B.S. in Geography - Location Analytics Track

This track focuses on geospatial business data analytics and visualization. WCU has one of the only Geography programs housed in a College of Business. Economic and urban studies courses provide spatial insights into supply chain, market, and economic studies. Students will learn and apply the fundamentals of geographic and spatial thinking to demographic and market analysis, linked to our business curriculum. In this degree, students explore how location is integral to business decision making and management. There is a strong emphasis on data analytics related to business and economic topics. Being closely aligned with WCU business programs, this degree track also has a double major option with Marketing and Business Management.
 
This is a rapidly growing and robust field. Alumni from this program work in marketing, economic research, business management, and real estate development. Skills and curriculum from this program easily transfer to traditional GIS and data analytics careers. The Department also has a Real Estate Certificate, exploring economic development.

Program Requirements

General Education

All students in the B.S. in Geography - General Track program will have to complete the University General Education requirements. 

Required Major Courses (24 semester hours):

  • GEO102 Physical Geography
  • GEO225 Introduction to Maps and Remote Sensing
  • GEO230 Environmental Conservation and Sustainability
  • GEO310 Population Geography
  • GEO324 Intro to Geographic Information Systems
  • GEO326 Geographical Analysis
  • GEO400 Senior Seminar In Geography

Additional required course (select one of the following):

  • GEO101 World Geography 2
  • GEO103 Human Geography 2
  • GEO104 Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics 2 

Track Requirements (9 semester hours):

  • GEO318 Economic Geography
  • GEO325 Intro to Business GIS
  • GEO425 Business GIS Applications

Capstone Course (3 semester hours):

  • GEO404 Senior Project

Elective Courses (9 semester hours) and Cognate Courses (15 semester hours):

These courses are typically selected under advisement. Sample course options include:

  • GEO205 Geography of Agric Food & Sustainability
  • GEO214 Intro to Planning GEO 312 Urban Geography
  • GEO316 Planning for Resilient Communities and Natural Disasters
  • GEO328 Computer Cartography
  • GEO 331 Transportation Planning
  • GEO 334 Sustainable Living
  • GEO 336 Environmental Planning
  • GEO 354 Housing & Planning in America
  • GEO 415 Internship (3-9 credit hours)
  • GEO 427 Geodatabase Systems
  • GEO 401 Internet Mapping
  • GEO 338 Environmental Apps of GIS
  • GEO424 GIS Applications
  • PLN 320 Land Use Planning
  • PLN 322 Land Development Controls

Advising Sheet:

Be sure to check with your advisor before registering for classes. For more information about the program requirements, see your Degree Progress Report. 

For more information regarding our undergraduate program, please contact the department chairperson Dr. Gary Coutu at GCoutu@wcupa.edu.