Contemporary geographers and geospatial analysts play a key role in studying the patterns of climates, landforms, water and the spatial aspects of human populations. Many geographers pursue rewarding careers in academia, business, government and nonprofit sectors.
Program Overview
Analyze geographic patterns, relationship and connections.
In the program, you’ll study natural and human-altered landscapes. Coupled with courses in Geospatial Analysis, you’ll build on the traditional tools of geography by combining data, maps and aerial images to analyze landscapes and how they change over time. Through the dynamic curriculum, you’ll learn about the critical interplay between geography and population growth to further understand how urban expansion impacts a city’s tax policies. You’ll come to understand how places came to be through maps, photos and satellite images and analyze spatial patterns of human activity using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Western Colorado University’s unique location in the Gunnison Valley offers insights into some of the ways geography, human populations and environmental conditions intersect. Its example will give you first-hand insights into the influence of global trends on local spaces.
Charting a course
Students in the Fundamentals of Geography course learn mapping, data formats, data acquisition, and quantitative analysis of spatial data. The laboratory component emphasizes practical applications of GIS to contemporary problems including but not limited to watershed analysis, land-use planning, environmental assessment, and market analysis.
Courses
| Code | Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOG 110 | World Regional Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 | View |
| GEOG 120 | Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2) | 3 | View |
| GEOG 222 | Our Digital Earth | 3 | View |
| GEOG 250 | Geography of North America (GT-SS2) | 3 | View |
| GEOG 340 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 | View |
| GEOG 351 | Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | View |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
Scholarships
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student's GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Get Involved
Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
- Backyard Laboratory: Tenderfoot (aka “W”) Mountain, just one mile away from campus, is home to structures dating to the Paleo Indian period—more than 10,000 years ago. Western has conducted field schools on the site since 2001.
- Research: Students have many opportunities to research in the field and have access to state-of-the-art technology and sites. All students are encouraged to develop and present their own creative and relevant research projects at conferences.
- Fieldwork: Students explore the Elk, West Elk and San Juan ranges; the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gold Belt; the active tectonics of the Rio Grande Rift and more.
- Study Abroad: Travel to India, Ecuador, Prague, London, Italy or Belize through Extended Studies.
Analyzing the data
Geospatial analysts build on the traditional tools of geography by combining data, maps and aerial images to analyze landscape processes and change over time from perspectives not always visible from the ground.
Department Information
Behavioral & Social Sciences (BASS) Department
Department Chairperson
Greg Haase, Ph.D.Professor of Sociology, Department Chair of Behavioral & Social Sciences Department
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Kelley Hall 240
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231