Undergraduate programs

The Geography Department at Portland State University links environmental studies and cultural studies in a program centered on environmental issues, social and cultural landscapes, sustainability in urban and natural areas, and Geographic Information Science. Coursework emphasizes systematic and regional approaches to understanding the physical environment and human-environment interactions. Techniques classes (in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and spatial analysis) provide the tools to analyze complex local, regional, and global phenomena. Access to the Pacific Coast and the Cascade Mountains provides ample opportunity for fieldwork-based classes and opportunities for research. The PSU Department of Geography is an excellent choice for undergraduate and graduate students with interests in the linkages between human and natural systems.

Faculty engage in local, regional, and international research projects in hydrology, water resources, biogeography, sustainable development, land use analysis, climate change, cultural ecology and cultural landscapes, the urban environment, geographic education, and geographic information science. Ongoing faculty research sites in international areas include East Asia, high Asia, Latin America, and Mediterranean Europe. 

Geography is in the School of the Environment and participates in the Earth, Environment and Society (EES) Ph.D. Program. Over 100 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate students participate in two departmental groups, the Friends of Geography and the Student Chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing/Columbia River Region. Several research groups and outreach programs in the department provide additional job and internship opportunities for interested students in public agencies and businesses in such fields as planning, environmental management, GIS, and cartography. 

The geography program gives students an appreciation and understanding of the human environment on global, regional, and local scales. It provides background and requisite training for careers in resource, planning, environmental, or education fields. Geography majors find work in urban and natural resource management, spatial/GIS analysis, urban planning, map design and production, and statistical analysis. Geography is the lead department on campus for training in GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and spatial analysis.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Geography B.A./B.S.

Geography Minor

Water Resources Minor

Geographic Information Systems Minor

Geography Secondary Education Program

Geography B.A./B.S.

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in geography must complete at least 60 credits in geography courses, including 12 credits in each of the following areas: geographic techniques, physical geography, regional geography, and human geography—as detailed below. Of the courses presented for the major, 12 credits are in required courses (Geog 210, Geog 230, and Geog 380), and at least 36 Geography credit hours must be at the upper division, to include 16 hours at the 400-level. Geog 230 may be counted for human or regional geography, but not for both. Geog 496, or Stat 243 and Stat 244, or equivalent is required for the B.S. degree.

Requirements

Physical Geography: (12 credits)

Geog 210Physical Geography

4

Geog 310/Sci 333Climate and Water Resources

4

Geog 311Climatology

4

Geog 312Climate Variability

4

Geog 313Biogeography

4

Geog 314Severe Weather

4

Geog 320/G 374Geomorphic Processes

4

Geog 322Alpine Environments

4

Geog 333/Ph 333Weather

4

Geog 340Global Water Issues and Sustainability

4

Geog 407Seminar in Physical Geography

4

Geog 413Biogeography of Pacific Northwest

4

Geog 414Hydrology

4

Geog 415Soils and Land Use

4

Geog 418/ESM 418Landscape Ecology

4

Geog 210: required

Human Geography: (12 credits)

Geog 230Environment and Society: Global Perspectives

4

Geog 240Geography of Wine

4

Geog 331Geography of Globalization

4

Geog 332Urban Geography

4

Geog 345Resource Management

4

Geog 346World Population and Food Supply

4

Geog 347Environmental Issues and Action

4

Geog 348Cultural and Political Ecology

4

Geog 349Mountain Geography

4

Geog 407Seminar in Human Geography

4

Geog 430Cultural Geography

4

Geog 432Urban Landscapes

4

Geog 442Sustainable Cities

4

Geog 445Resource Management Topics

4

Geog 446Water Resource Management

4

Geog 447Urban Streams

4

Geog 448The Urban Forest

4

Geog 462Sense of Place

4

Geog 230: required

Regional Geography: (12 credits)

Geog 230Environment and Society: Global Perspectives

4

Geog 321Mt. Hood

4

Geog 350Geography of World Affairs

4

Geog 351Pacific Northwest

4

Geog 352The Himalaya and Tibet

4

Geog 353Pacific Rim

4

Geog 354Europe

4

Geog 355Landscapes of Spain

4

Geog 356Russia and Its Neighbors

4

Geog 360Latin America

4

Geog 363Africa

4

Geog 364The Middle East

4

Geog 366Historical Geography of North America

4

Geog 368United States and Canada

4

Geog 407Seminar in Regional Geography

4

Geog 450Geography of Portland

4

Geog 453Japan

4

Geog 465Tuscany: Sustainability in City and Country

4

Geog 230: required

Geographic Techniques: (12 credits)

Geog 380Maps and Geographic Information

4

Geog 407Seminar in Research Skills

4

Geog 420Field Methods in Physical Geography

4

Geog 425Field Methods in Human Geography

4

Geog 475Digital Compilation and Database Design

4

Geog 480Remote Sensing and Image Analysis

4

Geog 481Digital Image Analysis I: Introduction

4

Geog 482Digital Image Analysis II: Advanced Remote Sensing

4

Geog 484Cartographic Applications of GIS

4

Geog 485Map Design and Production

4

Geog 488/USP 591Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction

4

Geog 489Building a GIS Database with GPS

4

Geog 490GIS Programming

4

Geog 492/USP 592Geographic Information Systems II: Advanced GIS

4

Geog 493Digital Terrain Analysis

4

Geog 494GIS for Water Resources

4

Geog 495Maps, Models, and GIS

4

Geog 496Visualization of Spatial Data

4

Geog 497Spatial Quantitative Analysis

4

Geog 380: required

Geography Electives (12)

Total Credit Hours: 60

Course taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling department major requirements.

All courses used to satisfy the departmental major requirements must be graded C- or above.