Geography majors receive a liberal arts education that is a base for further specialized training in academic disciplines which address environmental and international issues, or in related professional fields such as planning and public policy, law, and environmental management. Students are also offered courses in which they learn specific technical skills directly applicable to the workplace. These include courses in computerized information retrieval, spatial data analysis, cartographic representation, remote sensing and geographic information systems.
The information on this page will answer most of commonly asked questions about the Undergraduate Program in Geography at Rutgers. This information is intended to both duplicate and supplement that provide in the official Rutgers catalog of courses and programs. The Rutgers catalog is the primary authority regarding courses and academic requirements.
Contact Information
Department Chair: David Robinson 732 445 4741 (drobins@rci.rutgers.edu)
Undergraduate Director: Roger Balm 732 445 4128 (balm@rci.rutgers.edu)
Internship Director: Robert Hordon 732 445 3107 (hordon@rci.rutgers.edu)
Department Secretary: Betty Ann Abbatemarco 732 445 4103 (abbatema@rci.rutgers.edu)
The Geography Department is located in the B Wing of Lucy Stone Hall on the Livingston Campus and our mailing address is 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854.
A listing of scheduled courses is available upon request and is also on-line. You are invited to contact individual instructors for specific course information, syllabi and possible course prerequisites.
Geography Faculty
The faculty have diverse research interests in addition to their teaching responsibilities. These interests largely focus on natural and human-forced changes in atmospheric, hydrological and ecological systems, as well as related topics in hazards, urban, economic and gender geography, especially those connected with the theme of globalization.
Additional instructional support for undergraduate classes comes from teaching assistants that have responsibility for selected courses. Teaching assistants are graduate students who have masters degrees, are active in geographic research and have demonstrated expertise in specific subject areas.
The Undergraduate Program and the Rutgers Curriculum
Prior to 2007, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, consisted of several schools and colleges, including Douglass College, Livingston College, Rutgers College, University College and Cook College. The colleges had varying academic requirements. Beginning with the entering class of 2007, a single School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) replaced the previous multi-college system and Cook College became the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). As part of this transition, a single undergraduate curriculum was introduced with standardized menus of distribution requirements that all new students must fulfill.
The following is a complete list of Rutgers Geography courses and the SAS distribution requirements that each fulfills as of September, 2007.
Geography Courses that fulfill a Natural Science Requirement:
450:101 Earth Systems
450:102 Transforming Global Environment
450:140 The Greenhouse Effect
450:370 Global and Regional Climate Change
450:403, 404 Advanced Physical Geography
450:413 Climate System and Global Climate Change
450:417 Coastal Geomorphology
Geography Courses that fulfill a Diversity Requirement:
450:100 Geographic Perspectives
450:103 Space, Place, Location
450:205 World Cultural Regions
450:222 Cultural Geography
450:262 Geographic Background to Current World Affairs
450:361 Gender Geographies
450:363 Geography of Development
450:470 History and Theory of Geography
Geography Courses that fulfill a Global Awareness Requirement:
450:100 Geographic Perspectives
450:101 Earth Systems
450:103 Space, Place, Location
450:205 World Cultural Regions
450:222 Cultural geography
450:240 Cities
450:262 Geographic Background to Current World Affairs
450:309 Economic Geography
450:311 Natural Hazards
450:332 Newly Independent States of Eastern Europe
450:334 Europe
450:335 Caribbean Borderlands
450:336 Latin America
450:338 Africa
450:341 South Asia and the Middle East
450:342 East Asia
450:363 Geography of Development
450:370 Global and Regional Climate Change
450:380 Medical Geography
450:405 Political Geography
450:406 Advanced Topics in Economic Geography
Geography Courses that fulfill a Writing Requirement:
450:330 Geographic Research Methods
450:405 Political Geography
450:406 Advanced Topics in Economic Geography
450:413 Climate System and Global Climate Change
450:419 Advanced Conservation of Natural Resources
450:470 History and Theory of Geography
450:491, 492 Geographic Problems
Geography Courses that fulfill a Quantitative Reasoning Requirement:
450:319 Quantitative Methods
450:320 Spatial Data Analysis
450:330 Geographic Research Methods
Geography Courses that fulfill a Social Science Requirement:
Any geography (450) course, except those listed above as fulfilling a natural science requirement and any course less than 3 credits.
The Geography Major
Rutgers has many majors to choose from and selecting the one that is right for you is a big decision. This brief description will give you an idea what we do and what we can offer you in the Department of Geography. We would welcome an in-person visit from you at any time so you can learn more.
Geography is about understanding Planet Earth and the relationships humans have with the environment. Understanding, imaging and mapping the world of today requires specialized skills. The geography curriculum at Rutgers provides the technical training and theoretical grounding to meet today’s environmental challenges while encouraging students to envision the world of the future in which they will be important decision-makers. With around 60 to 80 majors, the program is big enough to equip students with a full range of essential techniques, but small enough to accommodate individual needs. Teaching formats vary from large lectures to seminar-type meetings.
The curricular for the major in and for the certificate programs (in cartography and international geographic perspectives) reflect the key areas in which geographers are now in demand, from map design to environmental planning, and help prepare students for opportunities in growth areas such as geospatial techniques where jobs are projected to expand rapidly in both the public and private sector in the years ahead. The instructional lab offers full support for work in geographic information science (GISci), spatial data management and cartographic design and production. For more information on career prospects for geographers, see the Association of American Geographers (AAG) website or contact the Undergraduate Director.
As a supplement to class and lab, our well-established internship program provides valuable real-world experience for students while they earn up to six credits towards the degree. The department also has a good record of success for majors going on to graduate work at the masters and doctoral levels.
Requirements for the Major
Almost all courses in Geography (450) are worth 3 credits, and a minimum of 39 credits are required for the major, divided among:
General courses (9 credits): 450:101, 102, 103.
Methods courses (9 credits):450:330 and any two (2) selected from 450:320, 321, 322, 355, 356, 357, and 421.
Specialized courses (18 credits) Six (6) courses, including one regional geography course (selected from 450:332, 334, 335, 336, 338, 341, 342). At least three of the specialized courses must be at the 300 or 400 level. Majors can also select up to two graduate-level courses to fulfill requirements in the specialized group. Overall, students are encouraged to selected most of the specialized courses from one of three areas of emphasis: (1) environmental systems and global change, (2) environment and society, (3) urban and international restructuring.
Capstone course (3 credits): 450:470. This course is usually taken in the senior year. (Note that the Rutgers Catalog lists 450:470 as a general course.)
No more than one (1) course with a grade of D may be counted towards the major.
Where appropriate, majors are encouraged to substitute independent research projects under faculty supervision: 450:491, 492 or 450:495, 496 or graduate courses for up to two (2) of the courses in the specialized group.
Majors are also encouraged to sign-up in their junior/senior years for internships (up to 6 credits of internship may be counted towards the major) or work on undergraduate research projects with selected faculty. These additional skills and new professional experiences can help in launch exciting career paths.
Majors with a high GPA have an opportunity to do Honors in Geography (in their senior year) and to be acknowledged for their accomplishments through the Andrew Hill Clark award or induction into the Geographical Honors Society.
Those wishing to discuss the transfer of credits from other institutions, particularly New Jersey community colleges, should arrange to meet with the Undergraduate Director. A course description should be brought along to the meeting to enable comparisons to be made between Rutgers courses and those taken elsewhere. A course equivalency form, to be signed by the Undergraduate Director, should also be brought along to the meeting.
The Geography Minor
We have a substantial number of students minoring in geography and discovering that courses on environmental issues or geographic methods make an excellent combination with majors in history, business, political science and many other fields.
Requirements for the Minor
Six (6) courses (18 credits) are required for the minor in Geography: 450:101, 102, 103, and at least three (3) additional Geography courses, two of which must be 300-level or above.
No more than one (1) course with a grade of D may be counted towards the minor.
Certificate Programs
The Department of Geography offers two certificate programs, one in cartography and one in international geographic perspectives. All students, regardless of major, are eligible to participate in a certificate program but certificates are awarded only with, or subsequent to, the awarding of a baccalaureate degree in an approved major. Details of the two geography certificate programs are noted below.
It is the responsibility of the student to inform the department in writing if they intend to graduate with a certificate in addition to their baccalaureate degree. This notification must be sent by letter or email to either the Department Secretary, Betty Ann Abbatemarco (abbatema@rci.rutgers.edu), or the Undergraduate Director, Roger Balm (balm@rci.rutgers.edu) no later than the beginning of the senior year.
Cartography Certificate
A minimum of 18 credits is required for the Cartography Certificate.
Students must complete 450:320, 321, 322, 355, 356, and one of the following: 357, or 421 or 488 with a B or better for each course.
Certificate in International Geographic Perspectives
A minimum of 24 credits is required for the Certificate in International Geographic Perspectives.
Core courses totaling 15 credits are required: 450:102, 103, 205, 262, and 405. A regional core is also required, with a choice of one (1) selected from: 450:332, 334, 335, 336, 338, 341, or 342. The final six (6) credits may be taken as electives selected from: 450:211, 222, 240, 309, 311, 361, 363, 491 and 492.
The Internship Program
The Internship Program is directed by Dr. R.H. Hordon (hordon@rci.rutgers.edu). All students wishing to register for an internship must obtain a special permission number in person from the Department Secretary: Betty Ann Abbatemarco (abbatema@ci.rutgers.edu), Lucy Stone Hall, Livingston Campus, Room B254.
Students may register for 1, 2 or 3 credits per internship. A 3-credit internship involves approximately 112 hours of work, based on 8 hours/week for a 14-week semester. The organization offering the internship can be either public or private. In either case, students who receive academic credit for their internship cannot be paid.
All interns must submit a 2-3 page report on their duties and activities during the semester to the Internship Director. Additionally, intern supervisors submit a confidential evaluation of the work of their intern(s) with a recommended letter grade.
Undergraduate Honors and Awards
Departmental Honors Program
Departmental honors are awarded to students who achieve (1) a GPA of 3.50 or higher within the major following the penultimate semester prior to graduation, or (2) a GPA lower than 3.50 within the major following the penultimate semester prior to graduation, but with an approved and completed honors thesis.
Highest honors are awarded to students who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher within the major following the penultimate semester, and an approved honors thesis.
The honors thesis is produced under the supervision of a department faculty member. Choice of faculty supervisor will be made by the student. One additional faculty reader of the thesis is required. Thesis research and writing fulfills the requirements of honors courses 450:495 and 496 (one 3-credit honors course per semester).The student will be invited to give a presentation of their work and be prepared to respond to questions and requests for revisions from the faculty supervisor and reader.
Andrew Hill Clark Prize
The most outstanding graduating senior is eligible to receive the Andrew Hill Clark Prize in Geography.
Rutgers Undergraduate Geography Society (R.U.G.S.)
R.U.G.S. is a student-run organization formed to promote geographic awareness among undergraduates throughout the University. R.U.G.S. sponsors activities that encourage an enjoyable learning atmosphere. Students explore the relationship between the unique characteristics of people, societies, and the physical environment to better understand the new directions our world is taking.
Scheduled meetings offer information concerning careers, internships, graduate schools, regional and national conferences, as well as presentations by guest speakers.
Additional information and exact dates for meetings and activities are available at: http://geography.rutgers.edu/organizations/rugs_web/
Further Questions about Rutgers Geography?
Please contact the Department Chair, David Robinson (drobins@rci.rutgers.edu), the Undergraduate Director, Roger Balm (balm@rci.rutgers.edu), or the Department Secretary, Betty Ann Abbatemarco (abbatema@ci.rutgers.edu) if you have further questions. We welcome a visit from you!
