The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's geography bachelor's degree is designed for those interested in understanding people and places, their cultures and environments, and the relationships within. 

The curriculum within the major will provide you with a solid foundation in human geography, physical geography, regional geography and nature-society relationships. Rich in field-based courses, the program could take you to places like Hawaii, New York City, New Zealand, Turkey or the Great Lakes region. Through these experiences, unique projects and internship opportunities, you'll learn a wide variety of field, laboratory and social/natural science research methods, tools and techniques — giving you real-world experience before you even graduate.

Known for offering unparalleled research opportunities to undergraduate students, UWEC offers plenty of ways for geography majors to take their learning to the next level. Alongside faculty, you’ll have a chance to participate in groundbreaking research, bringing your findings back to labs equipped with top-notch tools and industry-standard software. Many students go on to present their discoveries at both regional and national competitions.

Graduates of our geography department leave with valuable experience solving real-world problems, gathering and analyzing data, interpreting earth surface processes, functioning as part of interdisciplinary research teams, and producing professional presentations and reports. Upon graduation, you'll have the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for a successful career in dozens of different industries. 

Geographers are everywhere in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Explore careers in education, environmental engineering and consulting, land-use planning, resource management, emergency management, public utilities, infrastructure management, travel, international business or the retail sector.

As an integrative discipline, geography connects the local with the global, providing the tools and knowledge that allow graduates to be flexible and adapt to a dynamic job market. 

Where are geography alumni now?

• Senior geospatial analyst, Xcel Energy, Wisconsin
• UX designer, Epic, Wisconsin
• Chief data officer, HazardHub, Wisconsin
• Senior planner, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
• Land use technician, St. Croix County, Wisconsin
• Transportation specialist, MN Department of Transportation, Minnesota
• Analytics project manager, City of Boston, Massachusetts 
• GIS specialist, Pacific Crest Trail Association, California

Geography career paths

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Environmental hazards
• Climate science
• Natural and cultural resource management
• Community and regional planning
• Emergency management
• Geospatial data (UAS/drone, LiDAR, satellite imagery) analysis
• Infrastructure (transportation and utilities) planning and management
• Demography
• Tourism

The curriculum within the geography major is interdisciplinary and all-encompassing. In addition to core classes, students will choose multiple electives in advanced geography approaches. Areas of emphasis include physical geography, human-environmental geography, human geography, geography techniques and regional geography. 

A required capstone seminar integrates theory and methodology, quantitative and cartographic techniques as well as fieldwork. Students can expect to enhance their skills in literature review, research design, data collection and presentation. 

What classes do geography majors take?

Your classes may cover topics like: 

• Biogeography 
• Cartographic design 
• Conservation of the environment 
• Cultural and transnational dynamics 
• Environmental hazards 
• Human geography 
• Native geographies 

Learn more about the geography major in the UWEC course catalog.

Learn more about the geography minor in the UWEC course catalog.

Thinking about a bachelor’s degree in geography? Here are other programs you might be interested in exploring.