2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/human-geography/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
A Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Geographic Information Science, with the Human Geography concentration, prepares students toexplore the social science aspect of modern geography. The curriculum includes the systematic study of human social organization and its environmental consequences.
Employment opportunities for human geographers include urban and regional planning, transportation, marketing, real estate, tourism, and international business.
Departmental distinction: Students majoring in Geography & Geographic Information Science (GGIS) can earn distinction, high distinction, and highest distinction upon graduation. The requirements for these awards are:
- Distinction: 3.3 GPA overall; 3.3 GPA in GGIS courses.
- High distinction: 3.3 GPA overall; 3.75 GPA in GGIS courses.
- Highest distinction: 3.3 GPA overall; 3.75 GPA in GGIS courses; satisfactorily complete an honors independent project (GGIS 391).
Please visit our department website for more distinction information and consult with a GGIS advisor about it as soon as you join the major (no later than the end of junior year).
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours\ Minimum required major and supporting coursework: A minimum of 35 credit hours of Geography & Geographic Information Science courses. Twelve (12) hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree, including courses outside of GGIS. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement. The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | General Education Requirements | | | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by GGIS 101 or GGIS 104 or GGIS 106 or GGIS 210 or GGIS 221 or GGIS 254 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Sciences | | | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | | 0-20 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Orientation and Professional Development | | | | LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 | | OR | | | | LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 | | OR | | | | LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
Major Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Geography & GIS Core Requirements | | 10-12 | | Physical Geography Course (Select one): | | | | ATMS/GGIS 100 | Introduction to Meteorology | | | GGIS 103 | Earth's Physical Systems | | | GGIS 220 | Landscapes, Ecosystems and Environmental Change | | | GGIS 222 | Big Rivers of the World | | | Human Geography Course (Select one): | | | | GGIS 101 | Global Development & Environment | | | GGIS 104 | Social and Cultural Geography | | | GGIS 106 | Geographies of Globalization | | | GGIS 210 | Social & Environmental Issues | | | GGIS 221 | Geographies of Global Conflict | | | GGIS 254 | People, Places, and Environments of the US | | | GIS Course (Select one): | | | | GGIS 371 | Spatial Analysis | | | GGIS 379 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Human Geography Concentration Requirements | | 25-27 | | Selected from the following (at least 6 hours must be at the 300- or 400- level): | | | | GGIS 204 | Cities of the World | | | GGIS 205 | Business Location Decisions | | | GGIS 210 | Social & Environmental Issues (if not taken to satisfy the Human Geography Core requirement in the major) | | | GGIS 220 | Landscapes, Ecosystems and Environmental Change (if not taken to satisfy the Physical Geography Core requirement in the major) | | | GGIS 221 | Geographies of Global Conflict (if not taken to satisfy the Human Geography Core requirement in the major) | | | GGIS 223 | Geopolitics & Technology | | | GGIS 224 | Environmental Data Science | | | GGIS 254 | People, Places, and Environments of the US (if not taken to satisfy the Human Geography Core requirement in the major) | | | SOC/GGIS 280 | Intro to Social Statistics | | | NRES/GGIS 287 | Environment and Society | | | GGIS 350 | Sustainability and the City | | | ESE 320/GGIS 370 | Water Planet, Water Crisis | | | GGIS 371 | Spatial Analysis (if not taken to satisfy the GIS Core Course requirement in the major) | | | GGIS 379 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (if not taken to satisfy the GIS Core Course requirement in the major) | | | GGIS 380 | Geographic Information Systems II | | | GGIS 381 | Enterprise GIS | | | GGIS 384 | Population Geography | | | GGIS 390 | Independent Study | | | GGIS 391 | Honors Independent Study | | | GGIS 403 | Geographic Information Science and Systems | | | GGIS 405 | Geography Field Course | | | GGIS 407 | CyberGIS & Geospatial Data Science | | | GGIS 410 | Green Development | | | GGIS 412 | Geospatial Technologies & Society | | | GGIS 425 | Urban Geographies of Migration | | | LA 427 | Amer Vernacular Cultural Land | | | GGIS 438 | Geography of Health Care | | | GGIS 439 | Health Applications of GIS | | | LA/GGIS 446 | Sustainable Planning Seminar | | | GGIS 455 | Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | | | GGIS 460 | Aerial Photo Analysis | | | GGIS 465 | Transportation &Sustainability | | | GGIS 466 | Environmental Policy | | | GGIS 471 | Modern Geographic Thought | | | GGIS 473 | Digital Cartography & Map Design | | | GGIS 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | GGIS 477 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | | | GGIS 478 | Techniques of Remote Sensing | | | GGIS 479 | Advanced Topics in GIS | | | GGIS 480 | Principles of Geographic Information Science | | | ESE/GGIS 482 | Challenges of Sustainability | | | GGIS 483 | Urban Geography | | | GGIS 489 | Programming for GIS | | | GGIS 495 | Advanced Topics in Geography | | | GGIS 496 | Climate & Social Vulnerability | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 |
| Human Geography Core Course | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Physical Geography Core course | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| GGIS 379 or 371 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Human Geography Concentration course | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours 14 |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
Geographic Understanding
GGIS students will understand the interconnectedness of places and scales in human-environmental systems, including the sustainability of those systems.
Spatial Patterns and Processes
GGIS students will be able to analyze spatial patterns, distributions, processes, and connections within and among different human-environmental systems, using qualitative, quantitative, computational, and/or spatial methods of research appropriate to their level of training and their field of geographic inquiry.
Problem-Solving and Communication
GGIS students will be able to formulate and conduct geographic analyses and communicate the results in verbal, written, and visual form.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Major in Computer Science & Geography & GIS, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science Concentration, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography Concentration, BSLAS
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, General Geography Concentration, BALAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Science in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration
Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science
Faculty directory\ Undergraduate advising
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of LAS homepage\ Admissions & Requirements
Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions