Geography and Anthropology

Anthropology

www.class.csupomona.edu/ga

One of the three majors offered in the Department of Geography and Anthropology is Anthropology. For other programs in the department see Geography, and Social Sciences.

Lin Wu, Chair
Mark W. Allen, Anthropology Coordinator

Kun Chen
Claudia Garcia-Des Lauriers
Dorothy D. Wills

Anthropology is the scientific study of the peoples of the world, past and present, in the broadest possible sense: their total cultural and biological heritage. The goal of anthropology is a complete understanding of the human species, from its origins several million years ago to the present, including all of its current cultural and biological diversity. Students majoring in Anthropology in the department of Geography and Anthropology enroll in one of two subplans: General Anthropology or Cultural Resource Management. Through a common integrated core of courses selected from all four of the major anthropological subfields (Sociocultural Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, and Linguistics), each of the two subplans provides students with a broad-based understanding of the diverse subject matter of anthropology. Each subplan then diverges to provide additional training aimed toward better serving the individual needs of students with different specialty interests and career goals. Students completing this program receive a Bachelor of Science degree.

Geography

www.class.csupomona.edu/ga

One of the three majors offered in the Department of Geography and Anthropology is Geography. For other programs in the department see Anthropology, and Social Sciences.

Lin Wu, Chair
Sara A. Garver, Geography Coordinator

Kristen Conway-Gomez
Michael Reibel

Terence Young

The Geography degree program, which is housed in the Department of Geography and Anthropology, is designed to provide an understanding of humankind’s cultural and physical environments by examining the dynamic systems (both natural and human) through which these diverse settings are changed or sustained. Students majoring or minoring in Geography analyze social and environmental change as they affect local areas and regions and compare solutions which have been attempted in various parts of the world. Attention is given to the relationships between population use of resources and environmental and social impacts in rural and urban settings.

Majors may choose any of three subplans: the traditional Geography Subplan, which blends physical, cultural and regional geography courses with field work; the Environmental Geography Subplan, which equips graduates for careers as environmental analysts, managers and policy makers, and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Subplan, which prepares students for careers in the rapidly expanding field of spatial data systems for land use management, local government and environmental protection. The GIS subplan emphasizes technical skills such as air photo interpretation, computer cartography and geographic information systems (GIS) software and techniques. Students completing this program receive a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Training in this major provides a broad and suitable background for careers requiring an understanding of peoples, groups, and their cultural and regional institutions. Careers specifically related to this program include government employment in various capacities, secondary school teaching, and positions in international or multicultural capacities in business and management. Preparation for graduate training in this discipline is also offered to majors.

Social Sciences

www.class.csupomona.edu/ga

One of the three majors offered in the department of Geography and Anthropology is Social Sciences. For other programs in the department see Anthropology and Geography.

*NOTE: The Social Sciences major is closed to admission effective immediately. The major will be discontinued effective Fall 2013.

Lin Wu, Chair

Mark Allen
Kun Chen
Kristen Conway-Gomez
Claudia Garcia-Des Lauriers
Sara A. Garver

Michael Reibel
Dorothy Wills
Terence Young

The social sciences examine all aspects of human existence, from human origins to the latest election returns. In keeping with that tradition, the Department of Geography and Anthropology offers a flexible program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences with opportunities for majors to concentrate in one or more of the social science disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. It also provides future teachers with a pre-credential waiver track.

The department curriculum, multidisciplinary in nature, is especially suitable for students with broad and varied interests who understand that a liberal education is often the best background for many types of careers. An important departmental goal for each student, therefore, is to encourage the development of his or her personal and career objectives while maintaining the breadth of understanding and flexibility necessary to succeed in any of a variety of professions – from government service, to business, industry, teaching, or international development.

Many graduates with a degree in Social Sciences continue on to graduate school in programs such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, geography, history, law, political science or education. In some instances, postgraduate work is pursued after a few years of employment in an occupational field related to one of these specialized areas. Many students choose the Social Sciences major and then, after graduation, proceed to get a teaching credential. A recent trend noted by the U.S. Department of Labor is that private industry is hiring an increasing number of social science majors as trainees for administrative and executive positions. Research councils and other nonprofit organizations also provide a source of employment for social scientists. Teaching in colleges and universities and in the high schools is projected to remain the major area of employment for social scientists with advanced degrees or credentials.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the Department of Geography and Anthropology, students may in some cases select both a major and a minor from within the department. For example, a student may major in Social Sciences and minor in Anthropology. Details on other possible combinations are available from the department office.

Programs

Major

Minor

Courses

Anthropology

Geography

Social Sciences