Geography

major, minor

Academics / Departments & Programs / Geo / Academics Geography Major

Degree Overview

At Calvin, the earth is your classroom. Explore the earth and its people with hands-on learning and field trips. You’ll also have opportunities to travel abroad, research with faculty, and apply for internships. As a geography major, you'll investigate physical and cultural landscapes and understand their interactions in the context of a Christian world view.

You'll learn from faculty who are committed Christians and experts in their fields. They'll work alongside you to support your academic and career goals.

Program Distinctives

Professional-grade facilities - You'll have access to a huge collection of minerals, rocks, and fossils, as well as a vast collection of maps, a dedicated geo-spatial analysis lab, drones, an on-campus research sand dune, a seismograph, a weather station, and more.
Real-world research opportunities - As a GEO student, you'll have the chance to do research with your professors during the academic year and summer. Calvin GEO students have done research into Lake Michigan coastal dunes, a Pleistocene mastadon, the Plaster Creek watershed, and more.
Practical job experience - The GEO department hires more students than any other department. Students are hired yearly for a wide variety of positions, from managing a map library to maintaining the university weather station.
Study off-campus - Calvin GEO students study off-campus in places as diverse as Montana, Hawaii, Kenya, Scotland, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, and Yosemite National Park.

Degree Information

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  • Courses
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  • Admission

    Students must have completed at least 2 courses in geography with a minimum average grade of C (2.0) before they may be formally admitted to the major program.

minor

Beyond the classroom

Off-campus study is an important part of the GEO program. You could study in places like Hawaii, Montana, and beyond. Learn more »

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Student working with a map table

Graduate studies in GIS

The Master in Geographic Information Science (MScGIS) is a graduate degree that can be completed in just 3-5 semesters. Learn more

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