Geography focuses on people, environments, and their interactions from local to global scales, integrating numerous physical and social sciences. As a spatial discipline, geographers study distributions and relationships among all natural and human features of Earth: climate, landscapes, populations, resources, and communities. Key questions that interest us include: Are we using resources sustainably? What are the impacts of changing environments on communities? How can we interpret the spatial distribution of economic, political and social activity? Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Geographers are planners, researchers, educators, and decision makers focused on questions relevant to all life on Earth.

The following undergraduate programs are available in the Department of Geography:

1. Major in Geography (B.A. or B.Sc.)

2. Honours in Geography (B.A. or B.Sc.)

3. Minor in Geography

4. Joint Programs

5. Focus Area in Geography

6. Diploma in Geographic Information Sciences

Geography course descriptions are found at the end of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section under Course Descriptions, Geography and are designated by GEOG.

The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours. A student must meet the requirements for a departmental Major, Minor, or Honours program and also meet the Program Regulations – General and Honours Degrees for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. A student is therefore advised to consult with the Admission to the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Programs regulations, the Program Regulations - General and Honours Degrees which also includes the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Components, The Major Program, and The Minor Program regulations. Information regarding honours programs is available at Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations as well as under each department’s regulations.

A student is strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor to discuss available programs and requirements in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences including the Core Requirements, The Major Program, The Minor Program, and the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree Regulations. A student is advised to declare a program of study, including a Major and a Minor, before completing the first 45 credit hours of study. Information about declaring a Major and Minor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/programs/undergraduate/ideclare.php. Information regarding advisors for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is available at www.mun.ca/hss/about/contact/liaisons.php.

1. Students may complete a Major in Geography as part of either a B.A. or B.Sc. program. See the Regulations for the General Degree of Bachelor of Arts and Degree Regulations for the General Degree of Bachelor of Science as appropriate.

2. All students who major in Geography shall consult with their assigned faculty advisor, or the Head of the Department, who will help them in planning their academic program. For this purpose, it is essential that students declare their major at an early stage of their studies.

3. The Major in Geography consists of 45 credit hours in Geography courses including:

   1. 1050;

   2. 2001, 2102, 2195, 2302, 2425;

   3. 3222;

   4. 3228; or the former 2226 and 3226;

   5. 9 additional credit hours from courses at the 3000-level;

   6. 490A and 490B; and

   7. at least 6 additional credit hours chosen from courses at the 4000-level.

4. B.Sc. students must complete 15 credit hours in science courses outside Geography at the 2000-level or above.

1. Students intending to take an Honours degree in Geography must apply for entry to the Honours program through the Office of the Registrar.

2. Students accepted in the Honours program must:

   1. comply with the Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Degree Regulations for the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science as appropriate; and

   2. arrange their program in consultation with the Head of the Department.

3. For the Honours Degree, a student will be required to have completed at least 60 credit hours in courses in Geography, including:

   1. 45 credit hours in courses as listed under Major in Geography;

   2. Geography 3230, 490A, 490B, (students who have already completed 490A and 490B must complete 6 additional credit hours in Geography courses at the 4000-level) and 4999; and

   3. 3 additional credit hours at the 4000-level.

The Minor in Geography consists of 24 credit hours in Geography courses, including:

1. 1050, 2001, 2102, 2195, 2302, 2425; and 6 credit hours in electives taken from Geography courses at the 3000- or 4000- level, or

2. the former 1000 and 1001, or 1010 and 1011; 2001, 2102, 2195, 2302, 2425; and 3 credit hours in electives taken from Geography courses at the 3000- or 4000- level.

Regulations for the Joint Honours in Computer Science and Geography, Joint Honours in Geography/Earth Sciences, and Joint Major in Computer Science and Geography are found under the heading Joint Program Regulations in the entry for the Faculty of Science.

Students who wish to take a Joint Major or a Joint Honours in Geography and another subject must arrange their program in consultation with the heads of the Departments concerned, and comply with the General Regulations of the appropriate Faculty.

As an alternative to a minor in the B.A., a student may choose to complete a major in Geography and a major in another eligible program in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Joint Major Program requires 3 fewer credit hours in each participating major as prescribed in each program’s Calendar entry. The joint major in Geography requires successful completion of Geography 1050, 2001, 2102, 2195, 2302, 2425, 3222, 3228, 490A, 490B, 9 additional credit hours at the 3000-level, and 6 additional credit hours at the 4000-level.

Regulations for the Joint Honours in Computer Science and Geography, Joint Honours in Geography/Earth Sciences, and Joint Major in Computer Science and Geography are found under the heading Joint Program Regulations in the entry for the Faculty of Science.

Students who wish to take a Joint Major or a Joint Honours in Geography and another subject must arrange their program in consultation with the heads of the Departments concerned, and comply with the General Regulations of the appropriate Faculty.

In addition to completing the normal requirements for a Bachelor of Arts and one of a Joint Honours, Honours, Major or Minor in Geography, students may elect to complete requirements for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA). As part of the minimum 120 credit hours, a student may use eligible credit hours in Geography to jointly satisfy other requirements of the iBA degree. When selecting courses, a student is encouraged to consult with an academic advisor early in the program, to consider Table 2 Possible Course Sequencing for the International Bachelor of Arts (iBA) (First 60 Credit Hours), and to consider Geography courses listed in Table 3 International Studies (IS) Designated Courses. Up to 12 credit hours in Geography IS courses may be used towards the International Studies (IS) Courses Requirement.

The focus area in Geography is applicable only to the Bachelor of Education Primary/Elementary degree programs offered by the Faculty of Education. See Focus Areas under the Faculty of Education for program details.

The Department of Geography administers the Diploma in Geographic Information Sciences. Credit hours in Geography may be eligible to jointly fulfill requirements of a degree and a diploma. For further information about this program, see Diploma Programs Offered in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, or contact the Program Director.