Florida State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Department of Geography offers two separate majors reflecting the discipline's position straddling the social and natural sciences: the Geography major and the Environmental Studies major. While these programs overlap to some extent, they differ in their substantive focus: •The Geography major is oriented more towards social and global concerns, using geographic information science and spatial statistics, while, •The Environmental Studies major revolves more explicitly around human interactions with the natural, physical, and biological environment, with a stronger interdisciplinary focus. Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program of study that provides an in-depth understanding of the social and institutional context of contemporary environmental concerns, including topics such as ecosystem management, resource conservation, land use planning, natural hazards, and the policy dimensions of environmental issues.

Through an individually designed course of study, students in the Environment theme will explore how environmentally sustainable solutions are developed and/or how human activity simultaneously impacts, and is impacted by, the global environment. In support of the global orientation of this initiative, particular emphasis should be placed on the study of environmental issues that extend beyond North America. Students pursuing this theme also have the option of completing a one-semester minimum research project that addresses a contemporary global environmental issue for the International or Intercultural Experience. These students will also achieve the additional learning outcome of being able to communicate scientific/technical/socioeconomic issues that transcend their own culture. Topics for environmental research projects must be approved by the Environmental Sub-Committee.