F,S.

GEOG 352. Economic Geography. 3 Credits.

A study of the local, national, and global economic life describing and explaining the geographic factor involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of the major commodities and resources of the world. Special emphasis is placed upon the global issue of the underdeveloped or Third World countries and theories, which have been, developed to explain spatial structure. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. F.

GEOG 457. Urban Geography and Planning. 3 Credits.

This course examines the internal workings of cities from political, economic, and social perspectives. Geographic approaches to urban analysis are discussed, as are various methods for contemporary urban planning. Students learn to view the city as a geographic phenomenon created by human effort. S, odd years.

Best Geography Bachelor's Programs

#13 College Rank
#13 Affordable Schools

Several college ranking sites put UND’s Geography bachelor’s in the Top 20 best programs in nation. We’re well regarded for our educational quality, affordability and career outcomes.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

Leaders in Geography

Using augmented reality students gain hands-on experience to view geographic information.

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