# 2026-2027 Course Catalog

**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/

*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science*

---

A Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Geographic Information Science prepares students toexplore the social science aspect of modern geography. 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.

*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science*

---

## Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours\
 Minimum required major and supporting course work: 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](https://courses.illinois.edu/gened/DEFAULT/DEFAULT). 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](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20101 "GGIS 101") or [GGIS 104](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20104 "GGIS 104") or [GGIS 106](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20106 "GGIS 106") or [GGIS 210](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20210 "GGIS 210") or [GGIS 221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20221 "GGIS 221") or [GGIS 254](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20254 "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](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LAS%20101 "LAS 101") | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
| OR | |  |
| [LAS 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LAS%20100 "LAS 100") & [LAS 101](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LAS%20101 "LAS 101") | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
| OR | |  |
| [LAS 102](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LAS%20102 "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](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=ATMS%20100 "ATMS/GGIS 100") | Introduction to Meteorology |  |
| [GGIS 103](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20103 "GGIS 103") | Earth's Physical Systems |  |
| [GGIS 220](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20220 "GGIS 220") | Landscapes, Ecosystems and Environmental Change |  |
| [GGIS 222](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20222 "GGIS 222") | Big Rivers of the World |  |
| Human Geography Course (Select one): | |  |
| [GGIS 101](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20101 "GGIS 101") | Global Development & Environment |  |
| [GGIS 104](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20104 "GGIS 104") | Social and Cultural Geography |  |
| [GGIS 106](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20106 "GGIS 106") | Geographies of Globalization |  |
| [GGIS 210](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20210 "GGIS 210") | Social & Environmental Issues |  |
| [GGIS 221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20221 "GGIS 221") | Geographies of Global Conflict |  |
| [GGIS 254](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20254 "GGIS 254") | People, Places, and Environments of the US |  |
| GIS Course (Select one): | |  |
| [GGIS 371](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20371 "GGIS 371") | Spatial Analysis |  |
| [GGIS 379](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20379 "GGIS 379") | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems |  |

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Students must choose one of the following concentrations: | |  |
| [General Geography](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/general-geography/) | |  |
| [Human Geography](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/human-geography/) | |  |
| Concentration Credit Hours Required | | 25-27 |

*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science*

---

## **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](https://catalog.illinois.edu/general-information/degree-general-education-requirements/)**.*

| First Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| [LAS 101](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=LAS%20101 "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 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
|  | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |

| Second Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
|  | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |

| Third Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| [GGIS 379](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20379 "GGIS 379") or  [371](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20371 "GGIS 371") | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
|  | 16 |
| Total Hours 16 | |

| Third Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| Concentration Coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
|  | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |

| Fourth Year | |
| --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours |
| Concentration Coursework | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
|  | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |

| Fourth Year | |
| --- | --- |
| Second Semester | Hours |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
|  | 15 |
| Total Hours 15 | |

**Total Hours: 120**

*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science*

---

## **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 Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences**

- [Major in Computer Science & Geography & GIS, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/eng_las/computer-science-geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science Concentration, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/geographic-information-science/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography Concentration, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/physical-geography/)

## **For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences**

- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, General Geography Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/general-geography/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/human-geography/)

*for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Geography & Geographic Information Science*

---

## [Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science](https://ggis.illinois.edu/)

[Geography & GIS Faculty directory](https://ggis.illinois.edu/directory/faculty)\
[Geography & GIS undergraduate advising](https://ggis.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/advising)

## **College of Liberal Arts & Sciences**

[College of LAS homepage](https://las.illinois.edu/)

## **Admissions**

[LAS Admissions & Requirements](https://catalog.illinois.edu/schools/las/academic-units/)\
[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions](https://www.admissions.illinois.edu/)