University of California, Santa Barbara · United States
Geography, B.A.
Geography is the study of the Earth as the home of humanity, analyzing spatial and temporal phenomena of the human and natural environment from multiple perspectives. The Department of Geography at UCSB is at the forefront of geographic research, technologies, and interdisciplinary studies.
The department offers four undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography, a B.A. in Geography with an Emphasis in Geographic Information Science, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physical Geography, and a B.S. in Physical Geography with an Emphasis in Ocean Science. Undergraduate courses are structured around physical systematics, human systematics, techniques, and integrative/regional studies. Physical systematics explores Earth's systems (oceanography, climatology, hydrology, etc.), while human systematics examines human interactions with each other and the environment (population, migration, economic geography, urban planning, etc.). Geographic techniques focus on collecting, processing, and interpreting geo-referenced data using remote sensing, GIS, cartography, and spatial statistics.
The B.A. in Geography provides flexibility with a low unit requirement, allowing students to tailor their studies across human, physical, and technical areas. Students can utilize a Related Course List with over 200 classes from more than 20 departments to complement their geographic knowledge in areas like archaeology, land use planning, ecology, or social change. This major is ideal for students pursuing double majors in related fields such as business economics, environmental studies, anthropology, global studies, or even diverse areas like art history, renaissance studies, or microbiology. The B.A. with an Emphasis in Geographic Information Science builds upon the Geography B.A. by concentrating on the science behind geo-spatial information technologies, crucial for advancements in the field.
