BSc in Geography in Charlotte United States | University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The Bachelor of Science in Geography requires 49 credit hours in Geography and Earth Sciences, plus a minimum of six credit hours from outside the department.
While concentrations aren't mandatory for B.S. Geography students, the program offers formal specializations in Urban, Social, and Economic Geography; Urban and Regional Planning; and GIScience and Technology. Students may also create customized study plans in consultation with their advisors to align with professional aspirations. Close collaboration with academic advisors is essential for designing a curriculum that supports individual career objectives.
This Geography program focuses on social science principles and methods that examine spatial relationships. Geography explores spatial diversity - investigating how characteristics differ across locations, how places interconnect, and what influences their evolving relationships over time.
Geographic study occurs at various scales, from local to global, and through multiple lenses (social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental). The curriculum addresses key geographic themes including urbanization, globalization, migration, sustainability, land use patterns, transportation networks, commerce flows, environmental planning, and human-environment dynamics in both urban and rural contexts. Particular attention is given to understanding how these elements influence our communities, workplaces, and daily interactions. Geographic methodologies incorporate information technology, cartography, statistical evaluation, social area assessment, remote sensing, and particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Numerous courses train students in modern spatial analysis concepts and techniques. The department additionally oversees the interdisciplinary Urban Studies minor. Geography graduates pursue careers in urban/regional planning, cartography, GIS implementation, market research, transportation planning, property development, and education. Although undergraduate geography majors have diverse career paths available, graduate studies expand these opportunities further.