Bachelor of Science: Earth and Environmental Science - Physical Geography Emphasis

University Requirements

General Education

UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum.  Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/

Constitution Course 

Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.

Exit Examinations

Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.

Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination

In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'.  To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.   

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from this program will:

  • Interpret spatial patterns using mapping concepts.
  • Describe the components and function of environmental systems.
  • Analyze natural phenomena using quantitative data, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
  • Extract new geospatial information using remote sensing imagery and digital analyses (Physical Geography Emphasis).

Program Requirements

UMKC Essentials

First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE)3
Written Communication:
ENGLISH 110Introduction to Academic Prose3
ENGLISH 225English II: Intermediate Academic Prose3
Oral Communication (choose one of the following):3
Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening
Introduction to Communication
Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only)
Interpersonal Communication
Math Pathway (satisfied in major requirements below)
Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH)3
Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC)3
Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS)3
Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV)3
Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE)3
Total Credits27

Constitution Course Requirement

Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.” 

Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:

Choose one of the following:3
The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process
U.S. History to 1877
U.S. History Since 1877
Honors American Government
American Government
Total Credits3

There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:

  • Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
  • Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
  • Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
  • Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.

Major Requirements

Students must successfully complete the major requirements below with at least 12 hours of the noted upper division (300+) course requirements completed at UMKC.

School of Science and Engineering Degree Requirements

Writing Intensive Course (300-level or above; satisfied in major requirements below):0
Total Credits0
Mathematics Coursework
Choose one of the following sequences (satisfies Math Pathway)
MATH 110
MATH 125
MATH 210
Precalculus Algebra
and Trigonometry
and Calculus I
9
or MATH 120
MATH 210
Precalculus
and Calculus I
Science Coursework 1
CHEM 211
211L
General Chemistry I
and Experimental General Chemistry I
5
CHEM 212R
CHEM 212LR
General Chemistry II
and Experimental General Chemistry II
5
Pick one of the two following sequences (total of 8 credits): 8
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
MOTR Essential Biology w/ Lab - Botany
MOTR Biology with Lab
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
MOTR Essential Biology with Lab
MOTR Biology w/Lab
OR
General Physics I
General Physics II
Earth and Environmental Science Coursework
ENV-SCI 110R
ENV-SCI 110L
Understanding the Earth: Introduction to Environmental Science and Laboratory
and Understanding the Earth Laboratory
4
or GEOLOGY 220
220L
General Geology
and General Geology Laboratory
or MOTRGEOG 100L MOTR Physical Geography with Lab
Coursework common to all emphasis areas:
ENV-STDY 325Cultural Perspectives on the Environment3
ENV-STDY 499WIEnvironmental Studies Practicum (satisfies WI requirement)3
GEOG 203Introduction to Geographic Information Systems4
GEOLOGY 250LField Methods in Earth and Environmental Science3
or GEOLOGY 251L Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science: Off-Campus
GEOG 215Weather and Climate4
GEOG 444Spatial Data Analysis4
Physical Geography Coursework
GEOG 314Principles of Geomorphology4
or GEOG 360 Principles of Biogeography
GEOG 401Advanced Geographic Information Science4
GEOG 402Environmental Remote Sensing and Digital Image Analysis4
GEOG 406Global Environmental Change3
or ENV-SCI 449 Global Water and Sustainability
Physical Geography Electives (choose 9 hours from the following):9
Climate Change Impact Assessment and Policy Response
Satellite Climatology
Understanding and Living with Volcanoes
Field Methods in 3D Imaging of the Environment
For the pairs listed below, students may only take courses for elective credit not already taken for major requirements:
Principles of Biogeography
Principles of Geomorphology
Total Credits76

General Electives

Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more.

General Electives14

Minimum GPA: 2.0

Total Credit Hours: 120

Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements

UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years.  Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”.  In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.

UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.

UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study.  This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.

UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).