Undergraduate Programs in Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences

Choose Your Path in Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences Programs

When you enroll in geography, regional planning, or anthropology at IUP, you are entering an expanding professional field that has strong job prospects.

Match your career plans to one of our specialized majors to give your resume a competitive edge. We offer you several majors and options to choose from in the following areas:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Geography
• Geology
• Regional Planning
• Certificates
• An education track for those interested in teaching social studies

Expected Outcomes with an Undergraduate Degree in Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences

Whatever path you choose, you will receive a rigorous education in all key aspects of the disciplines.

• The BA programs in Anthropology and Archaeology are built on you learning by doing. Through experiential learning, you can immerse yourself in a topic and get valuable experience that will help you in your career or graduate school.
• The BA in Geography program is organized into four major concentrations, or areas of emphasis, that you can pursue. These are Human Geography, Environment/Energy, Geospatial Information Science and Technology, and an Honors Track.
• The BS in Regional Planning is organized into three major concentrations: Environmental Planning, Community Planning and Development, and an Honors Track.
• The BSEd in Social Studies Education/Geography offers a geography major degree for the student interested in teaching at the junior or senior high levels. The Pennsylvania certification will be in citizenship. New state education requirements specify that geography be taught at all levels in Pennsylvania. Nationally, geography is one of the core subject areas named in the National Education Goals program.
• The BS in Geology offers an interdisciplinary foundation for various career paths in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. It can lead to careers in fields like environmental consulting, natural resource management, education, engineering geology, and research.

The IUP Difference

Internships. IUP Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences has one of the strongest internship programs of any academic department in this field in Pennsylvania. The department has many professional contacts that you can take advantage of to obtain placements. Internships are learning laboratories where you can test your knowledge and skills working with professionals. They are a key to job placement and can provide excellent references necessary for a job search.

Project-Oriented Learning. Many upper-level courses are built around projects where students work with faculty, clients, and professionals. Students learn from the process of carrying out projects and providing product for professionals. An additional result of project-oriented learning is the production of portfolio-quality work that demonstrates a student’s abilities.

Accreditation. The IUP Bachelor of Science degree in Regional Planning is one of only 17 accredited undergraduate planning degree programs in the United States. As such, our graduates are at an advantage when it comes to employment and professional certification. Employers view our bachelor’s graduates as extremely well prepared to enter the planning job market because of the approval that the Planning Accreditation Board has given our program. In addition, graduates of our Regional Planning program can take the American Institute of Certified Planners certification exam three years after graduation (compared to a minimum five years for graduates of non-accredited programs).

IUP Faculty. All faculty members have earned their doctorates. They bring a broad range of experience and expertise, all the time challenging and encouraging students to get truly involved in their work. They strive to know their students well and endeavor to create a family-type atmosphere within the department.