Geography Major - Secondary Education (32 hours)

Effective teaching of modern geography in schools is currently attracting significant attention by curriculum planners. This major is designed to develop a teacher corps more skilled in contemporary geography, consistent with Michigan teacher certification standards and national geography education objectives.

Required Core (20 hours)

GEOG 1050 - Physical Geography Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 2050 - Human Geography Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 2650 - Introduction to Geospatial Technologies Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3030 - Geographic Inquiry Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 3800 - United States and Canada Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 4600 - Geography/Social Studies Teaching in Middle and High School Credits: 3 hours
Prerequisite: A course in statistics (STAT 1600, 2160, 2600, or 3660 or equivalent)

Electives (12 hours)

Beyond the core, the secondary education major should emphasize EITHER the physical science or a social science side of geography.

Physical Science Emphasis

Majors opting for this emphasis MUST take this class:

GEOG 2250 - Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology Credits: 4 hours

And select the remaining hours from:

GEOG 1000 - World Ecological Problems and Man Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 3010 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 3500 - Conservation and Environmental Management Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5530 - Water Resources Management Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5550 - Contemporary Issues in Resources Management Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5570 - Environmental Impact Assessment Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5690 - Intermediate GIS Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 5820 - Remote Sensing of the Environment Credits: 4 hours

For the social science emphasis

Majors opting for this emphasis should also select four courses from the following list:

GEOG 1000 - World Ecological Problems and Man Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 2440 - Economic Geography Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3010 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 3110 - Geography of Michigan Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3810 - South America Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3820 - Mexico and the Caribbean Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3830 - Geography of Europe Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3860 - Geography of Africa Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3890 - Monsoon Asia Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 3900 - China, Japan, and Korea: Lands and Cultures Credits: 3 hours
CORP 5540 - Outdoor Recreation: Resources and Planning Credits: 3 hours
CORP 5700 - Cities and Urban Systems Credits: 3 hours

Note:

The following majors or minors are recommended to accompany the Teaching of Geography Secondary Education major:

Physical Science Emphasis: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Information Systems.

Social Science Emphasis: History, Economics, or Political Science.

Minor

Students who wish to develop a social studies teaching emphasis recognized in Michigan must complete either a Secondary Education History minor or a Secondary Education Political Science minor.

Minimum Requirements

In addition, they must complete a minimum of four additional courses, including:

ECON 2010 - Principles of Microeconomics Credits: 3 hours
and
ECON 2020 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3 hours

Two of the Following:

And two courses in either of the following academic disciplines in which they do NOT minor:

HIST 2100 - American History to 1877 Credits: 3 hours
and
HIST 2110 - American History since 1877 Credits: 3 hours
OR
PSCI 2000 - National Government Credits: 3 hours
and
PSCI 2020 - State and Local Government Credits: 4 hours

Note:

Some of these courses may also be used to meet General Education requirements.

Other valuable teaching minor options

Other valuable teaching minor options to combine with a Secondary Education Geography major are: 1) Mathematics Minor-Secondary Teaching Option; or 2) Earth Science Education Minor.