Geography adds path to earning Bachelor of Science degree

Undergraduate geography students at Virginia Tech have a new way to shape their academic and professional paths. The university now offers a Bachelor of Science in geography degree program in addition to the Bachelor of Arts in geography degree program that has been offered for many years. 

The Department of Geography, housed in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, allows students to earn degrees in geography or meteorology. While students in the meteorology major have always earned a Bachelor of Science, students in the geography major received a Bachelor of Arts. The new Bachelor of Science in geography degree program offers geography majors the flexibility to choose an option in addition to the core courses.

The Bachelor of Science in geography degree program emphasizes scientific, analytical, and applied approaches to geographic study. Students seeking the Bachelor of Science in geography must select from three options: applied climate science, geographic information science and technology, or environmental geography. These options allow students to specialize while maintaining a shared foundation in geographic theory and methods.

Assistant Professor Junghwan Kim said the Bachelor of Science degree program aligns closely with the kind of scientific and applied work that defines much of contemporary geography.

“From the standpoint of my own research and teaching, my work has largely emphasized scientific, analytical, and applied dimensions,” Kim said. “Bachelor of Science programs tend to focus more on technical, methodological, and application-oriented training, which fits well with geospatial technologies and their use in addressing real-world challenges like urban transportation and public health.”

The GIS and technology option emphasizes spatial data analysis, mapping, and remote sensing, while the environmental geography option integrates physical and natural sciences with social science perspectives.

Santosh Rijal teaches courses in the GIS and technology option – mapping, remote sensing, spatial analysis and data science – where technology and its use has steadily advanced within the field.

“A degree in geospatial science requires technical proficiency, mathematical and statistical competency, and an understanding of scientific tools and theory, all of which align closely with the core components of a Bachelor of Science degree,” Rijal said. “Through rigorous spatial analysis, scientific modeling, and quantitative reasoning, geospatial science underscores its foundation in STEM-oriented principles, reinforcing its appropriate classification as a Bachelor of Science degree.”

Drew Ellis, professor of meteorology, said the applied climate science option combines existing courses with selected courses in the department, some of which are in the meteorology curriculum, but the focus of the two degrees is different. The Department of Geography has offered a Bachelor of Science in meteorology since 2012.

“The applied climate science option [for the Bachelor of Science in geography] offers an understanding of climate processes and their impacts on environmental and social systems, distinguishing it from the meteorology degree, which focuses more purely on the physics of the atmosphere in support of weather diagnostics and prediction,” Ellis said.

Professor Lynn Resler specializes in environmental geography and teaches the courses in that option. She has conducted research in Glacier National Park for years. 

“My field field-based research in environmental geography centers on biogeography, landscape processes, and human-environment systems supported by geospatial and quantitative methods,” Resler said. “The environmental geography option in the B.S. degree program supports this focus by offering students scientific and technical training designed for hands-on environmental careers and graduate study.”

Department Chair Tom Crawford said the addition of the Bachelor of Science does not diminish the value of the Bachelor of Arts degree program pathway.

“The goal here is flexibility and choice, giving students more ways to tailor a geography degree to their interests and career goals,” Crawford said. “Our B.A. graduates have been very successful for over 50 years since the start of our program in 1973.”

Looking ahead, he sees opportunities to expand project-based learning and partnerships with GIS-focused industries, including potential capstone experiences, as departmental priorities evolve.