Geography and Geology

David Ozsvath, Chair
Room D-332, Science Building
Phone: 715-346-2629
Email: geoggeol@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/geo

This department is in the College of Letters and Science .

Faculty: N Heywood, S Kaplan, E Larsen, I Odogba, D Ozsvath, K Rice.

Definitions: Earth Science: Also see the earth science option of the Natural Science major .

Geography is the study of spatial patterns to the earth’s physical and human environments, and the art and science of map making. Geographers study where things are located on the surface of the earth and why. They also study how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment.

Geology is the scientific study of the history, structure, and composition of the earth, the natural processes that alter the earth’s surface, and the resources and hazards associated with the geologic environment.

The geography and geoscience majors prepare you for careers or graduate study in geospatial analytics, geoscience, field and mapping technologies, hydrogeology, environmental science and consulting, geospatial intelligence, geographic information systems, remote sensing, planning and geodesign.

Recent graduates from our program have obtained employment in a variety of positions within:

public and private land management with consulting firms and various governmental agencies at city, county, state, regional and federal level;
environmental, civil, and geological engineering firms;
urban and regional planning agencies;
mapping and photogrammetric firms;
natural resource management agencies (private and public);
sustainability and energy companies; and
resource extraction corporations.

Abbreviations:
GIS = Geographic Information Systems
GISc = Geographic Information Science
GISSA = Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis

Academic Standards for all programs offered by the Department of Geography and Geology

To be accepted into a major or minor offered by the Department of Geography and Geology you must file a major declaration form in the department office.
To be retained and approved for graduation with a major or a minor offered by the Department of Geography and Geology, you must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA (2.75 to student teach.) in all courses in the major or minor, regardless of any declaration of academic bankruptcy.
Geography and geoscience majors must have an adviser within the department. Any department faculty or academic staff member may advise a geography or geoscience major. You must confer with your adviser every semester. Students accepted into any of the minors offered by the department are not required to have an adviser within the department.
Geography and geology courses taken at the 300 or 400 level on a pass/fail basis do NOT count toward the geography major, the geoscience major, or any of the minors offered by the department.
For all Geography majors, the Communication in the Major is satisfied by six credits from the following courses: GEOG 330, GEOG 387, and GEOG 490 . For all Geoscience majors, the Communication in the Major is satisfied by six credits from the following courses: GEOL 393 and GEOL 490 .
For all Geography majors, the Capstone Experience is satisfied by GEOG 490 , GEOG 491 , or GEOG 496 . For all Geoscience majors, the Capstone Experience is satisfied by GEOL 490 or GEOL 491 .

Test-Out and Credit-by-Exam Policy for Geography and Geology

The Department of Geography and Geology will offer test-out examinations for all of its general education courses. If you wish to take a test-out examination, first confer with the department chair. Then confer with the faculty member who most recently taught the course.
The comprehensive written exam will be based on material normally covered in the course. The faculty member will notify you in writing before you take the exam of the required minimum passing score. You will receive your grade in writing within two weeks after taking the exam.
Credit will not be granted for GEOG 100 and GEOL 100 , but you will receive a waiver for the corresponding GEP requirement. Credit will be granted for all other geography and geology courses listed above. You may take a test-out exam only once.

Programs

Major

Geography, B.S.

Minor

Certificate