Geography & Environmental Planning Major

Study the relationship between people and the environment and explore a more thoughtful, informed approach to community planning.

This major integrates topics that will deepen and broaden your understanding of the interrelationships between environmental, social, and economic issues and how these disciplines work together to influence decisions that affect the environment and long-range planning. Students choosing to major in geography and environmental planning will be exposed to a wide range of courses in both human and physical geography. The broad education in geography prepares students for a variety of professions. View the degree requirements and course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Major Requirements

The core requirements of the major are three lower division intro courses in physical geography (101), human geography (109), and geospatial technologies (221). At the upper division level, the three required courses are a methods course (375 or 376), growth of geographic thought (401), and one upper level regional course.

Course Requirements for the Major

Electives

The major then allows students to choose from a wide range of upper level courses to complete a desired career path. Seven electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor. Below are some suggested career paths.

Geospatial Technologies

Environmental Systems and Sustainability

Environmental Planning

GEOG 251 Intro to Planning
GEOG 317 Energy Resources
GEOG 383 Natural Resources and Society
GEOG 393 Transportation Planning
GEOG 405 Comprehensive Planning
GEOG 406 Planning for Urban Climate Change
GEOG 410 Environmental Geography
GEOG 417 Outdoor Recreation Planning
GEOG 419 Climate Change
GEOG 481 Environmental Impact Analysis
GEOG 484 Land Use Planning

International Affairs

Space and Society

Planning and Urban Studies

GEOG 251 Intro to Planning
GEOG 355 Historical Geography of Urbanization
GEOG 359 Economic Geography
GEOG 381 Political Geography
GEOG 385 Population Geography
GEOG 391 Urban Systems
GEOG 393 Transportation Planning
GEOG 403 Urban Housing Justice
GEOG 404 Securitizing the City
GEOG 405 Comprehensive Planning
GEOG 406 Planning for Urban Climate Change
GEOG 407 Geography of the Aged
GEOG 417 Outdoor Recreation Planning
GEOG 420 Geography of the US and Canada
GEOG 423 Geography of Maryland
GEOG 481 Environmental Impact Analysis

Accelerated B.S./M.A. in Geography and Environmental Planning

The Department of Geography and Environmental Planning offers an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. Accelerated programs allow you to begin your graduate education as an undergraduate, offering you the opportunity to save time and money while you advance your academic career. The combined B.S./M.S. in Geography and Environmental Planning enables students to substitute nine credits in the Master’s in Geography and Environmental Planning program for undergraduate classes in the Geography and Environmental Planning major.

student opportunities

Scholarships for Majors

Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered exclusively for geography majors.

GTU Honor Society

A chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU), the international honor society in geography, is sponsored by the department. Hear guest lecturers speak at GTU meetings and apply for a GTU-sponsored scholarship.

Geography Club

The Towson University Geography Society, better known as the Geography Club, provides opportunities to meet your peers in the department and engage in geography-related discussions and projects on campus.