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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

Benjamin Kohl, Undergraduate Chair and Faculty Advisor
321 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-1430
bkohl@temple.edu

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

The Department of Geography and Urban Studies combines discipline of geography and the field of urban studies to offer a major that allows students to examine a range of approaches to key topics in the social sciences.  Students choose from introductory courses and supplement them with a variety of intermediate and upper-level electives.

Students may choose courses that focus either on geography or urban studies or combine the two.  Students examine the growth and development of cities and regions, environment and society, spatial analysis and industrial location, and the major distributions of physical and natural phenomena across the globe.  Students may also choose to explore 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. We encourage students to combine spatial and urban courses as well as take advantage of offerings in cartography and geographic information systems (GIS).  We encourage students to study abroad for one semester as a critical part of their undergraduate education.  Each student's program is developed with the departmental advisor to suit individual interests and is designed to maximize educational and career opportunities.  Upon graduation, alumni successfully pursue graduate studies in a range of fields, or find work in nonprofit (domestic and international), planning or government agencies. 

 

Requirements for the Major

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

GUS
1051

1031
Environment & Society
   or
Geography of World Affairs
  IN

IS
         
Select one of the following courses: 3  
GUS

GUS
1021

1025
Urban Society: Race, Class & Community
   or
World Urban Patterns
  RN

IS
         
Select one statistics course:   3-4 QB
Sociology

Math

Psychology

Sociology
3201

1013

1167

1167
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
2014
2031
2032
2051
3097
Urban Geography
Economic Geography
Urban Systems in a Global Society
Urban Environment
Environment & Development
 



WI
         
GUS 4197 Research Methods in GUS 3 WI
GUS 4198 Sr. Seminar/Capstone 3 WI
         
GUS Electives Select five electives, at least four of the 5 courses
must be 2000+ 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 3.5 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
1050

1031

1021

1025
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
5 courses must be 2000+ 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

We nominate students for membership in the National Honorary Society in Geography on the basis of GPA. Students, who are initiated annually, can submit articles to the GTU journal and apply for national scholarships.

Internships

We encourage students 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 is complemented by a seminar in which students discuss their experiences.  See the Internship coordinator (Marilyn Silberfein; pawling@temple.edu) for more details and for information on possible internship sites.

Double major with the College of Education

Students may elect to earn certification in secondary school social studies by combining a major in Geography and Urban Studies with a major in Social Studies Education. Students may also earn 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. For more information please see the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Certificate of Specialization in the Geography of Tourism

The courses in this certification program examine all the world's culture regions and the linkages among them. Students can elect courses relevant to either 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.

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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