COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Geography at San Jose State University is a 120-unit program designed to provide students with a broad understanding of Earth’s environments and the spatial relationships between human and natural systems. The degree includes 19 units of core lower division general education, with some coursework potentially satisfying major-related GE requirements, along with 6 units of American Institutions coursework, 9 units of upper division general education, a 2-unit physical education requirement, and a writing in the discipline requirement that can be completed through GEOG 100W. Students also complete 3 units of major preparation, 46–48 units of major requirements, and 33–35 units of university electives or a minor.Major preparation consists of an introductory statistics course such as STAT 95 or an approved equivalent, providing students with essential quantitative and analytical skills used in geographic analysis. The major requirements are structured around core geography courses, major electives, and specialized thematic areas. Core courses include physical geography, cultural geography, world regional geography, urban geography, research methods, GIS fundamentals, field methods, and a senior seminar, along with a writing workshop to strengthen academic communication skills.Students then build depth through elective clusters that include human geography, physical geography, regional synthesis, and geographic information science. Human geography courses explore topics such as globalization, cities, development, and urban planning. Physical geography courses examine natural systems, population change, resources, and environmental regions. Regional synthesis courses focus on specific parts of the world such as the United States, Asia, or the Global South, while GIS-related courses develop technical skills in mapping, remote sensing, and spatial analysis. Overall, the program integrates physical, human, and technological perspectives to prepare students for careers or graduate study in geography and related fields.