Major Advising Page: Geography

Course considerations

Which kinds of courses should I take?

When selecting courses, aim for those you find appealing, of course, but that also meet Letters and Science (L&S) and/or geography requirements. When you go abroad will likely affect which kinds of courses you will take. Students who go abroad freshmen or sophomore year, for instance, will probably be taking courses that fulfill L&S general education and breadth requirements, as well as introductory geography classes, especially those that meet the geography breadth requirements (one course in each subarea: human, people-environment, and physical geography). And those who study abroad junior or senior year will likely be taking upper-level geography courses as well as perhaps upper-level electives in other disciplines to meet the L&S requirement of 60 intermediate- and advanced-level credits. Please see the bottom of this page to learn about which courses are offered through specific study abroad programs and how they transfer. Geography and IAP advisors can also help identify programs that offer the equivalent of geography and L&S general education and breadth courses, as well as address questions about course equivalencies.

Are there courses that cannot be taken abroad?

There is essentially one course that geography majors must take on campus: Geography 565, the department’s senior capstone. (Honors-in-the-major students do not have to take 565, though.) The course is only offered in the fall semester, so students typically take it in the fall of their senior year. If going abroad during this time makes the most sense, though, arrangements should be made to take 565 before senior year, if possible.

Are there courses that should ideally be taken on campus?

Geography at UW–Madison is a global leader in cartography and GIS – we offer a major dedicated to these technologies, which is unique, and we feel the level of depth and overall quality of the cartography/GIS courses are unparalleled. As a result, receiving equivalent credit for intermediate- and advanced-level cartography/GIS courses is unlikely, and so it is strongly advised to take most, if not all, cartography/GIS courses on campus.

Can I do research abroad?

The department encourages research while abroad, as conducting research in foreign places is a hallmark of geographic inquiry. Research credit can be earned under Geography 399. The department does not, however, offer Geography 699 credit for research done abroad.

Can honors work be done abroad?

Students doing honors in the major must write a thesis, which is typically done during the fall and spring semesters of senior year. Honors students who plan to study abroad part or all of their senior year should consult with their thesis advisor about the feasibility of doing thesis work while abroad. Study abroad experiences could potentially offer students fruitful research opportunities that might serve as the basis of an honors project. Read more about the department’s honors requirements.