Geography

AA-T Degree A0356

Transfer Degree OptionBachelor’s Degree:Geography

Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Degree A0356
Geography is a diverse discipline, with foundational coursework in both Earth and Social Sciences. Such foundational courses are augmented by coursework that applies geographic principles to particular world regions and by courses that explore the fundamental human-environment relationship, including coursework in Anthropology, Political Science, Biology and Earth Sciences.

To earn an Associate in Arts in Geography for Transfer degree, a student must complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the CSU system that consist of the IGETC pattern or CSU GE breadth and a major of a minimum of 18 units. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework to receive an associate degree for transfer and all courses in the major must be completed with a C or better. Students earning an associate degree for transfer will not be required to complete any other local graduation requirements.

Required Courses

- What Do I Need To Know About This Major?
  
  Geography is a diverse discipline that features foundational course- work in both the earth and social sciences. It includes subjects such as anthropology, political science, biology and geology, among others. One of the driving motivations for studying geography is that it provides you with the opportunity to make a difference in the world and be part of the solution, whether that involves community activism, social justice or even environmental justice. The learning and career opportunities are boundless!
- What Kind of Job Can I Get With This Major?
  The following websites will provide information on typical areas, type of employers that hire in this field, salary information and projected job trends
- How Do I Know This Major Is For Me?
  Geography can quickly be summarized as the study of why is what where. Geographers are trained in spatial analysis, which analyzes the way things are arranged in a particular space. Where a biologist is interested in where animals are, a geographer looks at where the animals are in relation to food and water, and habitat opportunities – it’s all about how environment affects the things around us.
  
  Geography classes will expose you to a variety of areas without having to take classes in all of these subjects. You will be trained in various disciplines, and this will help give you a more holistic view of the world. Students who choose this major should be open-minded and willing to take on new adventures in exploring career options.
  - Meet With a Counselor
    - Schedule a Zoom Appointment
    - Schedule a Phone or In-Person Appointment
  - Talk with a Professor
  - Take a Career & Life Planning Course (COUN 5)
- What Courses Should I Take For This Major?

Student Voices

Listen to our podcast featuring fascinating conversations between students, alumni and professors on real-world applications of this major..

I took a Geography of the Oceans class and it was chemistry, biology, physics – all in one – which is the beauty of geography. It's studying the oceans, different components, people – it's that beautiful cross-section of being able to study a little bit of everything.

- Elizabeth Soto, former geography student

When I first announced to my parents I was majoring in geography, they were nervous on how that would transition to a job. But I’ve had an incredible career full of interesting projects. Geography really just helps us understand our world, and I can see my students’ enthusiasm when they start to see the connections. You have to be open to finding opportunities and recreating yourself, and not be so focused on the job title.

- Professor Dafna Golden

Visit Our WebpageGeography

Educational Preparation Resources

On/Off-Campus Resources