Program Learning Outcomes

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Geology BA and BS

The Geology Program at Georgia Southern University, with its long tradition of setting high expectations for both faculty and students, supports the University Mission of learner-centered engagement by preparing students to be scholars, leaders, and in particular sustainability-minded individuals by providing them with an understanding of the variety and complexity of the Earth’s geologic and environmental systems as well as humans’ interactions with these systems. The Program’s purpose is to provide specialized undergraduate curricula leading to BS and BA degrees. Coursework, laboratory experimentation, and research-based field work is expected of all students in the program. The BS degree is designed to train students who will pursue advanced studies or careers in field-based geology by developing critical thinking through a capstone thesis project or additional course work. The BA degree is designed to train students who desire a career in science education, natural resource management, public policy, and professional consulting by pairing a foundational geology curriculum with a liberal arts course of study customized to each learner’s unique goals. These curricula train students in the geoscience skills that have been identified by the American Geosciences Institute as critical, and they cover content knowledge that is consistent with the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) licensure exam. The Geology program embraces the University’s mission to develop a fertile learning environment exemplified by a free exchange of ideas, high academic expectations, and individual responsibility for academic achievement and to enable a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth and life success.

SLO 1 – Apply fundamental principles of natural sciences and mathematics to identify common Earth materials and interpret their composition, origin, and use.

SLO 2 – Evaluate Earth surface and subsurface processes, the role humans play in those processes, and the role those processes play in shaping Earth’s landscape using a variety of spatial and geologic data sets.

SLO 3 – Apply knowledge of the physical and biological history of the planet, as well the evidence for that history, to solve geologic problems, particularly those with implications for the southeastern United States.

SLO 4 – Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly using discipline-specific language, style, and formatting.

SLO 5 – (BS only) Formulate a program and proposal of independent research and defend the proposal using professional geoscience standards.

SLO 6 – (BA only) Critically analyze geologic information and communicate analysis clearly to a general audience

Geography BA and BS

The Geography Program at Georgia Southern University seeks to develop students who can identify, describe, analyze and solve the complex spatial interactions that exist between the human and natural worlds. In an increasingly interconnected globe, a commitment to expanding such understanding serves to help our students become global citizens, environmental stewards, policymakers, and scientists, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Georgia by helping better understand human impacts on the environment and interactions between society and Earth’s natural systems. The Geography Program embraces the University Mission to foster a learner-centered culture that prepares students to think, lead, teach, and serve. We value collaboration, academic excellence, discovery and innovation, integrity, openness and inclusion, and sustainability. We promote talent and economic development to improve quality of life through scholarly pursuits, cultural enrichment, student life, and community engagement across distinctive campuses. The curricula of the BS and BA degrees in Geography help to instill and foster this lifelong dedication to serving by teaching and building on fundamental geographic concepts, patterns, and processes while demonstrating their applicability in addressing contemporary human and environmental challenges through capstone thesis projects and internships. Specifically, the BS degree is designed to train those students who will pursue advanced studies or careers in field-based industries by developing critical thinking through a capstone thesis project. The BA degree is designed to train those students who desire a career in policy development and planning, government, retail, marketing and transportation analysis, and/or social science education. The BA offers the possibility of taking a minor either in Geographic Information Science (GIS) that will develop technical information technology skills or other related areas to increase student marketability (e.g., foreign language, economics, or geology). In addition, the BA Geography degree program now has two emphases from which students may choose, Global Studies and Environmental Studies. Program faculty are dedicated to excellence in teaching and preparing students for successful careers within the discipline of Geography.

SLO 1 – Graduates will be able to analyze Earth’s physical systems, processes, and patterns across geographic scales and locations.

SLO 2 – Graduates will be able to evaluate the spatial distribution of human activities and processes on the Earth’s surface.

SLO 3 – Graduates will be able to apply principles and tools of geographic information science and technology in solving real world problems.

SLO 4 – Graduates will be able to articulate geographic information in written and oral form.

SLO 5 – (BS only) Graduates will be able to formulate an original research question and devise and complete a research study.

SLO 6 (BA only): Graduates will be able to critically analyze and effectively communicate geographic information related to human socio-cultural and/or environmental phenomena within the community, region, and world in written and oral form.

MS in Applied Geography

Last updated: 3/15/2022