Geography BA/MA

Undergraduate Course Requirements

Graduate Course Requirements

Notes

Upon completion of undergraduate program requirements and all MA requirements, the combined degree is conferred at the end of the fifth year.

Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 50-57

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

• Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
• Elective courses as needed to complete the 140 credit hour total

Total Undergraduate Credits Required: 90-93

Total Graduate Credits Required for Degree: 30-31

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 124

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements

Minimum GPA of 2.900. Two letters of recommendation from Geography instructors. 

Acceptance to the MA portion of this program requires submission of GRE scores. We recommend this be done between the third and fourth year.

Most of these courses are only offered once each year; therefore, students need to plan ahead to be certain that they enroll in the required courses during the appropriate semesters. Students must apply to the department for full-time graduate status by Spring of their fourth year.

Program Honors and Program Distinction

Students must complete an honors project under the supervision of a Geography faculty member. Each project is to be read and evaluated by a second faculty member in the department who has expertise in the area of the student’s project. Students who wish to complete an honors project must make arrangements with the appropriate faculty member by the end of the semester preceding the semester (or summer session) when the student expects to register for the honors course. Students must receive a grade of B or higher in the honors course. Students must also meet the remaining Program Honors criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. 

Majors who do not pursue a thesis but have exceptional grades are eligible for Program Distinction upon degree conferral if the criteria are met.  These criteria are also found in the Academic Honors policy.

Curricular Plan

A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

• Upon successful completion of all requirements students will obtain foundational knowledge in the areas of earth systems science and human geography.
• Upon successful completion of all requirements students will have fundamental knowledge in integrative analytical techniques.
• Upon successful completion of all requirements students will have developed skills and abilities in laboratory, field, research, geographic information systems, and statistical techniques to address geographic issues.
• Upon successful completion of all requirements students will obtain depth of knowledge in multiple thematic concentrations in geography.

(HEGIS: 22.06 GEOGRAPHY, CIP: 45.0701 Geography)