Geography

Geography is now a part of the ETSU College of Business & Technology's department of Economics, Finance & Urban Studies. Students can major in Geography and earn a Bachelor of Science degree. A student majoring in geography must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in Geography (GEOG). The major academic areas of concentration in Geography are

• geography,
• geography education (for grades 7 - 12 education licensure), and
• resource management (applied physical geography).

Undergraduate students may also minor in Geography. Students who choose a minor in geology will find that most of the courses carry four (4) credit hours.

A geography major will provide a student with an appropriate preparation to enter such professional areas as:

• location analysis,
• landscape analysis,
• cartography,
• remote sensing,
• government service,
• environmental intelligence,
• and elementary/secondary education.

Coursework in geographic techniques (airphoto and map interpretation, cartography and remote sensing) also is of significant value to persons majoring in many related disciplines.

The Department of Technology & Geomatics also offers a related bachelor's degree program in Surveying and Mapping Science.

Transfer Students

The department will approve a major program in geography only after 10 hours have been completed at ETSU with at least a "C" average. Courses in geography taken at another institution shall count toward a major or minor only if they directly parallel courses offered by this department.

Teacher Education

Students interested in pursing a teacher education program for certification as a geography teacher in grades 7 - 12 are asked to see an faculty or professional advisor in the Office of Student Services, 321 Warf-Pickel, College of Education. Students should be aware that admission to the university does not mean that one is admitted to Teacher Education. Students would be advised to read the requirements for admission to Teacher Education in the College of Education section of the appropriate ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, and to seek further information from the college's advisor about when one should apply for admission.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
and Resource Management

Computers have revolutionized geography, especially the technical field of geographical resource management. This field includes cartography, remote sensing, and geographic information systems.

Since 1993, the geography program has had access to a Geographic Information System (GIS) processing laboratory, which is probably among the largest for a university in Tennessee. Located in Wilson-Wallis Hall on the ETSU main campus in Johnson City, this lab is continually being expanded and/or upgraded and has been in full use since the Spring 2001 semester.

Additional Information

For more information about the Geography B.S. degree program and career opportunities, please contact the program advisor, Mr. Charles 'Chig' Gunter, via E-Mail or by phone at (423) 439-7531 or the interim chair of the department of Economics, Finance & Urban Studies, Dr. Ed Baryla, via E-Mail or by phone at (423) 439-5936.