Upon completion of the Baccalaureate program, students will demonstrate a working knowledge of the essential and important geographical concepts, themes and issues
- Students will demonstrate regular progress towards and attainment of professional writing capability in order to effectively present spatial analyses in appropriate written form;
- Students will demonstrate regular progress towards and attainment of effective presentation of geographical analysis through the use of oral presentations. These include, at a minimum, time management, organization and logical progression of thought, effective communication and self confidence in public presentation;
- Students will be competent in the interpretation of the graphic representations of Geography through the use of maps that present and interpret patterns of physical and human characteristics on the Earth's surface. Considering that these graphic skills are essential to the communication of Geographic information, Geography Majors and Minors will be able to produce quality maps in one or more of the following production methods: drafting with pen and ink, computer cartography, applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map production and spatial analysis;
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and analytic skills through their written, oral and graphic communications;
- Students will demonstrate the ability to locate, assimilate, organize and critically review appropriate geo-spatial information.
- Students will understand and demonstrate knowledge of the distinctiveness of places and regions with respect to the integration of physical and human characteristics, people's perceptions of places and regions, and the use of regional generalization in description and analysis at various scales of inquiry;
- Students will be able to describe and explain the physical processes operating within and upon the earth's surface and their spatial distributions including landforms, climates, soils, vegetation and hydrology;
- Students will be able to describe and explain human characteristics and their spatial distributions on the Earth's surface including compositions of populations, cultural complexes, economic systems, settlement patterns and characteristics, political patterns and the spatial interconnectedness of these human elements;
- Students will be able to describe and explain human-environment interactions as they relate to the distribution and uses of natural resources, human impact upon natural systems and the means by which humans regulate human-environmental interactions;
- Upon graduation, students pursuing graduate study and/or professional careers in geography based endeavors will have the essential knowledge and communication base to allow them to successfully pursue these endeavors.
- Students will demonstrate the set of civil and professional values and conventions that serve to enhance communication and encourage cooperation with and among colleagues;
- Students will demonstrate responsible and professional work habits;
- Students will understand and apply professional and ethical standards to studies and professional obligations