Some areas of interest in the department are: Aerial photography, African diaspora, archeology, atmosphere, climate change, climate variability, climatology, coastal morphology, conservation, crime, cultural anthropology, disaster science, economic geography, Ethnohistory, extreme events, Forensic anthropology, GIS, Historical archeology, historical geography, human geography, hurricanes, hydrology, identity, material culture, Maya, meteorology, osteology, physical geography, place and culture political ecology, political geography, public health, quantitative methods, religion, remote sensing, social theory, spatial analysis, spatial modeling, tropical cyclones, urban geography.
Students majoring in geography may earn either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Students interested in mapping sciences or physical geography typically enter the B.S. program, and those interested in human geography enter the B.A. program. Download the undergraduate brochure.
Students may elect to modify the curriculum to fit specific needs, but this must be done in consultation with the departmental advisor. Special emphases are offered in mapping sciences, cultural and historical geography, economic and urban geography, Latin America, Eastern Asia, coastal and fluvial geomorphology, climatology and hydroclimatology.
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior and Senior Years
A total of six upper division courses are required:
Select two to four mapping science courses:
Select two to four physical geography courses:
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior and Senior Years
A total of five upper division geography courses are required:
Select one mapping science course:
Select one regional geography course:
Select two systematic courses:
Select one:
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is offered in anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humankind and includes four subfields: archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Because it is a broad study of people, students majoring in anthropology are urged to take courses in the sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities.
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Select two:
Senior Year
Requirements for a minor in geography are one course selected from GEOG 1001 or GEOG 1003; GEOG 2050 and GEOG 2051; one course selected from GEOG 2080, GEOG 4020, GEOG 4041, and GEOG 4045; and two additional 3000 or 4000 level geography courses.
The minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides students with training in critical GIS skills in acquiring, managing, analyzing, and presenting spatial data and prepares them for an ever expanding GIS job market in the public, not-for-profit, or private sectors.
To graduate with a minor in GIS, students must complete 15 hours of course work. Prerequisites may extend the hours beyond 15.
Required core courses (nine hours): GEOG 4045, GEOG 4047, GEOG 4048; Selecting from (six hours): GEOG 2040, GEOG 4020, GEOG 4042, GEOG 4044, GEOG 4046; ENVS 4145, ENVS 4149 or any courses approved by the program director.
The minor in Disaster Science and Management enables students to develop a broad understanding of the nature and impact of disasters on the natural, built, and human environment. The program also provides students with a basis for establishing strategies to plan effectively for, mitigate the adverse effects of, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Please visit the program website for more detailed information.
The Minor in Climatology requires a total of 18 hours: GEOG 2050, 3013, 4014, and 4016 are the required core courses. The student will take one of two Mapping Sciences classes (GEOG 4045 or 4047). The student will also take one elective course from our physical geography courses.
Requirements for a minor in anthropology are ANTH 1001, ANTH 1003.
Nine hours to be taken from the following three groups with no more than six hours total from any one group:
In addition, ANTH 4909, ANTH 4998, and ANTH 4999 may be included in the nine hours. Placement of these courses in the above groups depends on the topic and must be determined by the department on a case-by-case basis.
For more details, please refer to the Department of Geography and Anthropology portion of the LSU General Catalog, located within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. For specific classes and times, please see the course offerings page.
Although the department does have undergraduate advisors for both geography and anthropology, students are invited to speak to any faculty member involving classes and specialties.