Geography Minor

Summary

A versatile minor allowing students to develop a basic understanding of the relationships between people and the environment. Students can concentrate on topics such as world regions, environmental processes, cultural systems, or geospatial techniques depending on career goals. A popular option is to complete both the Geography minor and the GIS Certificate so upper-division geospatial electives can double count for both programs. 

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Minor

Total Credits

19

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

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Program Requirements

Core

An introduction to the science of understanding earth's physical environment, with focus on the processes that drive fundamental earth systems. Includes investigation of natural hazards, earth-sun relationships, climate and climate change, weather, flora and fauna, soil, landforms, and surfaces processes driven by rivers, glaciers, wind, rock decay, gravity. North American and world-wide examples are used to demonstrate spatial distribution and interrelationships. Some coverage of human-environmental relations.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-03, GE-10

Cultural aspects of interactions between people and their environment focusing on spatial patterns of population, agriculture, politics, language, religion, industrialization, and urbanization. Emphasis is placed on the processes that create the cultural landscape and on management of land and natural resources.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Students will develop a knowledge of the similarities and contrasts in regional landscapes and cultures of the United States.

Prerequisites: none

Electives

Choose 9 Credit(s).

Prerequisites: none