Geography and Environmental Studies
Associate in Arts
Overview
Completing the Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.) with a concentration in Geography and Environmental Studies prepares students for rewarding and impactful careers in environmental science and conservation, natural and cultural resource management, disaster and emergency management, policy making, international aid and human rights, urban and regional planning, regional and multinational business, as well as education – fields that all increasingly rely on global knowledge and geospatial analysis.
The Geography and Environmental Studies concentration is designed to teach students about Earth’s physical environment and the diversity of human societies spread across our planet. Students will expand their global knowledge, visit environmentally and culturally significant places, develop map interpretation skills, explore map-making techniques, and acquire the ability to succeed at further studies and future careers.
Sample Program Plan and Costs
Class Delivery Methods
View current courses offered via our online course directory.
| On-Campus | Traditional. Classes meet on campus. |
|---|---|
| Virtual | 100% online. Meets with a live instructor and classmates on specific days, at specific times. Uses web conferencing software, like Zoom. |
| Hybrid | Some classes on campus. Some classes online or virtual. |
| Online | 100% online. Due dates for projects and assignments. Self-paced work on your time. |
Full Time Schedule
| Semester | Course ID | Course Title | Classroom | Online | Hybrid | Virtual | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 (15 Credit Hours) |
COL-105 |
Freshman Seminar Freshman Seminar ID: COL-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the purposes of higher education and provides a general orientation to the functions and resources of the college. The course is designed to help freshmen adjust to the college community, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic survival skills. |
• | • | • | 3 | |
| ENG-101 |
English Comp I English Comp I ID: ENG-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: a study of composition in conjunction with appropriate reading and multimedia selections, with frequent assignments to reinforce effective writing. A review of the basic techniques of research is also presented. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| GEO-102 |
World Geography World Geography ID: GEO-102 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes a geographic analysis of the regions of the world, i.e., North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. Diversity of each region is emphasized by examining its physical environment, natural resources, social, cultural, economic and political systems. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
| ART-101 |
Art History and Appreciation Art History and Appreciation ID: ART-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is an introductory course to the history and appreciation of art, including the elements and principles of the visual arts. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| GEO-105 |
Digital Mapping and Geospatial Analysis Digital Mapping and Geospatial Analysis ID: GEO-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces the basics of digital mapping, geospatial thinking, and geographic data analysis through exploring technologies such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), satellite imagery, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). |
• | • | 3 | |||
| Semester 2 (16 Credit Hours) |
GEO-205 |
Physical Geography Physical Geography ID: GEO-205 Credit Hours: 4 This course introduces the basic principles and methods of physical geography and applies them to the study of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. |
• | • | 4 | ||
| ENG-102 |
English Comp II English Comp II ID: ENG-102 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: development of writing skills through logical organization, effective style, critical reading, and research. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| SPC-205 |
Public Speaking Public Speaking ID: SPC-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| HIS-201 |
American History: Discovery to 1877 American History: Discovery to 1877 ID: HIS-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a survey of U.S. history from European discovery to 1877. This course considers various developments during this time, such as political, social, economic, and intellectual developments. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| ANT-202 |
Cultural Anthropology Cultural Anthropology ID: ANT-202 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an exploration and comparison of selected contemporary cultures, including their languages. The course also includes an introduction to the concepts, methods, and data of socio-cultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
| Semester 3 (16 Credit Hours) |
GEO-230 |
Environmental Hazards and Disasters Environmental Hazards and Disasters ID: GEO-230 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces students to the nature of hazards and impacts of disasters. It examines how risk and vulnerability contribute to different impacts on human populations and assesses societal responses to disasters. Mitigation techniques are analyzed using the emergency management cycle. |
• | 3 | |||
| HIS-105 |
World History II World History II ID: HIS-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course covers world history from circa 1500 A.D. to the present, focusing on the development of a system of interrelationships based on western expansion and on the economic, social, political, and cultural aspects of each era. |
• | 3 | ||||
| PSC-220 |
Introduction to International Relations Introduction to International Relations ID: PSC-220 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces the major focus and factors influencing world affairs, with emphasis on the role of the United States in the global community and the impact of growing interdependence on daily living. |
• | 3 | ||||
| PHI-105 |
Introduction to Logic Introduction to Logic ID: PHI-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to the structure of argument, including symbolization, proofs, formal fallacies, deductions, and inductions. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| BIO-101 |
Biological Science I Biological Science I ID: BIO-101 Credit Hours: 4 This course is a study of the scientific method, basic biochemistry, cell structure and function, cell physiology, cell reproduction and development, mendelian genetics, population genetics, natural selection, evolution, and ecology. |
• | • | • | 4 | ||
| Semester 4 (10 Credit Hours) |
BIO-205 |
Ecology Ecology ID: BIO-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces basic principles of population biology, ecology, and environmental science as applied to the study of the interactions between human kind and the biosphere. |
• | • | 3 | ||
| BIO-206 |
Ecology Lab Ecology Lab ID: BIO-206 Credit Hours: 1 This ecology laboratory experience consists of discussions, demonstrations, experiments, films, and field trips pertaining to the relationships of man to the biosphere, human ecology, resource use, and environmental impact. |
• | 1 | ||||
| ANT-203 |
Physical Anthropology and Archaeology Physical Anthropology and Archaeology ID: ANT-203 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an exploration of human origins, human evolution, human prehistory, and cultural existence from its less complex forms to early civilizations. The course also includes an introduction to the concepts, methods, and data of physical, biological, and archaeological anthropology. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| ENG-209 |
World Literature II World Literature II ID: ENG-209 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of masterpieces of world literature in translation from the seventeenth century to the present. Works studied are selected from various cultures throughout the world. |
3 | |||||
| Total Credit Hours | 57 | ||||||
| Estimated Cost Financial Aid |
$11,628.00 Not including fees and equipment |
||||||
Part Time Schedule
| Semester | Course ID | Course Title | Classroom | Online | Hybrid | Virtual | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 (6 Credit Hours) |
COL-105 |
Freshman Seminar Freshman Seminar ID: COL-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of the purposes of higher education and provides a general orientation to the functions and resources of the college. The course is designed to help freshmen adjust to the college community, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic survival skills. |
• | • | • | 3 | |
| ENG-101 |
English Comp I English Comp I ID: ENG-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: a study of composition in conjunction with appropriate reading and multimedia selections, with frequent assignments to reinforce effective writing. A review of the basic techniques of research is also presented. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| Semester 2 (9 Credit Hours) |
GEO-102 |
World Geography World Geography ID: GEO-102 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes a geographic analysis of the regions of the world, i.e., North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa. Diversity of each region is emphasized by examining its physical environment, natural resources, social, cultural, economic and political systems. |
• | • | • | 3 | |
| ART-101 |
Art History and Appreciation Art History and Appreciation ID: ART-101 Credit Hours: 3 This is an introductory course to the history and appreciation of art, including the elements and principles of the visual arts. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| GEO-105 |
Digital Mapping and Geospatial Analysis Digital Mapping and Geospatial Analysis ID: GEO-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces the basics of digital mapping, geospatial thinking, and geographic data analysis through exploring technologies such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), satellite imagery, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). |
• | • | 3 | |||
| Semester 3 (7 Credit Hours) |
GEO-205 |
Physical Geography Physical Geography ID: GEO-205 Credit Hours: 4 This course introduces the basic principles and methods of physical geography and applies them to the study of the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. |
• | • | 4 | ||
| ENG-102 |
English Comp II English Comp II ID: ENG-102 Credit Hours: 3 This is a (college transfer) course in which the following topics are presented: development of writing skills through logical organization, effective style, critical reading, and research. |
• | • | • | • | 3 | |
| Semester 4 (9 Credit Hours) |
SPC-205 |
Public Speaking Public Speaking ID: SPC-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to principles of public speaking with application of speaking skills. Students entering this course must be able to communicate clearly with American speakers of English. |
• | • | • | • | 3 |
| ANT-202 |
Cultural Anthropology Cultural Anthropology ID: ANT-202 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an exploration and comparison of selected contemporary cultures, including their languages. The course also includes an introduction to the concepts, methods, and data of socio-cultural anthropology and anthropological linguistics. |
• | • | • | 3 | ||
| HIS-201 |
American History: Discovery to 1877 American History: Discovery to 1877 ID: HIS-201 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a survey of U.S. history from European discovery to 1877. This course considers various developments during this time, such as political, social, economic, and intellectual developments. |
• | • | 3 | |||
| Semester 5 (9 Credit Hours) |
GEO-101 |
Introduction to Geography Introduction to Geography ID: GEO-101 Credit Hours: 3 This courses is an introduction to the principles and methods of geographic inquiry. |
3 | ||||
| HIS-105 |
World History II World History II ID: HIS-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course covers world history from circa 1500 A.D. to the present, focusing on the development of a system of interrelationships based on western expansion and on the economic, social, political, and cultural aspects of each era. |
• | 3 | ||||
| GEO-230 |
Environmental Hazards and Disasters Environmental Hazards and Disasters ID: GEO-230 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces students to the nature of hazards and impacts of disasters. It examines how risk and vulnerability contribute to different impacts on human populations and assesses societal responses to disasters. Mitigation techniques are analyzed using the emergency management cycle. |
• | 3 | ||||
| Semester 6 (10 Credit Hours) |
PHI-105 |
Introduction to Logic Introduction to Logic ID: PHI-105 Credit Hours: 3 This course is an introduction to the structure of argument, including symbolization, proofs, formal fallacies, deductions, and inductions. |
• | • | 3 | ||
| PSC-220 |
Introduction to International Relations Introduction to International Relations ID: PSC-220 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces the major focus and factors influencing world affairs, with emphasis on the role of the United States in the global community and the impact of growing interdependence on daily living. |
• | 3 | ||||
| BIO-101 |
Biological Science I Biological Science I ID: BIO-101 Credit Hours: 4 This course is a study of the scientific method, basic biochemistry, cell structure and function, cell physiology, cell reproduction and development, mendelian genetics, population genetics, natural selection, evolution, and ecology. |
• | • | • | 4 | ||
| Semester 7 (4 Credit Hours) |
BIO-205 |
Ecology Ecology ID: BIO-205 Credit Hours: 3 This course introduces basic principles of population biology, ecology, and environmental science as applied to the study of the interactions between human kind and the biosphere. |
• | • | 3 | ||
| BIO-206 |
Ecology Lab Ecology Lab ID: BIO-206 Credit Hours: 1 This ecology laboratory experience consists of discussions, demonstrations, experiments, films, and field trips pertaining to the relationships of man to the biosphere, human ecology, resource use, and environmental impact. |
• | 1 | ||||
| Semester 8 (6 Credit Hours) |
ANT-203 |
Physical Anthropology and Archaeology Physical Anthropology and Archaeology ID: ANT-203 Credit Hours: 3 This course includes an exploration of human origins, human evolution, human prehistory, and cultural existence from its less complex forms to early civilizations. The course also includes an introduction to the concepts, methods, and data of physical, biological, and archaeological anthropology. |
• | • | 3 | ||
| ENG-209 |
World Literature II World Literature II ID: ENG-209 Credit Hours: 3 This course is a study of masterpieces of world literature in translation from the seventeenth century to the present. Works studied are selected from various cultures throughout the world. |
3 | |||||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | ||||||
| Estimated Cost Financial Aid |
$12,240.00 Not including fees and equipment |
||||||
What’s next after I complete this program?
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Graduates who wish to expand their employment options and earnings potential can continue their education at a four-year school to earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in geography, environmental studies, or a related interdisciplinary field (environmental science, global studies, international studies, international relations, international business, etc.).
Earn a Graduate Degree
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree can pursue a Master of Arts, Master of Science, or a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in geography, environmental studies, or a related interdisciplinary field (environmental science, global studies, international studies, international relations, international business, etc.). By earning an advanced degree, graduates will develop expertise in research methodology, professional writing and publication, cartographic techniques, and technologies that will accelerate career advancement and compensation.