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cas.umkc.edu/geo

Admission requirements

• Prospective students who plan to major in geography should take as many classes as possible in mathematics, English composition and science during their high school years.
• Undergraduate geography majors must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all courses taken to fulfill departmental degree requirements. This minimum GPA also applies to all credit hours transferred from other institutions.  

Why UMKC?

• UMKC’s campus is located in the heart of Kansas City and within walking distance of the prestigious Linda Hall Library, the largest privately funded library of science, engineering and technology in the world open to the public.
• UMKC geography students receive a broad-based education that leads to a practical basis for professional careers.
• Our graduates are employed by architectural, engineering and environmental consulting firms, such as HNTB, URS Corporation, and Black & Veatch; by resource companies, such as Texaco and Exxon Mobil; by government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA); and by institutions of higher education.

  

Fast facts

• There are approximately 150 undergraduate students in geosciences degree programs; 60 percent studying environmental studies, 20 percent studying geography, 20 percent studying geology. 
• Upper-level classes average 15 students. 
• The department’s popular advanced certificate program in GIS has more than 85 enrolled students.
• UMKC is home to the Center for Applied Environmental Research (CAER). Faculty who work with the center undertake research and education related to the environment and collaborate with other environmental organizations. Internships with CAER are available.

Faculty

• Geosciences faculty members are actively involved in research and professional associations in their areas of expertise.
• Faculty members have published a number of books and professional journal articles.
• Faculty members are internationally recognized in areas such as colonial geography, urban and cultural geography, climate change, GIS and remote sensing.
• Faculty conducts research throughout the world in such places as China, Denmark, Mexico, Nigeria, Spain, Jordan and the U.S.
• Faculty members have received funding from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency.
• The department boasts a diverse faculty, who between them are conversant in 10 languages. Forty percent are non-white, coming from China, India, Korea and Nigeria. Women comprise 20 percent of faculty.

Student organizations

• American Association of Geographers (AAG)
• American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) 

Careers

Explore career options for Geography majors at careeronestop.org.

Contact us

Office of Admissions

120 Administrative Center
5115 Oak St.
Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: 816-235-1111
Toll-free: 1-800-775-8652
Relay Missouri: 1-800-735-2966 (TTY)
E-mail: admit@umkc.edu
umkc.edu/admissions

Visit us

Students are encouraged to schedule a campus visit by visiting umkc.edu/welcome or calling 816-235-8652.