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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 27 | |
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:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 3 | |
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.
One writing intensive (WI) course is required for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Coursework | ||
| MATH 110 | Precalculus Algebra (satisfies Math Pathway) | 3 |
| STAT 235 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or CJC 303 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology and Criminal Justice | |
| or SOCIOL 363 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology/Criminal Justice | |
| 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 Essentials in Biology w/ Lab - Botany | ||
| MOTR Biology with Lab | ||
| General Biology II and General Biology II Laboratory | ||
| MOTR Essentials in 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 | 5 |
| 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 325 | Cultural Perspectives on the Environment | 3 |
| ENV-STDY 499WI | Environmental Studies Practicum | 3 |
| GEOG 203 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOLOGY 250L | Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science | 3 |
| or GEOLOGY 251L | Field Methods in Earth and Environmental Science: Off-Campus | |
| GEOG 215 | Weather and Climate | 4 |
| GEOG 444 | Spatial Data Analysis | 4 |
| Physical Geography Coursework | ||
| GEOG 314 | Principles of Geomorphology | 4 |
| or GEOG 360 | Principles of Biogeography | |
| GEOG 401 | Advanced Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEOG 402 | Environmental Remote Sensing and Digital Image Analysis | 4 |
| GEOG 406 | Global Environmental Change | 3 |
| 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 | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Geography of Southeast Asia | ||
| 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 | ||
or GEOG 314 | Principles of Geomorphology | |
| Total Credits | 74 | |
| 1 | Students may choose to complete alternative science sequences if prerequisite requirements are met: PHYSICS 210 or PHYSICS 240 and PHYSICS 220 or PHYSICS 250 |
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 16 | |
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).
