Senior Capstone

As part of Georgia College’s commitment to community service and learning outside the classroom, the Capstone Project for the B.A. in Geography degree is intended to provide graduating students with an opportunity to put their learning into practice in a way that demonstrates a geographic concern for society. Working with a faculty advisor, the student may choose between six capstone options. Each option serves to help students integrate the geography program goals, and each provides a chance for students to incorporate their work into a senior portfolio.

Senior Thesis

This should be an investigatory project built around a central and narrow geographic (physical, human, environmental, methodological) topic. The thesis should be organized with the following components: a) an introduction (with topic statement or research question) b) body of research essay and contextualization of project/literature review (cites geographic literature as well as appropriate sources outside the discipline), and c) conclusion (with a statement about the importance of the research topic). Expectations of length are in the 20- 30

Study Abroad

A study abroad trip of at least one month in duration to one or more countries outside the United States (subject to approval by an advisor). Geography majors may participate in an organized study abroad with other students or they may design their own independent study abroad experience. The study abroad course must be in addition to any other courses taken during the experience. A typical workload for this requirement would inclu

Teaching Practicum

A teaching practicum in a local middle or high school with at least three months of engagement (subject to approval by an advisor). The practicum should be organized and approved prior to the semester of implementation.

Research Paper

Original research project by designing and conducting a geographic study and collecting data (subject to approval by an advisor). It is expected that the research project will have broader importance and will contribute to geographic scholarship.

Internship

Internship experience of at least three months (subject to approval by an advisor). The internship should be organized and approved prior to the semester of implementation. Students may contract to complete their internship with a wide variety of government or non-governmental agencies, geographic industries, non-profit organizations, or academic institutions. A

Applied Study

Completion of a major geographic task, such as developing a computer software program, building a web site, conducting a site assessment, developing a workshop, or other similar undertaking (subject to approval by an advisor AND the geography program coordinator).

Capstone Examples

John Weinmann completed his BA in Geography in May 2019. His Senior Capstone was satisfied by working with the Baldwin County GIS Department on a study of traffic accident data for the county over six years. John identified the ten most dangerous intersections-- places to avoid or slow down!

Maps are a crucial part of geography, and in the Spring of 2019, we learned about how maps contribute to bike racing! Larkin Morris, working toward her BA in Geography and the Certificate in GISc, completed a semester-long internship with Medalist Sports. Among her many tasks was building maps for the exhibition space at major bike races across the country.

Clarkston, Georgia is a small town just outside Atlanta. It is famous for its large immigrant populations. Darcie Scales, a 2018 graduate with degrees in Geography and History, examined the spatial expression of immigrant cultures in Clarkston by seeking out markets, businesses, and places of worship that identify with one or more source regions. Her 'kernal density' maps display the distribution of imported global connections over space.