Major in Geography| Tourism and Human Geography Concentration-BA/BS

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Geography

Tourism and Human Geography

Overview

QUICK FACTS

Delivery: On campus
Credits: 120

HELPFUL LINKS

The global workforce needs professionals with an intimate understanding of people, places, cultures, and landscapes—everything that links human beings with their environments.

Our Tourism and Human Geography program will prepare you to meet this demand, while giving you a chance to see the world for yourself.

Program Requirements

The Tourism and Human Geography option requires a minimum of 45 credits on top of the University Core Curriculum. You will take core courses for all Geography and Meteorology majors and several that are unique to your concentration.

Credits

Total to Graduate: 120

Core Major Courses: 15
Concentration Courses: 30
University Core Courses and Electives: 75

Courses

The core classes for all geography students cover topics such as Global Geography, Maps and Spatial Reasoning, and Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

A few of the concentration classes offered include:

GEOG 261: Introduction to Sustainable Tourism
GEOG 270: Geography of International Conflict
GEOG 321: Urban Geography
GEOG 360: Tours and Meetings Management
GEOG 423: Population Geography
GEOG 460: Travel and Tourism Consulting
GEOG 491: Sustainable Tourism Development

For a complete list of all courses and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.

What You Will Learn

You can shape a Tourism and Human Geography major to fit your own interests and career goals. In our classes, you will gain knowledge of sustainability, tourism processes, global cultures, and political and urban systems. You will also learn highly employable skills including:

Sustainable destination development
Demographic analysis
Creating and selling tour packages
Leading tour groups
Geographic Information Systems
Cartography

Program Benefits

Professional Experiences

Building on your classroom knowledge, you will acquire practical experience in the field by completing a professional internship. Recent student placements include:

Muncie Visitors Bureau
Minnetrista
Ruoff Music Center
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Mounds State Park
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort (CA)
Boyne Highlands Resort (MI)
Tahoe Ridge Resort (NV)

Domestic and International Field Courses

You will have the opportunity to join faculty members on an immersive summer field experience to explore domestic and international destinations. During these courses, you will gain firsthand knowledge of the destinations’ cultures and environments and practice techniques such as tour leadership and story mapping. Recent course offerings have been to Australia and the National Parks of the Southwest United States.

Global Knowledge

Our home in the Department of Geography and Meteorology will further develop your understanding of place, cultural diversity, and global destinations in courses such as Global Geography, Maps and Spatial Reasoning, Geography of Latin America and Caribbean, and Geography of Europe.

Potential for Double Majors

Tourism and Human Geography is multidimensional and globally focused, which makes this program especially well-suited for pairing with others on campus for a double major.

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Student Opportunities

Take the Next Step

One of the best ways to understand why Ball State stands out is to come see it for yourself. You can schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Make sure to tell them you’re interested in our program. Or if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us. If you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.

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Related Programs

School of Earth, Atmosphere, and Sustainability

Cooper Science Building

Academic Year: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Summer Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.