Geography Minor
Geography as a discipline is concerned with the surface of the Earth, spatiality and location, and broad integrative thinking.
Human geography is concerned with patterns and systems of human activity on the surface of the Earth, along with the character of places and regions.
Physical geography is concerned with natural features and processes on (or near) the surface of the Earth.
Studying geography, whether human or physical or the two in combination, gives students excellent skills and perspectives to complement and give context to their other studies or careers.
Earn a minor in Geography by taking any 18 credit hours of GEOG courses. The 18 hours of GEOG courses required to complete the geography minor can be drawn from human geography, physical geography, or geospatial techniques courses.
Courses & Credit
When you take geography courses at Western Carolina University you’ll earn credit both for Liberal Studies or specific degree programs, and gain a unique global perspective of people and the environment.
The Minor in Geography
- Human geography (e.g., GEOG 140 World Geography, GEOG 103 Cultural Geography, GEOG 350 Economic Geography, GEOG 440 Regional Geography, and GEOG 444 Political Geography)
- Physical geography (e.g., GEOL 302 Geomorphology, GEOG 300 Weather and Climate)
- Geospatial techniques (e.g., GEOG 221 Intro to Geospatial Analysis, GEOG 324 Intro to Remote Sensing, NRM 344 Applied GIS)
Permission of the GNR department required for course substitutions.
Careers in Geography
What
- Water and Natural Resources Planning
- Environmental Impact
- Terrain and Land Use
Where
- Federal government
- Publishers of textbooks and maps
- Travel agencies
- Manufacturing and retail firms
- Real estate developers
- Corporations or companies in insurance, environmental work, transportation, communications and international trade
- Scientific and research groups
- Forestry, mining, engineering, architectural and surveying firms
What
- Economic Development Population
- Transportation
- Social Sciences Research Policy Research
- Program Development Program Administration
- Health Care Data Collection & Analysis
- Housing Statistics
Where
- State, regional, and local government
- Federal government, including Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Mapping Agency, Bureau of Census, Dept. of State
- Publishers of textbooks and maps
- Travel agencies
- Manufacturing and retail firms
- Real estate developers
- Corporations or companies in insurance, environmental work, transportation, communication, and international trade
- Scientific and research firms
- Forestry, mining, engineering, architectural, and surveying firms
What
- Mosaics
- Photogrammetry
- Stereo Plotting
- Mapping
- Private and Reproducing
Where
- Federal government, including Depts. of Defense, Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and State
- State and local government agencies
- Private industry, including utilities, construction, engineering, energy, environmental planning, and consulting firms
Where
- Private companies
- Colleges and universities
- Federal agencies, including U.S.G.S., Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Defense Mapping, Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Central Intelligence Agency
- State and regional government: Dept. of Transportation, Agriculture, Environmental, and Health Planning Agencies
Where
- City, county, and regional planning agencies
- State government research organizations
- Private business
- Banks
- Industrial firms
- Airline companies
- Utility companies
- Federal government agencies, including Agency for International Development, World Bank, Dept. of Housing, and Urban Development
- Real estate development
Geography Faculty
Dr. Lara Bryant
Dr. Jeffrey Neff - Emeritus
