Jun 13, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
Catalog Home
Archived Catalogs
General Catalog Information
Majors and Combined Degrees
Minors, Certificates and Micro-Credentials
Departments & Programs
Courses
UB Curriculum (General Education)
Academic Policies and Procedures
Academic Calendar
Campus Facilities and Instructional Spaces
Financial and Scholarship Information
Admissions
Student Records and Registration
Academic Advising
Learning Outside the Classroom
Study Abroad
myUB
HUB Academic Advisement Report
Accreditations
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Geography BA - Urban and Regional Analysis Concentration

Do you love studying maps? Are you curious about why things happen where they do? If you like thinking about our impact on the planet, then there’s a place for you here-where you can study everything from world hunger and hazardous waste to erosion, trade, transportation and more. How does dust in the atmosphere affect climate change? What is the optimum amount of soil water content for a forest to thrive under extreme temperatures? Why do some maps omit places that are popular with people who are LGBTQ? Join us and find out.

Visit the Geography academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Geography department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria

Current UB students seeking admission to the Geography BA - Urban and Regional Analysis concentration will be added to the major upon request by completing the College of Arts and Sciences Major/Minor Change Request Form.

Major Requirements

Geography Urban and Regional Analysis Core (16 credits)

Three Geography Urban and Regional Analysis Electives (9-10 credits)

Four Geography Electives (12 credits)

All GEO electives must be at the 300/400 level. 

Notes

*Statistics Substitution (GEO 211 ): If you have already completed one of the following Stats courses, you will not need GEO 211 .  Approved substitutions: PSC 408 , PSY 207 , SOC 294 , STA 119 /STA 119 , ECO 480 , EAS 305 , ECO 380  .  However, students who take a course outside of Geography that is equivalent to GEO 211  must complete an additional Geography elective.

Total Credits Required for Major: 37-38

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 120 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 120

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

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.

All students are encouraged to use this plan in conjunction with other academic planning resources such as your academic advisor, the HUB Academic Advisement Report , My Planner and Path Finder tool.

In addition to following this course roadmap, all other admission and academic requirements of this major as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog must be met in order to successfully complete this degree.

YEAR 1

Fall Semester​​​​​​​​​​

Spring Semester​​​​​​​​​​

YEAR 2

Fall Semester​​​​​​​​​​​

Spring Semester​​​​​​​​​​

YEAR 3

Fall Semester​​​​​​​​​​​

Spring Semester​​​​​​​​​​​​

YEAR 4

Fall Semester​​​​​​​

  • Urban & Regional Analysis Elective Credits: 3
  • GEO 300/400 level Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3

    Total Credits: 15

Spring Semester​​​​​​​​

  • GEO 300/400 level Elective Credits: 3
  • GEO 300/400 level Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3

    Total Credits: 15

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 120

Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

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)

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors and Combined Degrees