Undergraduate Major
in Geography


The Major in Geography is a structured program of university study requiring completion of thirty semester hours of course work. In addition, before declaring their geography major, students must complete six hours of common prerequisites. The program offers a wide range of geography courses and two tracks of specialization: "Regional and International Development" and "The Geography of International Relations."

A minor in geography is also available.. 

For further information on opportunities for geography majors, call the Department of International Relations at 305-348-2556.

The information for an International Relations Major & Minor is also included on the flyer available for download. Please make an appointment with an advisor, 305-348-2556, for advice on the double-major option.
 

I. General Information

 The purpose of this document is to provide students in the Department of International Relations with the latest general information regarding University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Department requirements for graduation.  It is not an official document and cannot provide answers to all of your specific, individual questions

 The University's Undergraduate Catalog is the definitive source of information about FIU degree programs.  Majors are expected to have read all information on the INR major in the Undergraduate Catalog carefully before coming for advisement.   A student is governed by the requirements in the catalog for the year in which s/he declares a geography major. This document begins with a summary of the Catalog information.
 

 

II.   Academic Learning Compacts (Mission Statement and Learning Outcomes)

Mission Statement

The mission of the department is to graduate well-trained professionals in the field of Geography by providing a quality education in the field. Geography is the science of place and space. Students will learn where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment. Students will gain theoretical and applied skills that a wide range of employers find attractive. Depending on the skills you develop, courses you take, and experience you gain, a bachelor’s degree in geography will prepare you for entry into the fields of planning, regional development, education, geographic information systems, journalism, business, trade, tourism, resource management, or government. Students will also be prepared for graduate education in the social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, business, or the arts. The International Relations Department maintains an online Geography Career Guide. The Association of American Geographers has an online career resource site for geographers.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Content/Discipline Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge of the history, concepts, methods, and theories of geography.
  • Critical Thinking: Demonstrate understanding of dimensions of historic and contemporary geographic change.
  • Oral and Written Communication: Demonstrate effective communication in written and oral modes; demonstrate proficiency in collecting, organizing, interpreting and presenting factual information.


III.   Notes and Clarifications

IMPORTANT NOTE:  ALL COURSES FOR MAJORS AND MINORS MUST BE OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (at either campus) ONLY.  Specifically, courses with an INR prefix offered by the Department of Political Science and courses with a GEO prefix offered by the Department of Geology DO NOT count for credits towards a major in International Relations.
 

A.  Concerning University and College Policies

1.  Course Distribution:  You may take more than ten courses (30 credits) offered by the Department of International Relations towards your degree.  Of the 50 credits of upper level course work required by the College of Arts & Sciences, only 9 credits must be taken in other departments.

2.  Incomplete Grades:  Under certain severe circumstances, and with the approval of the professor, students may receive an "Incomplete" notation in lieu of a grade for a course in which they fail to complete all requirements.  (Incomplete work under most circumstances, however, will lead to a grade of "F.")  If you receive an "incomplete" in lieu of a letter grade, you must fill out a form, signed by you and the professor, indicating by what date you will complete the incomplete work.  In all cases, incompletes must be made up within two semesters, after which time they change to the grade of "F."

3.  Second Degrees:  A student may earn a second degree (not major) by earning 150 credit hours.  In this case the student receives two separate diplomas and degree notations on her official transcripts.

4.  Academic Misconduct:  Academic misconduct, which is explained in the Student Handbook, include cheating and plagiarism.  Students should review the categories of misconduct, the penalties for such, and their rights and responsibilities.  Students who are convicted of academic misconduct by a University panel will have the conviction noted on their academic transcripts (permanent record).
 

B.  Concerning Departmental Policies

1.  Courses for the Major:  Only courses taught by INR faculty will count towards your major in International Relations.  Except as provided in paragraph 4 below.  This means:

a. Courses taken in other Departments, including those with an GEO prefix taught in Geology,  DO NOT count towards your major.
b. Exceptions to this rule are required courses not currently taught by faculty in the international relations department.
2.  IR/Geography taken elsewhere:  Many students will take the Introduction to International Relations at a community college or other University.  Credit for such courses should appear on the SASS forms.  "World Geography" courses taken elsewhere do not count towards our World Regional Geography course requirement.  Only a course taken in the Florida system, and bearing the same name and course number, will fulfill this requirement.

3.  Minors, Certificates, Second Majors: Many students will want to earn minors, certificates or second majors, but these are not required.  Minors are a more limited course of study within a Department (usually 15-21 credits), while Certificates are given in inter-disciplinary fields (Latin American Studies, African-New World Studies, Women's Studies, etc.).  Though not required, minors or certifications may well help students to develop skills or fields of expertise that support career enhancement.

4.  Transfer Courses for the Major:  Upper Division courses taken at other colleges may sometimes be used to fulfill INR Department requirements.  If a student feels that s/he has taken a course that covers the same area of a required INR course, s/he should bring this to the attention of the Chairperson or Faculty Advisor for International Relations; either of these two Departmental Faculty can render a judgement about whether transfer credits can cover Departmental requirements.

5.  Course Repetition: You should not repeat courses taken elsewhere.  In fact, graduation auditors will disallow a course taken at FIU if it is a duplicate of a course which you completed at another college or university.

6.  Course Sequence:  You should generally start with our two 2000-level courses before preceding to higher level courses.  GEA 2000 is recommended, in particular, before taking upper division Geography courses.