The Department of Geography offers opportunities for study leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Geographical Sciences: Students who wish to pursue a B.Sc. in Geography should opt for the Geographical Sciences Major. The program focuses on the fundamental interactions between life (including human societies) and the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Students in the program will build upon a broad base in the basic sciences by completing at least two of five upper-year "areas" in biogeography, climatology, geographic information science, geomorphology, or hydrology. With appropriately selected electives, this specialization forms a suitable basis for completing the academic requirements for registration as a Professional Geoscientist, which is legally required of all people practising geoscience in Canada. Students are also encouraged to consider biogeoscience related electives in other departments.
For more information contact the Department of Geography, 604.822.2663.
For information on the Bachelor of Arts, see Major in Geography. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Geography.
Major (3428): Geographical Sciences (GEOS)
To meet Geographical Sciences specialization requirements, students must complete at least 9 credits of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) courses during years 1 and 2, and 18 credits of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) courses at Upper Level (years 3 and 4).
| First Year1 | |
| Communication Requirement2 | 6 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 102 (or BIOL_V 1213) | 3 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 103 | 3 |
| CHEM_V 121, (or 111 or 141)4 | 3 |
| One of CHEM_V 123, PHYS_V 100-level4 | 3 |
| MATH_V 100 or 102 or 1045 | 3 |
| MATH_V 101 or 103 or 1056 | 3 |
| DSCI_V 100 OR CPSC_V 1037 | 3 |
| Electives4,8 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Second Year1 | |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 2009 (or 204) | 3 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 206 (or EOSC_V 222) | 3 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 207 (or BIOL_V 230) | 3 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 270 | 3 |
| One of CHEM_V 205, EOSC_V 211, CPSC_V 301, MATH_V 200, 22110 | 3 |
| GEOG_V 211 or ASIC_V 220 | 3 |
| Electives8 | 12 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Third and Fourth Years1 | |
| Selections from Geographical Sciences11 | 18 |
| GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 30912 | 3 |
| One of GEOG_V 374, BIOL_V 300, FRST_V 231, STAT_V 200 | 3 |
| One of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 370, 373, 409, ATSC_V 303 | 3 |
| One of GEOG_V 310, 311, ISCI_V 3608 | 3 |
| One of GEOG_V 312, 315, 316, 318, 319, ENVR_V 4108 | 3 |
| Electives8,13 | 27 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
| Total Credits for Degree | 120 |
| Selections in Geographical Sciences | |
| To ensure breadth, students must select a total of 18 credits from at least two of the following sub-disciplinary areas: | |
| Biogeography: GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 303, 306, 307, 400, 407, 449, BIOL_V 301, 306, 402, 406, 411, 412, 413, 416 (MATH_V 221 recommended) | |
| Climatology: GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 300, 304, 400, 401, 402, 449, ATSC_V 301, 303, 413, CHEM_V 302, EOSC_V 340 (CHEM_V 205 recommended) | |
| Geographic Information Science: GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 370, 373, 449, one of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 372, 479, 472 (CPSC_V 103 recommended) | |
| Geomorphology: GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 308, 405, 406, 415, 449, EOSC_V 330, 350 (EOSC_V 211 recommended) | |
| Hydrology: GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 305, 403, 408, 415, 449, EOSC_V 329, 428, 429, 430, CHEM_V 301, ENVR_V 420 (MATH_V 200 recommended) | |
| 1 To meet Geographical Sciences specialization requirements, students must complete at least 9 credits of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) courses during years 1 and 2, and 18 credits of GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) courses at upper level (years 3 and 4). | |
| 2 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement. | |
| 3 Students without Biology 11 or 12 must take BIOL_V 111 before taking BIOL_V 121. | |
| 4 CHEM_V 110 and 115 may substitute for CHEM_V 111, CHEM_V 120 and 115 may substitute for CHEM_V 121, CHEM_V 130 and 135 may substitute for CHEM_V 123. If the two-course combination of first year PHYS_V and CHEM_V courses exceeds 6 credits, surplus credit may be applied to electives. Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM_V 100. PHYS_V chosen from 100-level PHYS_V courses, excluding PHYS_V 100. Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS_V 100 before taking other 100-level PHYS_V courses. Students may defer taking first year PHYS_V until second year. | |
| 5 MATH_V 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH_V 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. | |
| 6 MATH_V 121 may substitute for any of the specified integral calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. | |
| 7 CPSC_V 110 is also acceptable by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. | |
| 8 Students are permitted to move elective credits between years. Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s: a) Foundational Requirement; b) Laboratory Science Requirement; c) Science Breadth Requirement; d) Science and Arts Requirements; e) Upper-level Requirement; f) General Degree Requirements. | |
| 9 GEOS_V (or GEOB_V) 200 is required to complete the climatology area. | |
| 10 Select the course appropriate to one of your sub-disciplinary areas of interest. | |
| 11 See list of selections in sub-disciplinary areas of Geographical Sciences at the start of the footnotes. | |
| 12 Field Course must be taken by the summer preceding fourth year; extra fee to be paid. | |
| 13 Students interested in pursuing registration as a Professional Geoscientist with the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (EGBC) should consult the Geography Department science advisor and select their electives accordingly. Students are also encouraged to consider Environmental Geoscience-related courses in other Departments or a minor in a specialization in Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS). Please see the Field of Geography. | |