Program Details
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Though many students take Geography/Geology courses as electives for other degree programs at Kwantlen, or as transfer credits to other post-secondary institutions, these courses fit into a number of Geography/Geology degree programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, ones which provide knowledge and skills transferable to a number of interesting and exciting careers in fields such as: urban and regional planning, geotechnical engineering, retail market planning, environmental consulting, meteorology, First Nations governance, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and international development. Geography/Geology also provides a versatile background for careers in teaching, law, engineering and business.
In Geography/Geology we have three degree programs: a two-year Associate of Science in physical geography, a two-year Associate of Arts in human geography, and a four-year Bachelor of Arts, Minor in human geography into which students can readily transfer from an AA Geography degree program, and which can be paired with a variety of BA Minor and Major degrees at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
In all of our degree programs the Department of Geography/Geology emphasizes a holistic perspective on knowledge that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the ‘natural’ and ‘human’ worlds.
Geography Associate of Science (ASc)
Course Requirements and Progression
Within the overall 60 credit ASc degree framework at Kwantlen, students pursuing a Geography ASc are required to take 6 courses (18 credits) from the following 1st and 2nd year Geography course offerings:
First Year Science (6 Credits)
Both of the following (no prerequisites):
GEOG 1110 Introduction to Atmospheric Science
GEOG 1120 Introduction to Earth Science+
Second Year Science (12 Credits)
Both of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 2310 Climatology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2320 Geomorphology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)+
Two or more of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 2330 Hydrology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2340 Biogeography (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2390 Geographic Data Analysis (GEOG 1101 & 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2400 Introduction to GIS (3 credits in GEOG)
Program/Calendar Notes:
GEOG 2395 has been discontinued and been replaced by GEOG 2400; students with GEOG 2395 can use this in lieu of GEOG 2400 to satisfy their degree requirements.
GEOL 1210 Our Changing Earth is a recommended, 4 credit Lab Science course that, when combined with GEOG 1120, provides first year coverage of Geology.
It is highly recommended that students take GEOG 1101, 2120, 2130, and 1160/2140 as credits for the Arts fields of their ASc programs, as these courses are required by many other post-secondary institutions for their BSc degrees.
It is highly recommended that students take GEOG 2390 and/or 2400 as Science credits in their ASc programs, as these courses are required by many other post-secondary institutions for their BSc programs.
The prerequisite requirements of other post-secondary institutions for their BSc programs vary widely, and students planning on transferring into a BSc program at another university are strongly recommended to check the calendar for specific prerequisite information, and to confirm the transfer status at each institution they are considering to complete their degree.
Geography Associate of Arts (AA)
Course Requirements and Progression
Within the overall 60 credit AA degree framework at Kwantlen, students pursuing a Geography AA are required to take 8 courses (24 credits) from the following 1st and 2nd year Geography course offerings:
Geography Fundamentals (9 Credits)
All of the following (no prerequisites):
GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 1110 Introduction to Atmospheric Science
GEOG 1120 Introduction to Earth Science+
Human Geography Specializations (3 Credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 2120 Economic Geography (GEOG 1101 or ECON 1101)
GEOG 2130 Social and Cultural Geography (GEOG 1101 or ANTH 1100)
GEOG 2150 Urban Geography (GEOG 1101 or SOCI 1125)+
Human Geography Specializations (3 Credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 2120 Economic Geography (GEOG 1101 or ECON 1101)
GEOG 2130 Social and Cultural Geography (GEOG 1101 or ANTH 1100)
GEOG 2150 Urban Geography (GEOG 1101 or SOCI 1125)
+
Physical Geography Specializations (3 Credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 2310 Climatology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2320 Geomorphology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2330 Hydrology (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 2340 Biogeography (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
+
Regional Geography (3 credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 1160 Regional Geography of British Columbia (none)
GEOG 2140 Canadian Regional Geography (none)
GEOG 2170 Regional Geography of Europe (GEOG 1101)
GEOG 2185 Regional Geography of E. Asia (none)
GEOG 2190 Regional Geography of S. Asia (none)
Upon the successful conclusion of your program you will graduate with an AA in Geography. At this time, you may transition directly into the Geography BA Minor at Kwantlen.
Program/Calendar Notes:
GEOL 1210 Our Changing Earth is a recommended, 4 credit Lab Science course that, when combined with GEOG 1120, provides first year coverage of Geology.
GEOG 2395 has been discontinued and been replaced by GEOG 2400; students with GEOG 2395 can use this in lieu of GEOG 2400 to satisfy their degree requirements.
Geography Bachelor of Arts, Minor (BA Minor)
Course Requirements and Progression
To obtain a BA Minor in Geography, students must successfully complete the required 1st and 2nd year Geography courses as outlined for the Geography AA (note: for the BA Minor, only one of 2390 or 2400 is required). Completion of the BA Minor course requirements, within the overall 120 credit BA framework at Kwantlen, will require successful completion of 5 courses (15 credits) from the 3rd and 4th year listings below.
Geographic Theory (3 Credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 3100 Research Methods in Geography (45 credits from 11xx up)
GEOG 3260 Geographic Thought (1101 & 1110 &1120)+
Advanced Human Geography Specializations (3 Credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 3210 Geography of Cultures (GEOG 1101 or ANTH 1100)
GEOG 3220 Political Geography (GEOG 1101 or POLI 1125)
GEOG 3240 Globalization and Development (GEOG 2120)+
Integrated Physical and Human Geography (6 Credits)
Two of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 3310 Natural Hazards (GEOG 1110 & 1120)
GEOG 3320 Seminar in Resource Management (any Regional GEOG)
GEOG 4330 Ecological Impacts and Planning (GEOG 2250 & 3320)
GEOG 4350 Climate Change (GEOG 2310)
GEOG 4380 Applications in GIS (GEOG 2400)+
Advanced Topics (3 credits)
One of the following (prerequisites in brackets):
GEOG 4320 Geography of Tourism and Recreation (GEOG 2130 or 2140)
GEOG 4340 Geography of Health (GEOG 2130)
GEOG 4365 Migration in Canada (GEOG 2130 or 2140)
GEOG 4501 Advanced Topics (30 credits of GEOG)
GEOG 4599 Senior Project (30 credits of GEOG)
Program/Calendar Notes:
GEOG 1130, listed in the calendar, is a general interest elective, not part of any program.
GEOG 2395 has been discontinued and replaced by GEOG 2400. Students with GEOG 2395 can use this for their degree requirements in lieu of GEOG 2400.
GEOL 1210 Our Changing Earth is a recommended, 4 credit Lab Science course that, when combined with GEOG 1120, provides first year coverage of Geology.
“11xx up” means courses at 1100 level or higher. All 3rd and 4th year courses require at least 18 credits of 11xx up as a prerequisite.
All courses not listed in the Calendar are currently under development; the development phase will conclude by the end of 2009, at which time the courses will be listed in the Calendar.
