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  Academic Programs / Liberal Arts

Geography and Urban Studies

Sanjoy Chakravorty, Chair
308 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-1434
sanjoy.chakravorty@temple.edu

Marilyn Silberfein, Undergraduate Chair and Faculty Advisor
334 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7625
pawling@temple.edu

309 Gladfelter Hall
215-204–1248
www.temple.edu/gus

The Department of Geography and Urban Studies offers a major in which students gain an understanding of this combined field by taking several basic required courses, supplemented by upper-level electives.

Within these guidelines, it is possible for students to choose courses that focus chiefly on geographical studies, including the major distributions of physical and natural phenomena across the globe, the relationship of environment and society, and the concepts underlying spatial analysis and industrial location; or they may choose a program that emphasizes urban studies, exploring the social, political, economic, and historic aspects of urban life, including international comparisons of urban society and the policies that governments have devised to address urban problems. Curricular choices often overlap both fields and also take advantage of offerings in cartography and geographic information systems (GIS).  Each student's program is developed with the departmental advisor to suit individual interests and is designed to facilitate career opportunities or further education.

 

Requirements for the Major

Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
Select one of the following courses: 3  
GUS

GUS
C050

C062
Environment & Society
   or
Geography of World Affairs
  IN

IS
         
Select one of the following courses: 3  
GUS

GUS
R055

C060
Urban Society: Race, Class and Community
   or
World Urban Patterns
  IN/RS

IS
         
Select one statistics course:   3-4 QB
Sociology

Math

Psychology

Sociology
0201

C067

C067

C067
Statistical Methods in Sociology
   or
Elements of Statistics
   or
Foundations in Statistical Methods
   or
Social Statistics
   or
Another appropriate statistics course with written approval of the faculty advisor
   
         
Select two of the following five intermediate courses: 6  
GUS
GUS
GUS
GUS
GUS
0130
W131
0150
W156
0175
Economic Geography
Urban Systems in a Global Society
The Urban Environment
Environment & Development
Urban Geography
 

 

 

         
GUS W282 Research Methods in GUS 3 WI
GUS W300 Sr. Seminar/Capstone 3 WI
         
GUS Electives Select five electives, at least four of  the courses must be 100+ level. 15  
         
TOTAL     36-37  

Distinction in the Major

Geography and Urban Studies students can graduate with distinction if they fulfill the following requirements: A GPA of 3.5 in the major and overall 3.00 GPA, enrollment in at least one graduate (or undergraduate course cross-listed with a graduate course), the completion of an honors paper under the supervision of a faculty member, and the presentation of a paper in a public forum. Students who think that they may qualify for distinction should contact the undergraduate advisor by their junior year.

Requirements for the Minor


Department Course # Course Name Hours RCI
Select one Introductory course from: 3  
GUS

GUS

GUS

GUS
C050

C062

R055

C060
Environment & Society
   or
Geography of World Affairs
   or
Urban Society: Race, Class & Community
   or
World Urban Patterns
  IN

IS

IN/RS

IS
GUS Electives Select five electives, at least four of  the
courses must be 100+ level.*
15  
*One cognate course can substitute for an elective with written
permission from the faculty advisor.
   
     
Total     18  

Tracks

The department has identified several informal areas of concentration to assist students in making course selections. These do not constitute formal requirements but rather provide guidelines for developing a personalized curriculum. Students can focus on the following themes:
1. Urban Issues
2. Environmental Problems
3. International Development
4. Geographical Techniques

Gamma Theta Upsilon

Membership in the National Honorary Society in Geography is available to majors selected on the basis of GPA. Initiations are held each year, and student members can submit articles to the GTU journal and apply for national scholarships.

Internships

Students are encouraged to apply their skills and knowledge in a credit-bearing internship that utilizes their academic training. Assignments at planning, social service and other agencies, as well as firms that specialize in mapping and geographic data analysis, have helped in securing employment opportunities.  The Internship course also includes class meetings at which assigned articles and each student's work experience are discussed in a seminar format.  See the Undergraduate Chair for more details and for information on possible internship sites.

Double major with the College of Education

It is now possible to become certified as a secondary school social studies teacher by combining a major in Geography and Urban Studies with a major in Social Studies Education. It is also possible to gain certification through a GUS major and education minor following the 5-year B.A./M.A. program. For more information on this opportunity, please contact the CLA Academic Advising Center.

Certificates of Specialization in Travel and Tourism

Students may take a series of courses that examine the rapidly-growing fields of tourism and recreation from an urban/geographical perspective. Two certificates are available; please see the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management section for more information on these program requirements.

Certificate of Specialization in the Geography of Tourism

The courses in this certificate program examine all the world's culture regions and the linkages among them. Courses can be selected based on a student's interest in domestic or international tourism. Additional courses would then be chosen to help the student acquire a sense of place as well as strategies for learning about new locations. Some students might also want to study geographical information systems (GIS) to assess the character of specific tourist destinations.

Certificate in the Geography of Sports, Recreation and Tourism Planning

Students in this program who are interested in urban recreation and sports can take courses related to urban social and policy issues, while those interested in outdoor/rural recreation can take courses on environmental issues. The course on geographical information systems (GIS) is particularly relevant to tourism planning.

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